The Path of the Gods – From Agerola to Positano

The Path of the Gods: 8 kilometres of breathtaking beauty.

The Path of the Gods is a nature trail that winds along the Lattari Mountains, starting from Bomerano, a hamlet of Agerola, and reaching Positano, more precisely its hamlet of Nocelle. Along its 8 km it offers walkers a breathtaking panorama and a true full immersion in the nature that abounds on this route between the villages of the Amalfi Coast.

It is called the Path or Way of the Gods because, according to myth, the Greek gods walked it to save Ulysses from the sirens on the island of Li Galli, which you can indeed admire along this high-altitude walk together with other spectacular sights such as the Grotta del Biscotto and Colle Serra, all framed by Mediterranean scrub and the spectacular view of the Amalfi Coast.

The legend

It seems that the Greeks called it “of the gods” because it led to the stretch of sea (the Li Galli archipelago) where the sirens who had challenged Ulysses lived. And also because, while walking it, it almost felt like climbing Mount Olympus.

The Odyssey tells how the Greek hero had himself tied to the ship’s mast so he could listen to the seductive song of the sirens without falling into their treacherous snares. Meanwhile his crew, their ears plugged with wax, steered the ship out to sea. The gods, watching from Olympus, grew worried and decided to come down to Earth to prevent the shipwreck. However, they landed in the wrong place, a few kilometres from the Li Galli archipelago, and so they started running. It was their footsteps that carved the rocks of the coast, creating what we now call “the Path of the Gods”.

Until the coastal state road was built by the Bourbons to connect the whole area, the path was the only link between the various settlements of the area.

How to reach the Path of the Gods: useful tips

The Path of the Gods can be walked in two directions: from top to bottom, downhill, or from bottom to top, uphill. Trekking lovers will not hesitate to choose the second option, but generally for comfort and safety it is advisable to choose the first, starting from Agerola, more precisely from Bomerano.

Reaching this hamlet to start the walk is very easy: Agerola is well connected to Naples, Amalfi and Castellammare di Stabia by SITA buses. If you prefer to start from Praiano, you will have to climb a 580-metre staircase to reach the Colle Serra pass. Finally, at the end of the 8 km route, after about 4 hours of walking, to continue towards Positano you can take a bus or walk down some 1,700 steps to Arienzo.

It is best to walk this spectacular route at a time of year that is not too hot, bringing a hat for the sun, very comfortable shoes and a bottle of fresh water, which you can refill along the way at several drinking fountains. The path is strongly discouraged for anyone who suffers from vertigo, as it runs along steep heights.