Cappella di San Pietro (Crapolla)

The Cappella di San Pietro stands on the promontory of Crapolla, built in part from materials associated with a medieval Benedictine abbey.

Why it matters

The chapel preserves the memory of a Benedictine foundation and a landscape with Roman remains beneath it. The site brings together religious tradition, classical archaeology and the maritime history of the Sorrentine peninsula.

What to notice

Marble columns and bases beside the modest chapel are remnants associated with the former abbey. Nearby, traces of a Roman villa and rock-cut shelters called monazeni reveal the long use of the inlet and its rocky shore.

Context and history

Documents from 1111 and 1190 attest to the medieval Benedictine abbey of San Pietro. After its decline, the chapel was built using material from the earlier complex. Local tradition holds that Saint Peter landed at Crapolla, while archaeological remains point to Roman activity in the area.