Carthusian Monastery of San Lorenzo

The Carthusian monastery in Padula is the largest monastery complex in southern Italy and one of the most interesting in Europe due to its architectural splendour. Construction began in 1306, but only a few elements from this period remain, such as the main gate and the cross vaults of the church.

The most impressive part is the rectangular outdoor courtyard, which ends with an elliptical staircase with a double ramp, an architectural marvel with seven huge windows.

Baptistry of San Giovanni in Fonte

Also in Padula, you can visit the early Christian baptistry of San Giovanni in Fonte, which was built in the 4th century and is one of the oldest Christian baptistries in the entire Occident.

The special thing about this baptistry is that the baptismal font is not artificially filled as in other religious buildings but is naturally fed with water as it was built over a year-round spring. This fact, which was already something special, took on a miraculous aspect when the spring swelled every year at Easter time and filled the font, making baptism by immersion possible. The miracle attracted more and more devotees and became a sacred place for pilgrims. It is possible to visit the original building in which the font is located and the chapel with the newer portico.

Paestum

Paestum is known throughout the world for its magnificent temples, but ancient Poseidonia was a city founded in the 7th century BC by Greek settlers from Sybaris. In 273 BC it was conquered by the Romans and renamed Paestum. The city reached its heyday at that time.

Due to the overflowing of the river Salso, the marshlands began to expand and the urban settlement around the Temple of Ceres began to dwindle until the area was completely abandoned in the 9th century AD.

Visiting the Via Sacra you can see areas dedicated to worship, public areas and even housing units. Also visible from the Roman period are the Forum and the Italic Temple.

But undoubtedly the most impressive part is the sacred area, with the Doric temples. The largest and most majestic is the temple of Neptune built in the mid-5th century BC. In addition to the archaeological area, we also recommend a visit to the archaeological museum with its exhibits, especially the beautiful painted tombs from the necropolis.

Velia

In the archaeological area of Velia lies the ancient city of Elea, founded around 540 BC by a group of exiles from the Greek city of Focea in present-day Turkey. The city developed during the Hellenistic period and much of the Roman era. In the Middle Ages, the settlement retreated to the Acropolis where a castle was built.

It is well worthwhile visiting the thermal complex from the Hellenistic period, where steam conduction systems and a large rectangular bath for hot bathing are visible. On the Acropolis, you can see the remains of a theatre built in Roman times on the remains of an older one and a temple.

The Angevin Tower, the remains of the walls and two churches are preserved from the Middle Ages.

An ancient village of medieval origins located some 300 metres above sea level and characterised by narrow cobbled streets, old buildings with elegant courtyards and terraces overlooking enchanting landscapes. The main characteristic of this village is to be found in its

‘slow pace’; the locality has managed to maintain this relaxing aspect over the years, adding to its charm. The Abbot’s Castle is well noticeable, erected in 1123 with the purpose of defending the town from Saracen attacks. Another place of historical interest is the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria di Gulia, a 12th century Romanesque church with a 16th century façade.

The caves are in the Monti Alburni massif and are the only caves in Italy where it is possible to navigate an underground river, the Nigro. They also have the distinction of preserving an underground pile-dwelling village dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. The cave system is so extensive that complete mapping is proving difficult.

The visit to the caves takes you on a fascinating boat trip, at a constant temperature of 15°C, immersed in a silence only interrupted by the roar of the underground waterfall.

Roscigno is a municipality of about 700 inhabitants in the province of Salerno, but the real village to visit is Roscigno Vecchia, the historical town about 2 km from the present municipality. Continuous landslides, which began in the 16th century, forced the village to be relocated several times. Today Roscigno Vecchia is a true museum town. Unaffected by modernity, the village retains the urban features of an agricultural centre built between the 18th and 19th centuries.

Don’t miss a visit to the unpaved Giovanni Nicotera square with its century-old trees. In the square you will find a beautiful circular stone fountain, a drinking trough and the 18th-century Church of St Nicholas of Bari. The village is divided into several clusters of houses depending on the trades of the owners, the stone portals of which enable you to distinguish which was which.

This is one of the most fascinating and mystical places in the Cilento region, also known as Monte Sacro. The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Novi Velia stands on the summit of the mountain. The sanctuary can be reached by car as far as Croce di Rofrano, from where it is a short walk up the steps to the top. From the peak of the mountain, you will be able to admire sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The mountain also boasts an enormous environmental and natural heritage. Its slopes are rich in streams with rivulets and waterfalls, and you can visit old mills and olive presses. If you enjoy hiking, from Montano Antilia you can reach the Sanctuary by following a path of about 14 km.

This is one of the most fascinating and mystical places in the Cilento region, also known as Monte Sacro. The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Novi Velia stands on the summit of the mountain. The sanctuary can be reached by car as far as Croce di Rofrano, from where it is a short walk up the steps to the top. From the peak of the mountain, you will be able to admire sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and mountains. The mountain also boasts an enormous environmental and natural heritage. Its slopes are rich in streams with rivulets and waterfalls, and you can visit old mills and olive presses. If you enjoy hiking, from Montano Antilia you can reach the Sanctuary by following a path of about 14 km.

A small Cilento village that rises as a watershed between the Mingardo and Bussento rivers. In the highest part of the village, the remains of the ancient castle are still visible. In the castle grounds there is also a small chapel dedicated to the Glorious Virgin.

One of the most important archaeological sites in Campania dating back to the 4th-3rd century BC is to be found in Rocca. Of particular interest are the necropoli with overground tombs. The numerous finds are kept in the two museums, the Antiquarium in Piazza del Popolo, with the large painted vases from the necropolis, and the ‘Antonella Fiammenghi’

Museum, where gold and precious artefacts are kept, in addition to weapons and bronze vases.