PIANO LIGUORI WALK
PIANO LIGUORI WALK
Piano Liguori is an area of natural beauty between Ischia Ponte and Barano, and is one of the most enjoyable parts of the island to explore.
Starting from the village of Campagnano, you climb a steadily rising and narrowing path up the mountain-side as you path olive groves with dramatic views down to the sea and across to the islands of Procida, Capri, and Sorrento on the mainland.
There are a number of different routes that you can take across different types of terrain. One of the highlights along the walk is the beautiful bay of San Pancrazio which is a favourite spot for small boats and yachts to drop anchor in its crystal-clear water.
The Piano Liguori walk should last around 2 and a half to 3 hours or so and starts in the town of Campagnano which is a small village next to Ischia Ponte.
Directions:
From the main SS270 road that circles the island take the exit next to the Pilastri Aqueduct and head towards the sea. This is also the place to get off if you are visiting by bus. From the aqueduct you can take a C13 bus to the village centre or alternatively walk. If walking, walk for about 5-10 minutes along the aqueduct road and then take a right hand turn on to Via Solitaria. Follow this road until you reach a small village square with a church (Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunziata) at one corner and a restaurant on the left called "Barracuda".
From this point you can park at any time you wish or you can choose to carry along on foot for another 5 minutes or so along a climbing twisting street called Via Vecchia Campagnano. The road eventually peters out and becomes a track which is suitable only for walking. You then have a number of choices but I would recommend taking the high road which is signposted towards an agriturismo. Keep climbing this path and eventually you'll pass the bay of Punta San Pancrazio on your left and at that stage you'll be quite close to Piano Liguori itself.
You'll know you've reached the top of Piano Liguori when you reach a convergence of paths with some benches and a left hand turn that leads down past an abandoned building on the left. From this point you can choose to visit the restaurant (also called "Piano Liguori") and then head towards the bay of San Pancrazio. Anybody suffering from vertigo (me!) may wish to turn back at that stage as there are some very steep drops at the side of a narrow path.
Anyway, the restaurant is worth at least a look for its views alone, even if you don't eat there. Once you've finished at the restaurant/San Pancrazio area, make your way back the same way you came until you reach the same convergence of paths where the benches are. Turn left here and then almost immediately there's a right hand turn down a steep hill which you need to take.
The path that leads down this hill is very steep and again has some cobbled/shiny stones which require the utmost care & attention in order not to slip. For most of this descent there is a guard-rail on the right hand side which you can use to steady yourself. This descent lasts around 15 minutes before you reach a T-junction with a house that has some large television aerials. At this point, turn right and continue down the hill for another 5 - 10 minutes or so, passing a small residential area on your left before reaching the village of Campagnano. Directly ahead of you you'll see the Barracuda restaurant and to your right, the small village square. At this point you need to turn left and follow the road as it twists and turns around some sharp bends before again reaching another T-junction.
At this T-junction you can choose to turn left to reach the main SS270 road by the Pilastri Aqueduct if you want to catch a bus back to your desired destination, or turn right to walk to Ischia Ponte which is around 20 - 30 minutes away from this point.
Starting from the village of Campagnano, you climb a steadily rising and narrowing path up the mountain-side as you path olive groves with dramatic views down to the sea and across to the islands of Procida, Capri, and Sorrento on the mainland.
There are a number of different routes that you can take across different types of terrain. One of the highlights along the walk is the beautiful bay of San Pancrazio which is a favourite spot for small boats and yachts to drop anchor in its crystal-clear water.
The Piano Liguori walk should last around 2 and a half to 3 hours or so and starts in the town of Campagnano which is a small village next to Ischia Ponte.
Directions:
From the main SS270 road that circles the island take the exit next to the Pilastri Aqueduct and head towards the sea. This is also the place to get off if you are visiting by bus. From the aqueduct you can take a C13 bus to the village centre or alternatively walk. If walking, walk for about 5-10 minutes along the aqueduct road and then take a right hand turn on to Via Solitaria. Follow this road until you reach a small village square with a church (Chiesa di Santa Maria Annunziata) at one corner and a restaurant on the left called "Barracuda".
From this point you can park at any time you wish or you can choose to carry along on foot for another 5 minutes or so along a climbing twisting street called Via Vecchia Campagnano. The road eventually peters out and becomes a track which is suitable only for walking. You then have a number of choices but I would recommend taking the high road which is signposted towards an agriturismo. Keep climbing this path and eventually you'll pass the bay of Punta San Pancrazio on your left and at that stage you'll be quite close to Piano Liguori itself.
You'll know you've reached the top of Piano Liguori when you reach a convergence of paths with some benches and a left hand turn that leads down past an abandoned building on the left. From this point you can choose to visit the restaurant (also called "Piano Liguori") and then head towards the bay of San Pancrazio. Anybody suffering from vertigo (me!) may wish to turn back at that stage as there are some very steep drops at the side of a narrow path.
Anyway, the restaurant is worth at least a look for its views alone, even if you don't eat there. Once you've finished at the restaurant/San Pancrazio area, make your way back the same way you came until you reach the same convergence of paths where the benches are. Turn left here and then almost immediately there's a right hand turn down a steep hill which you need to take.
The path that leads down this hill is very steep and again has some cobbled/shiny stones which require the utmost care & attention in order not to slip. For most of this descent there is a guard-rail on the right hand side which you can use to steady yourself. This descent lasts around 15 minutes before you reach a T-junction with a house that has some large television aerials. At this point, turn right and continue down the hill for another 5 - 10 minutes or so, passing a small residential area on your left before reaching the village of Campagnano. Directly ahead of you you'll see the Barracuda restaurant and to your right, the small village square. At this point you need to turn left and follow the road as it twists and turns around some sharp bends before again reaching another T-junction.
At this T-junction you can choose to turn left to reach the main SS270 road by the Pilastri Aqueduct if you want to catch a bus back to your desired destination, or turn right to walk to Ischia Ponte which is around 20 - 30 minutes away from this point.
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