Spending a holiday in Cilento means immersing yourself in a unique and extraordinary reality where natural elements blend with human and historical ones to involve the tourist in a succession of emotions. If you want a journey to discover an ancient past, an uncontaminated nature to the song of myths and sirens, then you can’t help but go to Cilento. This is an uncontaminated corner made of unprecedented landscapes and magical glimpses in the shade of ancient columns while a luxuriant vegetation caresses you with its foliage. The journey to discover the wonders of Cilento starts from the past to get to know a present full of pleasant news in the name of sport, sea and fun. Cilento is for family tourism, for singles and couples who want to carve out days dedicated to relaxation. Let’s see, now to get to know this welcoming piece of land from Campania better.

Cilento: history, culture and nature

Cilento is a strip of land in the province of Salerno. The area is bordered to the north by the Alburni mountain chain and by the Vallo del Diano to the east. The landscape flows with changing scenery and colors that from the dense forest vegetation reaches the crystalline waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Ancient history blends with imaginary tales thus giving birth to stories that are handed down from generation to generation. These places were frequented since prehistoric times. Ancient evidence suggests that man already lived there in the Paleolithic and Neolithic times thanks to the presence of numerous caves in Camerota, Palinuro, Castelcivita, San Marco di Castellabate which offered hospitality.

Today, as then, Cilento is a hospitable land that opens up to tourists curious to know its secrets through trekking, excursions, guided tours and much more. The activities to be carried out in this area are many. The Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park was established in 1991 and in 1998 it was included among the assets that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the park it is ideally possible to make a journey through time accompanied by the local flora and fauna including numerous protected species. The discovery of the park will be gladdened by the possible encounter with the porcupine, the stone marten, the squirrel and the otter. Towards the interior, however, the Apennine hare, the fox and the wild cat could peep out.

Archaeological sites of Cilento: witnesses of past, present and future events

The archaeological remains of Cilento are to be considered the true witnesses of the historical and human events that have occurred over the centuries. Paestum is certainly the best known site in the world and sheds light on how life was organized at the time of Magna Graecia. The archaeological area includes the splendid temples that retain their original shape, the Necropolis, the sanctuary and the remains of the ancient town from which it is clear that there was certainly a forum, a swimming pool and an amphitheater. Near Ascea, it is possible to visit the remains of the ancient city of Velia founded by the Focei after they were expelled from Asia Minor by the Persians. Continuing to discover the treasures of Ancient Greece, the visit to the excavations of Civitella can be considered a continuation of life in the Greek and Roman colonies with finds that speak of the daily life of these populations. The path of the Prehistoric Cliffs, on the other hand, is a project animated by young people who will lead to the discovery of the caves of Marina di Camerota.

The Cilento coast

The Cilento Coast is the stretch of the Campania coast between the Gulf of Salerno and the Gulf of Policastro. By choosing to stay overnight in Agropoli at AnReale Rooms you can easily reach the coastal resorts for swimming in the sea and water activities in the clear and fresh waters of the southern Tyrrhenian. The Cilento sea boasts numerous mentions for the quality of the seaside landscape. In fact, in the Blue Guide of Legambiente, 10 locations on the Cilento coast are mentioned. Another 8, on the other hand, received the FEE Blue Flag. You just have to discover how intoxicating it is to spend a beach holiday kissed by the warm sun of the Campania region. Tourism in Cilento is recommended for young and old. The beaches are many and each with a different physical conformation.

The beach of Saline di Palinuro, for example, is characterized by a strip of fine white sand lapped by a crystalline sea whose water is shallow for tens of meters. Likewise, the Mingardo beach in Marina di Camerota is shallow and sandy where children will find fun to play while having fun in safety. If you are traveling as a couple or alone, do not miss to know the most intimate and suggestive beaches of the Cilento coast.
Punta Licosa is part of the Marine Protected Area of ​​Santa Maria di Castellabate and through the pine forest you can reach a cove from which to immerse yourself in a unique and suggestive context. In Marina di Ascea, on the other hand, there is a fine and sandy beach before the rocky stretch characterized by hidden coves and bays begins. If you are a couple, don’t forget to walk the famous Lovers’ Path.

Trekking in Cilento: the best trails

The varied territory of Cilento passes from the fine sea sand to the rocky walls of the interior. The trekking paths have been studied in order to make the tourist excursion conducted on foot or on horseback through mule tracks and rural lanes even more suggestive. The best known trekking paths in Cilento that climb inland from the coast are: the one that starts from Trentanova di Agropoli, that of San Marco, the Path of Lovers in Ascea and that of Masseta. There are, then, paths in the internal area of ​​the region that will take you into the woods of the Cilento mountains. The paths of Montestella, Monte Sacro Gelbison, Monte Bulgheria and Monte Cervati start from their respective municipalities. If you choose to go trekking in this area, do not miss to reach the top of important mountain peaks from which to enjoy a breathtaking view.