Baia di Mitigliano con resti della torre saracena

Cala di Mitigliano is a small cove below Monte San Costanzo, framed by limestone cliffs and facing the island of Capri.

Why it matters

The cove preserves several layers of human use within a dramatic coastal landscape, including the remains of a medieval religious site, quarrying and historic coastal defence. Its marine setting is part of the Punta Campanella protected area.

What to notice

The small beach lies beneath steep rock walls. A ruined church dedicated to Santa Maria di Mitigliano stands above the shore, while the Grotta di Mitigliano opens beneath the waterline. A tower-shaped structure near the cove has been interpreted as a remnant of quarrying or lime production, though this identification remains tentative.

Context and history

A medieval abbey once stood at Mitigliano, and the later chapel was built near its remains. Quarrying shaped the shore in more recent centuries. The broader Sorrentine coast was fortified with watchtowers during the sixteenth century, though the tower-like structure beside the cove may have had an industrial rather than defensive purpose. Cala di Mitigliano lies within zone C of the Area Marina Protetta Punta Campanella.