Cilento

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Cilento is a geographical region that occupies the central and southern part of the Province of Salerno. This area is mostly mountainous, and extends between the rugged coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, and the long valley known as Vallo di Diano to the east. Cilento is known for its beautiful natural environment, popular seaside resorts, rich history, and ancient archaeological sites.

Capaccio Paestum

Capaccio Paestum is a municipality located at the northern end of Cilento, in the Province of Salerno. It is known for hosting the ruins of the ancient Greek and Roman city of Paestum, while the modern town of Capaccio emerged in the Middle Ages.

✪ Archaeological Park of Paestum

Paestum was founded as Poseidonia by Greek settlers around the year 600 BCE, and soon became one of the main centers of Magna Graecia. The city was then conquered by the Lucanians, an Italic people, and became a Roman city in 273 BCE, with the name Paestum. Under the Romans, Paestum remained an important city for centuries, but its importance declined in the Early Middle Ages, as the surrounding area became a marsh, and trade routes moved away from the region. Paestum was then abandoned, and now the Archaeological Park of Paestum (Parco Archeologico di Paestum) houses the ruins of the ancient city. The large park includes the ruins of several structures, most notably three well preserved Greek temples erected between the 6th and 5th century BCE, known as First Temple of Hera (Tempio di Hera I) (or Basilica), Second Temple of Hera (Tempio di Hera II), and Temple of Athena (Tempio di Atena). The complex also includes the ruins of a forum, an amphitheater, and numerous other buildings, and it is surrounded by ancient walls.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Paestum

The National Archaeological Museum of Paestum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum) is located just outside the ruins of Paestum, and houses numerous findings unearthed here. Its large collection includes ancient Greek vases and artworks, and painted slabs from the necropolises near Paestum. Among these is the fresco of the Tomb of the Diver (Tomba del Tuffatore), a rare example of Greek painting from the 5th century BCE.

Heraion at Foce del Sele

The Heraion at Foce del Sele (Heraion alla Foce del Sele) is an archaeological site located near the mouth of the river Sele north of Paestum. The complex includes the ruins of an ancient Greek sanctuary erected around the 6th century BCE. A small museum dedicated to this temple is located near the site, while most of the elaborate metope reliefs found here are now in the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum.

Agropoli

Agropoli is the largest town of Cilento, located along the coast south of Capaccio Paestum. Settled during the Neolithic, it was inhabited by Greeks and Romans, and became a stronghold of the Byzantines and then the Saracens in the Early Middle Ages. The town was later ruled by bishops and local noble families, and now it is a popular seaside resort.

Angevin-Aragonese Castle

The Angevin-Aragonese Castle (Castello Angioino Aragonese) is a fort built on top of a promontory in Agropoli. The castle was built by the Byzantines in the Early Middle Ages, and was expanded under Angevin and Aragonese rule. The structure has a triangular plan, and still features some well preserved and imposing walls and towers.

Scaloni of Agropoli

The Scaloni of Agropoli is a long staircase that climbs from the center of the town toward the top of the promontory where the castle stands. Along the Scaloni is an ancient city gate, and a great view of the town and its port can be enjoyed while climbing the stairs.

Castellabate

Castellabate is a town located just south of Agropoli in the Province of Salerno. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, while the modern town, located on top of a hill, emerged in the Late Middle Ages. The municipality of Castellabate also includes the nearby seaside resorts along the coast.

Santa Maria di Castellabate

Santa Maria di Castellabate is a popular seaside resort located on the coast near Castellabate. The town became a popular tourist destination in the second half of the 20th century, and features a long and beautiful beach. Here is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare (Santuario di Santa Maria a Mare), a Neoclassical sanctuary built in the 19th century over a medieval church and located next to the beach.

Pollica

Pollica is a small town located among the mountains of Cilento, best known for the beautiful coastline that forms part of its territory.

Acciaroli

Acciaroli is a seaside resort in the municipality of Pollica, along the coast of Cilento. The town was founded in the Middle Ages and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations of Cilento in the 20th century, known for its long and beautiful beach and its clean waters.

Ascea

Ascea is a town located on top of a hill next to the coast of Cilento. This was once the site of an ancient Greek and Roman town, and now hosts its ruins. The modern town was founded in the Middle Ages, while the nearby coast features a popular seaside resort called Marina di Ascea.

