Choosing the Cilento as a destination means allowing yourself to be fascinated by a variety of landscapes that will offer you an exciting spectacle to say the least: gorges crossed by winding torrents, gentle hills covered by centuries-old olive groves that seem to blend in with the lush Mediterranean scrub; immense golden beaches that alternate with dizzying cliffs. It is no coincidence that the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This magical piece of land, located about 150 km south of Naples, shows us an exceptional example of the relationship between man and the natural environment in the Mediterranean from the Middle Palaeolithic to the present day. In addition to the enchanting scenery of a wild and fortunately still uncontaminated territory, the Cilento offers the possibility of living a real experience in contact with a millenary civilisation strongly linked to genuine folk traditions. Anyone wishing to understand the origins of western civilisation and immerse themselves in the obscure places of wisdom will have to visit the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia. Paestum, undoubtedly the most famous site, is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world for its imposing, almost intact Doric temples and the remains of important monuments. Velia, perhaps less well known but in some ways very fascinating, thanks above all to two illustrious citizens: Parmenides, defined as the philosopher of Being, and his disciple Zeno, famous for his paradoxes. Their story leads us to the discovery of an immense heritage of wisdom of which we are perhaps unconsciously heirs. Inland Cilento is characterised by many small villages set against a backdrop of striking mountains: the Alburni, known as the "Dolomites of the South" because of the very light colour of their limestone walls. The Cervati, which at 1900 metres is the highest peak in Campania. Mount Sacro or Gelbison, which is very popular because of the presence on the summit of the sanctuary of the Black Madonna of Novi Velia, a destination for many pilgrims from the end of May to the beginning of October. Mount Bulgheria, which is coloured lilac in June when the wild lavender is in bloom. Finally, Mount Stella, whose five-pointed shape dominates the beautiful villages of Perdifumo, Vatolla and Rocca Cilento. At the foot of the mountains you will be fascinated by the greenery where karst phenomena have carved out wide gorges and mysterious caves in the rocks. Don't miss the Grotte di Castelcivita and the Grotte di Pertosa, which wind through tunnels, tunnels and caves: fairytale scenery due to the presence of stalactites and stalagmites. In the immense underground caverns of these caves, theatrical performances of Dante's Inferno are held every year.
Explore CILENTO, a place to visit at least once in your life./1
