The sea is not Cileto’s only jewel, it has natural parks, archaeological sites, and medieval villages. Come with us and discover five places to visit in Cilento that will leave you absolutely breathless!
What comes to mind when talking about Cilento? Of course, the beautiful sea and the coast’s many enchanting beaches, each one distinctively alluring. But this beautiful area also offers much more: it boasts a great heritage of history, art, and culture to be discovered, with truly magnificent natural landscapes.
That’s why we suggest five places to visit in the beautiful Cilento backcountry: are you ready to be amazed?
The archaeological site of Paestum
Parco Archeologico di Paestum – ph. Francesco Valletta – Carmine Aquino
Paestum is an extraordinary archaeological monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visiting this place means immersing yourself in ancient history, walking among the well-preserved remains of the Ancient Greek civilization, followed by those of Lucania and Rome. Dominating the scene, you will find the three magnificent temples dedicated to Poseidon, Hera and Ceres in the middle of a green plain.
© Parco Archeologico di Paestum – ph. Francesco Valletta – Carmine Aquino
Then be sure not to miss a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, where you will find an impressive collection of artifacts that tell the story of the place and the daily lives of its ancient inhabitants.
The Cilento National Park, Vallo di Diano and
Nature is the great protagonist of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a protected area of about 36,000 hectares that stretches from the slopes of the Apennines to embrace the beautiful Cilento coast.
© Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park – ph. Biagio D’Aniello
This park is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna: from mountain peaks that are home to eagles and peregrine falcons, to pastures inhabited by wolves and colorful butterflies. Dense beech forests are drained by streams where you can encounter otters, countless fish species and (if you’re lucky) the rare spectacled salamander.
© Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park – ph. Biagio D’Aniello
The medieval village of Teggiano
© Pro Loco Teggiano
Best known for its 13 small churches, Teggiano is a exquisite medieval gem perched on top of a rolling, a UNESCO heritage since 2008. Lose yourself in its narrow streets (the “carrare”) and visit the Herb Museum, with its intriguing collection of ancient natural remedies.
© Pro Loco Teggiano
Among the most important buildings, we also recommend you admire the Convent of the Santissima Pietà, founded in the 14th century, and the Macchiaroli Castle from the Norman era.
© Pro Loco Teggiano
If you are in Teggiano during mid-August week (Italy’s Ferragosto), another not-to-be-missed event is the historical re-enactment “Alla Tavola della Principessa Costanza”. From 11 to 13 August, Teggiano steps back in time to relive the historic 1480 wedding between Antonello Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno and Lord of Diano, and Costanza, daughter of Federico da Montefeltro, the great Duke of Urbino. Immersed in a throng of flag wavers, musicians, and costumed paraders, you’ll feel like you’re in a movie!
The Pertosa-Auletta caves
© Fondazione MIdA – ph. Paolo Ippolito
Among the wonders of Cilento, you cannot miss the Pertosa-Auletta caves, a very long system of caves (about 3 km!) carved by nature over thousands of years, with striking rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. You can board a boat and sail on the underground Negro River enveloped by the sound of roaring waterfalls, admiring the most striking caverns: the Hall of Paradise, the Hall of Sponges, and the Arm of Wonders.
Certosa di Padula
© Guglielmo D’Arezzo via Flickr
The final leg of our Cilento journey takes us into a historical and spiritual dimension. The Charterhouse of San Lorenzo in Padula is a splendid 14th century Carthusian monastery, later developed in a predominantly Baroque style, which extends over an area of over 51 thousand square meters.
It is the second-largest Charterhouse in the world after that of Grenoble. Pause to admire the poise and beauty of the large cloister, the precious marbles of the Chapel, the library, and the spacious wine cellars.
Discovering Cilento with Itabus
Summer 2017 is the ideal time to start discovering nature and Cilento’s past. With its high-speed trains, Italo takes you to Salerno, and then with Itabus to the most interesting Cilento locations: from 15 June to 15 September you have 6 daily connections to Paestum, Padula, Teggiano and many other gems. All with a single train+bus combo ticket!
And with the 2017 promotion “Discover Cilento… we’ll take care of the trip”, if you stay at participating facilities for at least five days, you are entitled to a refund on your Italo train ticket up to a maximum of €50 per person (or €100 euros, if you stay at least two weeks).