Archaeological Park of Velia

Founded in the 6th century BCE, Elea was once a flourishing Greek colony. The city became famous for hosting the Eleatics, a group of pre-Socratic philosophers that included Parmenides and Zeno. Elea later became a Roman town with the name Velia, and remained an important center until the Early Middle Ages, when it started to be abandoned. The Archaeological Park of Velia (Parco Archeologico di Velia) now houses the ruins of the ancient city, including various ancient structures such as a section of the walls and the city gates. The site also features some medieval structures, including a large tower.

Palinuro

Palinuro is a popular seaside resort along the coast of Cilento, and forms part of the municipality of Centola. The town has been inhabited since ancient times, and was a fishing village for most of its history, but now it is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Cilento.

Cape Palinuro

Cape Palinuro (Capo Palinuro) is a rocky promontory located along the coast near Palinuro. This place is known for its natural beauty, with tall cliffs overlooking the sea, and surrounded by clean waters. The coast of Cape Palinuro also features some caves on the sea, such as the Grotta Azzurra (“Blue Grotto”).

Camerota

Camerota is a small town located among the hills of Cilento, near the coast east of Palinuro. The village has a medieval old town, but it is best known for the popular seaside resort of Marina di Camerota.

Marina di Camerota

Marina di Camerota is a seaside resort located on the coast of Cilento in the municipality of Camerota. This town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in this region, and features various beaches and clean waters. The surrounding territory also houses various caves and cliffs on the sea.

Santa Marina

Santa Marina is a tiny town in the Province of Salerno, located among the hills of southern Cilento. Its municipality includes the famous seaside resort of Policastro Bussentino.

Policastro Bussentino

Policastro Bussentino is a seaside resort located on the Gulf of Policastro along the coast of Cilento, and forms part of the municipality of Santa Marina. The town was founded by Greek settlers in the 5th century BCE, and later became a Roman city and then a Byzantine stronghold. Policastro Bussentino remained an important center throughout its long history, and it is now a famous tourist destination thanks to its beautiful beaches and clean waters.

Sapri

Sapri is a town located on a small bay on the Gulf of Policastro, at the southern end of Cilento. The town has been inhabited since ancient times, but has only emerged recently as a seaside resort.

Sapri Promenade

The seaside promenade of Sapri runs along the coast of the town. The horseshoe-shaped and tree-lined promenade features a long beach and some ancient Roman ruins are located at its western end.

Castelcivita

Castelcivita is a tiny town located at the foot of the mountains east of Capaccio Paestum. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and the town is now famous for a nearby cave system.

✪ Castelcivita Caves

The Castelcivita Caves (Grotte di Castelcivita) are a cave system located near Castelcivita. The caves run for kilometers under the mountains, and are known for hosting numerous large stalactites and stalagmites. The caves were inhabited by Neanderthals around 42,000 years ago, as suggested by various objects and remains found here.

Pertosa

Pertosa is a tiny town located among the mountains at the northern end of Cilento. The town emerged in the Middle Ages, and it is known for its large cave system.

✪ Pertosa Caves

Also known as: Pertosa-Auletta Caves (Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta), Angel Caves (Grotte dell’Angelo)

The Pertosa Caves (Grotte di Pertosa) are a complex of karst caves located between the municipalities of Pertosa, Auletta, and Polla in the Province of Salerno. These caves are crossed by a river, and the visit to the complex includes a unique underground boat ride. Several rock formations such as stalactites and stalagmites are located inside the caves, which are also sometimes used to host theatrical representations.

Padula

Padula is a small town in the Vallo di Diano, at the eastern end of Cilento in the Province of Salerno. Settled in ancient times, it was inhabited by Italic peoples and then the Romans. After a period of decline, the town became known for hosting a large charterhouse, which is now a major tourist attraction.

✪ Padula Charterhouse

Also known as: Charterhouse of San Lorenzo (Certosa di San Lorenzo)

The Padula Charterhouse (Certosa di Padula) is the largest monastery in Italy, located just outside the town of Padula. The monastery was founded in 1306, and was built over the following centuries, with many Baroque additions between the 16th and 18th century. The complex includes various buildings with hundreds of rooms that house many objects showcasing the traditional life of the monks that lived here. The monastery has an elaborate facade, and also features the largest cloister in the world, while the main church is richly decorated with Baroque ornaments. Part of the complex houses the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Western Lucania (Museo Archeologico Provinciale della Lucania Occidentale). This museum includes numerous archaeological findings from the surrounding territory, dating between prehistory and the Early Middle Ages.