Palinuro & il Cilento Itineraries

Capo Palinuro

Palinuro is a seaside resort known internationally, which looks like a limestone spur extending into the southern Tyrrhenian Sea nestled between the green hills covered with olive trees and a clean blue sea. We are in the heart of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). Numerous and beautiful beaches, some sandy, others rich in rocks, some located in the center of the village, others accessible only by boat.

The Bay of Buondormire, with its crystal clear waters, certainly has one of the most romantic beaches on the coast. A masterpiece shaped by nature is the Arco Naturale, with its long beach and the nearby mouth of the Mingardo river. Diving in the depths of Capo Palinuro is one of the most exciting experiences you can experience in Cilento: the pristine sea contains, in fact, a treasure of unimaginable flora and fauna.

Several times the Blue Flag for the coastal bathing, Palinuro has also obtained the Green Flag for its beaches, counted among the best in Italy for families with children. Fascinating is also the spectacle of the coast, which is jagged in a continuous of underwater caves, inlets and garments, to be discovered

The marine caves of Capo Palinuro

No less than 35 caves and submerged caves make Capo Palinuro one of the main centers of interest in Mediterranean speleomarino. The most important, visited by boat and tourist destination, are:

• Blue Grotto: The most famous among the caves of Capo Palinuro and also the most visited. Thanks to a submarine tunnel, in which sunlight penetrates, it generates the characteristic color from which it takes its name.
• Cave of the blood: The cavity has walls rich in iron, which coming into contact with sea water is bright red.
• Cave of the monks: Like the other caves, it is full of stalactites and stalagmites, including some that seem to form small monks in prayer.
• Silver Grotto: It is the smallest of the caves that are generally visited during boat trips. Its walls covered with limestone thickenings create a beautiful light effect, turning the sea into a silver color.
• Sulphurous cave: It is the only one that can only be visited externally, but no less characteristic due to the presence of a sulfurous source with an unpleasant smell.


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Marina di Camerota, Costa Infreschi and Masseta

Marina di Camerota is a daydream, a meeting, a succession of beaches, coves, cliffs and sea beds of incredible clarity, set between two small headlands surmounted by watchtowers. It presents an enchanting spectacle, between the crystalline blue of the sea and the green of its rich vegetation.

Govers of the rocky coast with its characteristic coves and beaches of Marina di Camerota stolen from the sea can quickly reach the beach of the natural arch in the territory of Capo Palinuro or point to the south of the Camerotese coast and go towards Punta degli Infreschi, one of the more pristine stretches of Italy, where nothing has been built.Marina di Camerota is a daydream, a meeting, a succession of beaches, coves, cliffs and sea beds of incredible clarity, set between two small headlands surmounted by towers of sighting. It presents an enchanting spectacle, between the crystalline blue of the sea and the green of its rich vegetation.Marina di Camerota is a daydream, a meeting, a succession of beaches, coves, cliffs and sea depths of incredible clarity, set between two small promontories surmounted by watchtowers. It presents an enchanting spectacle, between the crystalline blue of the sea and the green of its rich vegetation.

The beach of Cala Bianca in Marina di Camerota is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy, the water is crystal clear and the seabed is a paradise for divers. By sea it is certainly the most comfortable way to reach this cove but the stop of the boats is prohibited and the coast guard often passes. Overland the experience is certainly more intense as the path goes on foot and then you have to start with comfortable shoes and clothing more suitable for trekking than bathing and then undressing on the beach.

The Pozzallo Beach has a small restaurant camouflaged in the green that offers every kind of comfort and a tasty lunch, with typical menu of the Cilento tradition, to the swimmers. It is also possible to rent deckchairs. From the place to which you can arrive by car you have to walk a path that leads to the beach in about 15 -30 minutes and for this reason it is advisable to bring comfortable shoes. The beach can also be reached by sea and is one of the landing points of the boats that take tourists on a trip. The sea is crystal clear even if the coming and going of boats can annoy those who love tranquility. Swimming can also be reached in the Pozzallo cave.

Paestum, temples and the museum

Ancient city of Magna Grecia founded with the name of Poseidonia in the VII a.C., still today shows the great wealth of its past. Imposing the 3 perfectly preserved temples, contained in the ruins of the entire city. Of great interest is the archaeological museum, one of the richest in the genre. The fresco of the "Tomba del divatore" is famous all over the world.

Castellabate

The old center has preserved, intact, the typical medieval citadel, on which some noble residences dating back to the seventeenth century have been grafted: in particular the palaces Perrotta and Iaquinto, which deserve a visit for the great quantity of works of art that host. However, the pride of the hilltop village is the Church of Santa Maria de Gula, built in the 12th century and elevated to the rank of the Pontifical Basilica in 1988.

Santa Maria di Castellabate is the largest village, an extremely popular tourist destination, is home to a marine protected area. To visit, the spectacular Punta Tresino, gateway to the Parco del Cilento.

The name of the village has become famous throughout Italy with the films "Benvenuti al Sud" (2009) and "Benvenuti al Nord" (2012) by Luca Miniero.

Archaeological park of Elea Velia

The ancient Greek city of Helea, of great historical and world value as the birthplace of Parmenidea philosophy. In March 1965 the "Porta Rosa" was brought to light, the only evidence of an arch in Greek architecture. Do not forget the "Torre Angioina", symbol of the surrounding area, which rests on the blocks of the Temple of Athena and on the acropolis of the ancient city.

The coasts from Agropoli to Ascea

The gulf of Ascea includes a large coastal territory that offers opportunities and leisures of all types for seaside tourism. Kilometers of relaxing beach, free and equipped, alternate with fascinating coastal rock and petroso, ideal for diving and boat trips. Numerous seaside villages to visit: Marina di Ascea, Casalvelino, Pioppi (with its Vinciprova palace), Acciaroli, continuing on the beautiful coastal road up to Castellabate and Agropoli with their historical corners.

Padula Charterhouse

The Certosa di San Lorenzo is the largest Charterhouse in Italy, second in Europe, and is located in Padula, in the Vallo di Diano, in the Province of Salerno. In 1998 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The monastery has the largest cloister in the world (about 12,000 square meters) and is surrounded by 84 columns. A large spiral staircase, in white marble, leads to the large library of the convent. The main part of the Certosa is in Baroque style and occupies an area of ​​51,500 square meters on which more than 320 rooms are built.

Agropoli

IAn important cultural attraction is the Angevin-Aragonese Castle, which rises majestically in a strategic position on the promontory that dominates the city. Built on a Byzantine structure of the VI century AD it is an unmissable stop. The walk in the historic center is very suggestive (with the possibility of visiting the Church of Our Lady of Constantinople, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows) which preserves intact its original structure with its labyrinth of narrow streets and a breathtaking sea view. The crystalline waters of the Bay of Trentova and of the coast in front of the Lungomare San Marco make Agropoli one of the places awarded every year with the "Blue Flag FEE" certification attesting the cleanliness of the seas, the protection of the environment and the efficiency of the services to tourism

Do not miss a walk to the marina with about 1000 berths, the largest in the south of the Province of Salerno, to admire an evocative panorama that extends over the promontory of the ancient village.