SEIANO
Seiano is a small fraction of larger Vico Equense, a coastal town in the Bay of Naples, Southern Italy. Interestingly, a famous Russian ballet dancer Violetta Elvin took refuge in Vico Equense in 1956 after abandoning a successful international dancing career. A biographical novel by Raffaele Lauro entitled 'Dance The Love – A Star in Vico Equense' documents her life and career.
A brief history of the area
Vico Equense dates back to the Etruscans who had settlements all along the coast from Pompeii to Pontecagnano. Formerly known as Aequa; the Tyrrhenians settled the area, then the Samnites, evidenced by the remains of a pre-Roman necropolis from the 7th century found in the area. The Romans arrived after this period and under Emperor Augustus, the town, then known as Equa (or Aequana), became prosperous in comparison to other cities along the Sorrentine Peninsula.
Vico Equense later became part of the Duchy of Sorrento, until the Angevins invaded and a period of relative autonomy commenced. Vesuvius erupted in 62 and 64 AD, and then in 79AD most of the settlements along the coast were buried by a famous eruption, Pompei being the most notably affected settlement.
The town went through a dark period in the sixth century. Invaded by the Goths, then the Saracens in the ninth century, forcing people to take shelter on higher ground. In the thirteenth century, the Angevins arrived in Naples, and a university set up in the town. But the town wasn't sufficiently reconstructed and developed until 1271 when the Pope handed Sorrento and Vico over to Charles II of Anjou, and a fort built around the periphery. In 1301, Charles II also built a castle there, which was subsequently restored by count Girolamo Giusso in the 17th century. Although the town grew in wealth and importance, it was still subject to attacks from the Pisans, Aragonese and the Sorrentinos. After the Angevin period, the Carafa and Durazzo families took over the area. During the 17th century, the city became more and more connected with its neighbour Sorrento, despite the wish for autonomy.
Things to do around Seiano
Vico Equense is a small town, and there isn't a vast amount of things to do in the town itself. However, it is well situated on the Sorrento side of the peninsula to explore the rest of the Amalfi region and the city of Napoli. Vico does have a small archaeological museum, curated in 1966, called Antiquarium Silio Italico. It is full of objects from a necropolis uncovered during construction work in Vico Equense in the 1960s and 1970s.
There is also the beautiful Church of the Annunciation, built overlooking the sea in the early 14th century. It's a gothic building with a baroque facade, which was formerly the cathedral of the Diocese of Vico Equense until 1818. The Campanian Mineralogic Museum, founded in 1992, displays a collection of mineral samples donated by Pasquale Discepolo, a local engineer. As the years went by the museum enriched its collection, adding various sections dedicated to gemstones, palaeontology and even anthropology. The museum is one of the most important science museums in the Region of Campania. The Scrajo Spa, founded in 1895, is a natural site by the sea, providing therapy for various diseases using the mineral-rich sulphuric water sources that feed the spa complex.
Beaches near Seiano
Lido Marinella is located around 2 km from Vico Equense and fully equipped with sunbeds, bars and restaurants. It is set facing the west, between two cliffs, so the sunsets are stunning from here. Another great beach is Lido Scrajo Mare, located around 3 km from Vico Equense and fully equipped with sunbeds, and great bars and restaurants. The entire peninsular is full of stunning rock and sand beaches with incredible views towards Napoli. One of the most famous beaches, located in the beautiful town of Positano is Fornillo beach.