Cetara, Campania

Did You Know?

• Cetara's name probably originates from the Latin word Cetaria (in Greek Ketèia), meaning almadraba (in Italian tonnara), or from cetari, meaning fishmongers of big fishes.
• Cetara was originally a base of an Arab army during the Siege of Salerno.

Monuments and places of interest

The Tower of Cetara, built during the Angevin period in the 16th century, was later transformed and further fortified during the Aragonese domination. The Church and Convent of San Francesco, from the 17th century, has a dome frescoed by the painter Marco Benincasa. The Church of San Pietro Apostolo, renovated in the 18th century, has a Baroque interior, a majolica dome, and a 13th-century bell tower with mullioned windows and an octagonal belfry. The Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli dates to the 19th century.

Culture

Cetara has been used as a film set for the films Man, the Beast, and Virtue, Chestnuts Are Good, Sgarro alla Camorra, Lie, The Sea Is No Comparison, the TV series I Diavoli, and the drama Capri 2. Its traditional cuisine is essentially seafood-based, especially tuna and anchovies. A typical dish is spaghetti with anchovy sauce, which is the result of fermenting anchovies marinated in jars: the ancient Roman "garum." Another popular local delicacy is the so-called "cuòppo," a paper bag containing fish prepared and fried in various ways, especially anchovies and mixed fish. The patronal feast of Saint Peter takes place on June 29th, accompanied by fireworks over the sea.