a hidden gem in sorrento

3 miles outside of downtown Sorrento, sits this beautiful natural lagoon you can swim in

If you find yourself in Sorrento looking to swim outside of the standard beach clubs, you’ve come to the right post. A little over 3 miles away from downtown Sorrento, sits Bagni della Regina Giovanna. It's a natural lagoon formed by a collapsed cave that connects to the sea with a natural archway. It's absolutely beautiful.

It's named after Queen Giovanna d'Angio who ruled Naples in the 14th century and was rumored to have gone to the caves to see her lovers. The cove was once part of a luxurious Roman villa with the pool serving as its inner harbor but is now a swimming area for locals and tourists.

Despite only being 3 miles away, I don't recommend walking there. Grab a taxi and head there with lunch and drinks on hand. There are no bathrooms or cafes onsite at the lagoon so pack wisely. Definitely wear comfortable shoes and bring water shoes if you have them. Once you get dropped off, you'll need to walk a good bit to get to the water. Once you're there, it's nice to have shoes that can get wet since the rocks can get rough on your feet as you climb up and down after swimming.

The most beautiful area is also the most crowded inside the cove so we opted to set up outside of it with a view of the ocean and of the archway.