THE SMALL ROCK OF ROVIGLIANO peeks out above the water at the mouth of river Sarno in the Gulf of Naples. According to legend, this tiny islet originated when the mythical hero Hercules, after returning from the tenth of his twelve labors, detached the top of nearby Mount Faito and hurled it into the sea.

During Roman times, the islet was known as the “Rock of Hercules,” and a temple dedicated to the Greek hero was built here. Later, the island became known as the “Rock of Pliny,” as the famous Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder was found dead nearby after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The current name comes from the town of Rovigliano located on the Amalfi coast near the island.