Cilento Travel Guide

One of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas of southern Italy, the Cilento stretches from the clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to Campania's mountainous interior.
Home to the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, the area has beautiful coastlines and swimming, great hiking, caves to explore, and charming seaside towns and mountain villages.

For those in search of Italy’s archaeological treasures, the Cilento is home to the ruins of the Greek colony Velia, and it is an easy day trip to the famous Greek temples at Paestum.

Top Ten Things to See and Do
Hike in the mountains up to Monte Alburno or Monte Cervati.
Marvel at the Greek temples at Paestum.
See the Carthusian Monastery of San Lorenzo in Padula (Certosa di Padula).
Visit the picturesque seaside town of Palinuro and nearby Cape Palinuro.
Walking around the historic centre and waterfront of Agropoli and Santa Maria di Castellabate.
Explore the grottoes at Castelcivita.
Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Velia.
Drive down the dramatic and beautiful Cilento Coast.
Try the sweet white figs of the Cilento.
Explore the sinkholes near charming medieval town of Morigerati.

Events

September 21st - Festival of San Matteo
To honour the Patron saint San Matteo whose remains are held in the city’s impressive Duomo.
An elaborate procession of six large statues, and an evening carnival along the waterfront with rides, local food specialties and fireworks display.

August - The Night of the Myth
A three day celebration of San Matteo (St. Matthew), at Casal Velino, the saint's original home. Features cultural, music, and gastronomic events.

Local Food and Drink

Fico Bianco del Cilento DOP
Fig trees have been a part of the landscape of Italy’s Campania region since Greek settlers introduced them in the 6th century BC.
The 'Fico Bianco del Cilento' tree produces a variety of white figs that has been granted the DOP label (Protected Designation of Origin) by the European Union. Try the Cilento figs fresh or dried, or look for them in one of the regional dishes of the area.

Soppressata di Gioi Cilento
While regions across Italy are famous for the production of fine salami and smoked meats, the Cilento produces a traditional dry-cured variety called 'soppressata', unique because the meat is formed around a center of fat.
While it might not sound appealing at first, one taste and you’ll know why it is a popular indulgence in the Cilento.

The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park
The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park covers 450,000 acres (182,000 hectares) of protected land extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea up to the Apennine Mountains with rare plant species, including the primula of Palinuro, the symbol of the park, and the wild orchid of San Giovanni a Piro.
Swim along the rugged coastline, hike to the top of Mount Cervati or explore the sea caves along the sea caves of the Cape of Palinuro and inland grottos at Castelcivita and Pertosa.

How to Get There

The Cilento is located in the southernmost part of the province of Salerno in Campania. It is a large area best explored by car, but can also be reached by public transport from Naples and Salerno.
By Plane: The Naples Capodichino Airport is the closest major airport to the Cilento, providing easy access from many of Italy and Europe’s major cities and from New York.
By Car: The best way to see the Cilento and National Park is by car. To reach the Cilento, you can use any number of combinations of the A3/E45 freeway, road 18 heading south from Paestum, and the roads 267 and 447 that go along the coastline. Be aware that these roads, including the motorways can be very crowded in August when Italians head to the beaches for vacation.
By Bus: Salerno’s transportation authority CSTP has lines connecting Salerno with
Naples, Paestum, Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabate, and other cities along the coast where you can connect to lines servicing the interior of the Cilento.
By Boat: Naples is the closest major port to the Cilento, and during summer months Metrò del Mare offers a regular boat service to cities along the Cilento coast, including San Marco, Acciaroli, Casal Velino and Palinuro. Please note that ferry schedules are more limited or cancelled during the off season winter months.
By Rail: Italy’s Intercity and Eurostar trains connect Salerno to Naples in about 40 minutes. Heading south toward Reggio Calabria, most Intercity trains stop at Battipaglia, where you can transfer to a local trains to Paestum, Agropoli and Sapri, while the Eurostars stop only at Sapri.