Massa Lubrense

Massa Lubrense

Traces of the past, unparalleled natural scenarios, gastronomy and tradition in Massa Lubrense.

The town of Massa Lubrense, in a privileged panoramic position, occupies the extreme tip of the Sorrento Peninsula, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy, in a special panoramic location with marvelous natural sceneries. It extends into the Tyrrhenian Sea, almost touching the island of Capri, forming a watershed between the gulfs of Naples and Salerno.

The hamlets

Located between Sorrento, Capri and Positano, but less known, Massa Lubrense retains its secluded nature and preserves ancient flavors and suggestions. The hamlets are completely surrounded by greenery. They are connected by internal roads and paths, marked and easy to follow.

Nature and art characterize the 18 hamlets of Massa Lubrense, preserving important classical and medieval vestiges, most of them flanked by Baroque and Renaissance religious architecture.

Local products

In this enchanting territory you can find the scents of an ancient and rich culinary tradition that best expresses the flavors of typical and certified products, such as olive oil, cheeses and limoncello. Throughout the area you can admire many olive and lemon groves that give their intense scent to this land.

The typical products of Massa Lubrense come from both the land and the sea: since ancient times the geographical location of the Sorrento Peninsula has allowed the development of agriculture and farming. Fish and seafood also enrich the local gastronomy, within the constraints of the Marine Protected Area.

Events and festivals

Massa Lubrense has a rich repertoire of popular traditions, which translate into events and festivals throughout the year. The processions of Holy Week are ancient and suggestive; particularly beautiful and exciting are those by sea, where the procession is followed by boats.

Each hamlet, on the day dedicated to the feast of its patron saint, organizes a food festival: tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, fish, mozzarella, etc. In the summer, the Lemon Festival takes place in the center of Massa, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to taste local lemon-based products.

Trails

The sublime charm of this land lies in its natural beauty: the coastal road is one of the wonders of the Italian landscape. For hikers, more than 100 km of trails run the length and breadth of the entire territory, touching all 18 hamlets and the most pristine locations.

Among citrus groves, vineyards and olive groves, which slope gently towards the sea, the road follows the winding coast, curve after curve opens an incredible view of the Gulf of Naples, the island of Capri and then the Gulf of Salerno. The coast is high, steep and rocky, with steep limestone cliffs that crumble into the sea, inlets and rocks.

The sea

Unique among the cities of the Sorrento Coast, Massa Lubrense offers beaches and bays on both coasts. The entire coastal stretch is protected with the establishment of the Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella, a marine reserve to protect the coast and the sea.

Massa Lubrense is also the only municipality of Naples to have obtained the prestigious Bandiera Blu award for 13 consecutive years (from 2008 to 2020). It is the ideal environment for a boat ride and for underwater exploration, with unforgettable dives or snorkeling. The caves along the coast are also exciting, many of which can be reached by kayak.

Climate

The Mediterranean climate that characterizes Massa Lubrense, gives it the reputation of a healthy place, throughout the year. The sun kisses this beautiful land for about 250 days a year, encouraging you to take a holiday in Massa Lubrense in mid and low season.

In Massa Lubrense the climate is always pleasant: mild winters alternate with hot summers. In the months of July and August, the coastal and hilly areas retain pleasant temperatures. The bathing season often lasts until late autumn, with particularly hot days and the sea still inviting for a dip.

History

Between history and legend, the past of Massa Lubrense has always fascinated for the multiplicity of presences in the area since the Paleolithic, for the wealth of archaeological evidence that has come down to the present day and for the amount of information and studies carried out on it.

The Lubrense area, in addition to boasting ancient Roman and pre-Roman villas and temples, is a territory linked to the most famous myths of antiquity, such as that of the hero Ulysses and the sirens, as well as Minerva and Liparo, founder of Sorrento.

We offer an interesting and pleasant text by Luigi Sigismondi, illustrating the history of Massa Lubrense from the first human presence to modern times.

Etymology of Massa Lubrense

The name “Massa” derives from “mansa”, an early medieval term which indicated a place intended for cultivation; in the Middle Ages “lubrensis” was added from Lobra (delubrum = temple), the cathedral church that stood on the beach of Fontanelle.