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LOCAL
HISTORY:
The history of this
area is very
ancient. It was
called by the Greeks
“ Promontorium
Minervae” because of
the presence of a
temple dedicated to
the goddess Minerva;
what more the
presence of Apollo’s
temple in the
surroundings of the
Cropolla fiord that
gives it its name is
certain, but yet to
be traced is the
celebrated temple
dedicated to the
cult of the mermaids
as it was described
by the historians
Plinio, Strabone and
Aristotele.
The name Nerano most
likely is due to
Tiberio Nerone the
roman emperor, who
chose Capri as his
favourite summer
resort. From the
blue island the
emperor sailed with
his ships to the
coast and struck by
the beauty of Marina
del Cantone decided
to build another
Villa in addition to
his twelve ones in
Capri. From the
emperor’s name
derived “ neronianum”
and therefore
today’s name Nerano.
The curious thing is
that two thousand
years passed from
then but still today
the VIP spending
their holidays in
Capri, still sail
from there in their
luxurious yachts to
the coast to take a
dip in the crystal
blue green waters of
Nerano or to enjoy
the renowned food of
the local
restaurants.
During centuries,
Nerano, which in
origin was one of
the hamlets of
Massalubrense, was
subjected to the
controversial
historical events of
the Sorrento
peninsula of which
the most striking
were cruel and
devastating raids of
the Saracen pirates
commanded by Pialì
Pascià who sacked
Nerano on the 13th
of June 1558. The
Turkish army landed
on the Marina del
Cantone with 2000
men while the fleet
of 120 galleys
sailed to the gulf
of Naples. The
population
frightened by the
sight of the ships
fled to the hills
seeking refuge but
found the pirates
there who had
already devastated
Nerano. The most
terrible crimes were
committed and
culminated by the
deportation of 1500
local people to
Constantinopoli.
In the last century,
during the 1st
and 2nd
world war Nerano
went trough very
hard moments of
poverty and hunger.
During this time
there was the
opening of a quarry
in the Jeranto Bay,
that gave work to
many and with the
arrival of many
miners from Sardinia
brought with their
integration a change
in the customs and
folklore of the
village.
Nerano today is an
important seaside
resort and famous
world – wide for the
beauty of its coast,
sea and underwater
caves but also for
the local food
specialities like
the famous “
spaghetti with
zucchine”. |
