A natural pool among Roman ruins
On the tip of Capo di Sorrento, a short walk from the town, lies one of the most enchanting corners of the Sorrento peninsula: the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, the "Baths of Queen Joan". It is a small natural pool of transparent emerald water, enclosed by rocks and connected to the open sea through a natural arch, surrounded by the ruins of the Roman Villa of Pollio Felix, built in the first century BC.
The name comes from the legend that Queen Joan of Anjou, who ruled Naples in the fourteenth century, came here to bathe in secret, and also, it is said, with her lovers. Today it is a free place to swim in summer, reached by a footpath through olive groves and then down to the rocks. Paths lead around the headland among the remains of the villa, with views over the gulf as far as Naples and Vesuvius.
Tip: in July and August it gets very crowded, so arrive early; wear shoes suited to rocks, as there is no beach. From Sorrento take the bus towards Massa Lubrense and get off at Capo.
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