The Authentic Italian Experience.
..... A state of mind …
The Cilento National Park seems that has been able to make a deal with the weather; summer, with shining sun, last from April to the end of October, it offers much History, Culture, Folklores which makes this region famous for it is today. Learn about our cuisine (The Mediterranean Diet and our Wine that the Greek Gods loved) our peopl
e and our past through many of our sightseeing options we offer. For those who are adventurous and crave the outdoors, to embark on day tours, in recreation sites which are protected by Unesco Patrimony, National Park, Naval reserve, WWF and the Blue European Flag, for our 100% clear sea) and provide many activity, everything from horseback to diving is available. For those who are interested in Italy’s amazing past and its architecture can venture off to many museums and historical sites that are all a short drive away. Discovery some of the most beautiful places in the world; Pompeii, Naples, Sorrento coast, Amalfi coast, Positano, Capri, Ischia, Rome and many other places. Are all within reach of day trip, and at night you will get the change to relax in this magic place where time has stopped and stress and chaos are unheard of. The National Park of Cilento represent a microcosm of all human history a rich of event in which sheer barbarity alternates with profound wisdom. the Cilento coast is the common denominator that bring together all those cultural strand, affirming the identity of this unique community which , despite, it's many past sorrow, is now saved from extinction. From the majestic coastline to the inland hill country, from the fertile plain of Vallo di Diano to the rolling pastures of Alburni hill, nature and human history are inextricable bound together. The man, present gives here beyond 500 thousands years, has inhabited coves, put molding on the landscape, constructed castles, Ancient Greeks cities, in a land of brigands and philosophers, between incredibly varied coastal roads, there is an incredible variety of rich vegetation and villages built upon the internal ranges of hills, between castles and fishermen's villages, sky and sea, dream and myth................. Here, for centuries, ancient art and mysteries, history and legends and rites from a life, interrupted by the seasonal cycles of nature, are handed down through the generations. Cilento for thousands of years has inspired poets and singers. Many of the Greek and Roman myths, which are the base of our western culture, have been acclimatized on its coasts. The most famous myth is that of the Mermaid Island Leucosia( Licosa Island) in Odessa. That evil creature, which according to Omero, sang a song which made the passing sailors mad, bringing them to crash with their boats onto the rocks. The Island that inspired the chorister in ancient times was probably the one in front of Punta Licosa, which you will find to the south in the Castellabate area. In front of his sea Ulisse asked to be tied to the main mast, to enable him to listen to that bewitching song. Another important Myth is that of Palinuro, the Helmsman of Enea, during a trip towards the coast of Lazio, falls in the sea, together with the rudder. He hangs on to the wreck for three days, fighting exhaustingly against the roaring waves. But when at last he was safe on the beach, he was savagely killed by the inhabitants of the place, from then on the headland was called Capo Palinuro. Lets leave the Myths and imagination, for the real history of Man which in this land has been hospitated for at least half a million years. Traces of its presents are evident from the middle of Paleolithic and Neolithic times until the metal age. The first men lived in the coast caves of Cilento and Camerota, where the remains of Omo Camaerotensis were found . Materials of the stone industry were discovered at Palinuro. Paleolithic remains were discovered in the caves of Castelcivita, San Giovanni, Piro and San Marco di Castellabate. At Capaccio and Paestum funeral trousseaus from the Neolithic age are buried of the local Gaudo civilization. The discovery of articles and utensils, originally coming from the near Pugliese tables or from the Lipari Island. Above all tells us that even then Cilento was the cross roads for the exchange of goods: Along the inside ridge they kept in contact with the other Alpennini civilisations (away from the transhumance and traffic, places of worship and markets); while the sea brought them near to the Nuragiche civilizations, Aegean and Mediterranean. Then between the V1 and the V11 century A.C. arrived the Greeks. The Sybarite descendants of the Achei founded Poseidon : after in the Roman era, it became Paestum. In the same time, the Focesi, that came from Asia Minore, built Elea (which then became Roman Velia): The flourishing of the Cilento center gave hospitality to the Best Greek Eleatica school of philosophy, created by Senofane in the V1 century A.C., and that of Medicine, which was the origin of the important Medical school of Salerno, mother of the modern western medicine .While at Paestum they continued to make coins, directly taught by the Achei (experts in this art), also in the Roman era. The Cilento history unwinds right up to our days, gathering great and small events. Tying Roman events (Cesare Ottaviano Augusto made a province to grow animals and cultivate food of the Roman tables), the important Medieval facts (The Principality Lombard at Salerno, the advent of the Monarchs, Basiliani and Benedettini, the birth of the Barony with the Sanseverino, their revolt at Capaccio in 1242 against Federico 11), the end of the brigantine epic and on to the next" Moti Cilentani" of 1828, with the spirit of revolt against Francesco 11 of Borbone and his ministers. Today records, monuments, culture and stories tied to this rich history are looked after, thanks to the National Park of Cilento and to the International recognition that followed recently. The first being in June 1997, when Cilento was introduced on the network of the highly known (Riserve della biosfera) Biosphere Reserve Mab-Unesco on all the planet (more than 80 states) you can count about 350 of these particular protected areas , which are needed to protect the different species and to promote the right development with nature and culture. Today the Cilento Park, not only has its precious natural living, it has a major right to protect, that scenery consecrated by the history of Man and his traditions: Villages and ancient paths , even though its" leopard bushes " are a larger environment to defend and to promote . Infect the Park seed's its youngsters as instruments of hope and development for Cilento. The second recognition in 1998 was together with the archaeological sites Paestum and Velia - in the list of patrimony in the world of humanity. This blessing the value of this living "change stronger", knowing the civil role which they have frequented and lived in over thousands of years. "the population like natural species has found in this place contacts cross breeds and fusion, the profiteer of the ge***al patrimony "you can see it in the candidature of the Park," In Cilento there is a meeting between the sea and the mountains, western and eastern, northern and African culture. The small, historic town center of Castellabate, set about 278m above sea-level, is considered one of the most typical towns in Cilento, as was proven with its recognition by U.N.E.S.C.O. who has since become its cultural patron. The original nucleus developed around the castle, constructed in the 1124 by the Abbot of Cava dei Tirreni, Costabile Gentilcore later Saint Costabile (hence the name: Castello dell..Abate/Castle of the Abbot). The complex architectural style of narrow alley-ways and stairways, winding tortuously up and down has been conserved intact and the whole faces out over a panorama which allows one to embrace, in one glance, the bay, stretching from Tresino (the ancient Greek "Trezene" colony) to Punta Licosa (home of the legendary mermaid "Leucosia"). Since the days of the Saracen invasions, this has been the look -out post to check on all access routes. Today the township of Castellabate includes the surrounding villages of Santa Maria, San Marco, Lago, Alano and Ogliastro, with total population of about 7000 people. While the mediaeval center rests serenely on its hill offering visitors its bygone atmosphere, the developing coastal villages are more animated and vivacious: Santa Maria, with the ancient archway of fishermen's cottages, the esplanade and the square, shaded by age-old pine trees, has become the main center, where, between bars, shops and restaurants, a genuine mixture of nature's rhythm and antique tradition join together. From the ancient, fishing village set in the center of the bay, it is possible to reach the tourist port of San Marco (from where one could continue onward to the island of Licosa by boat) and to the long beach of Lago, protected by mount Tresino and the pine-wood which, extending along the cliff side, is reflected in the green of the sea.
