Lido delle Monache / spiaggia libera di Posillipo e Riva Fiorita
Posillipo
Hidden gemFree beaches
The story
Tiny coves among the rocks, once the bathing place of the nuns of a convent above the sea: almost secret free beaches, reachable mostly from the water.
Access
FREE
The story
Beneath the villas and cliffs of Posillipo hide some free beaches dear to the Neapolitans. The Lido delle Monache is the best known: a small public beach reachable by going down a passage beneath a building, opposite Palazzo Donn'Anna, the scenic seventeenth-century residence facing the sea. A little beyond, the area of Riva Fiorita completes this stretch of coast.
What to see
A corner of city sea at the foot of the hill, with a view of Palazzo Donn'Anna and the gulf. It is a compact and working-class beach, without establishment services: the charm lies precisely in bathing in the city, among rocks and clear water, on one of the most beautiful stretches of Posillipo.
Hours and prices
Free entry.
Tips
Access to the Lido delle Monache is pedestrian, through a passage and some steps: go down with suitable footwear and bring the essentials, because there are no services. It is a much-loved free beach, so crowded on summer weekends: better to go early.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lido delle Monache?
A small free beach of Posillipo, at the foot of the hill, reachable on foot from a passage beneath a building opposite Palazzo Donn'Anna.
Are there services?
No, it is a free beach without establishment services: it is best to bring the essentials and go down with suitable footwear, because access is on foot among steps and passages.
What is Palazzo Donn'Anna?
A scenic seventeenth-century residence facing the sea at Posillipo, which forms the backdrop to this stretch of coast and to the Lido delle Monache.
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