VELIA
The ancient city of Elea – Velia was founded by the Focei around 540 BC. coming from the town of Focea on the coast of Turkey, following the siege of the Persians. Elea was a flourishing city of Magna Grascia and had among its distinguished men the philosopher Parmenide, father of the Elephasic Philosophical School, Zenone, founder of dialectics. It was also home to an important Medical School based on the philosophical teachings of Parmenide. From this school the Medical School Salernitana descended. He was later an ally of Rome and at this time renowned climate station, assuming the name of Velia. It is now possible to visit the rich archaeological area comprising the city’s various districts, the Acropolis with the base of the Temple of Athena and the Angioine Tower built over in Angioinus, the Porta Rosa, the only example of arch to all sixths of Greek architecture , the Terme, etc. The archaeological area, during the summer, hosts various cultural manifestations of remarkable suggestion and artistic interest.
CERTOSA DI PADULA
Dedicated to San Lorenzo was erected between 1306 and the end of the eighteenth century, begun by Count Tommaso Sanseverino, grandson of Thomas Aquinas, and by the Order Friars Certosini of the Order founded by San Bruno of Cologne, is with its 51,000 square meters extension between covered surfaces and cloisters the largest and monumental monastery in southern Italy. It is a true city – a self-sufficient monastery. To visit the magnificent large cloister, the splendid octagonal staircase, the minor cloisters, the various chapels, all the paintings present there, and so on. Interesting initiatives from the Superintendence to B.A.A.A.S. of Salerno and Avellino, which provide for the use of the Carthusian environments for the realization of exhibitions of Italian artists rotating throughout the year.
PAESTUM It is undoubtedly the most remarkable and evocative urban architectural complex, perfectly identifiable by Magna Graecia today, preserved throughout the Mediterranean basin, a fundamental stage for those who want to know classical architecture. The city was founded by the Achaeans in the 7th century BC. C. under the name of Poseidonia, then changed into the Paistom lance and later, during the Roman domination, Paestum. It is enclosed by a fortification of towers and walls, within which the magnificent remains of three Doric temples are located: the so-called Basilica of the 550 BC; the Temple of Ceres of 500 BC ; and the superb, perfectly integrative in architectural structures, Neptune 450 BC, as well as numerous examples of civil and religious public buildings such as the Temple of Italo, the Agora, the Gymnasium, the Amphitheater, the Thermae and so on. It is possible to visit the famous National Museum, constantly enriched by new finds, in addition to the finds from the archaeological area of Elea-Velia, the famous frescoes of the Tomb of the Diver, a rare example of existing Greek wall painting dating back to 480 a. C.
PAESTUM
Paestum is an ancient city of Magna Grecia sacred to Poseidon (called Poseidonia) but also devoted to Hera and Athens. Its territory is still today covered by the Greek walls, as well as modified in the Lucan and Roman times then.
It is located in Campania, in the province of Salerno, in the municipality of Capaccio [1], about 30 kilometers south of the province’s capital (97 km south of Naples). It is located in the Piana del Sele, near the coast, in the gulf of Salerno, towards the Cilento.
The city was founded towards the end of the 7th century BC. from Greek colonists coming from Sibari (Sybaris) under the name Poseidonia. The wealth of the city is documented by the construction between the VI and the fifth century BC. of great temples whose ruins have been well preserved to this day.
Following the invasion of the Sibarites, some “Pestana exiles” took refuge in the hinterland, creating the settlement of Contron.
In the 5th century BC the Lucani, a Sabellic Italian soldier, conquered the city and gave it the name of Paistom. In 273 BC became a Roman colony of Latin law with the name of Paestum after the city had sited for the loser Pirro in the war against Rome at the beginning of the 3rd century BC.
The city remained under Roman rule, but began to decline between the fourth and the seventh centuries, probably due to changes in the drainage that led to tampering and the simultaneous arrival in Europe of malaria. After the destruction of the Saracens in the 9th century and the Normans in XI, the site was abandoned during the Middle Ages, when the inhabitants moved away and founded Capaccio.
COSTA CILENTANA
The Cilento Coast includes some of the most fascinating and interesting features of the entire Mediterranean basin. Some of his pearls are definitely Palinuro, Punta Licosa at the coast of Marina di Camerota. The whole coast, in spite of its great winds, gives strong emotions thanks to the succession of fine sandy beaches and high cliffs perched on caves and creeks and covered with thick Mediterranean vegetation, whose guard still resisted the defense towers of the Spanish Viceregno (Sixteenth century) scattered at the most spectacular spots and built to defend themselves from the raids of Barbarians and Turks when the danger came from the sea. The whole coast offers beautiful boat trips, where untouched corners can be reached, or you can visit one of the many marinas or countries that face the sea, such as Agropoli S. Maria di Castellabate, Punta Licosa with its pines pine Aleppo, Agnone Cilento, Acciaroli, where Hemingwai, Pioppi and its Sea Museum, Ascea Marina, Pisciotta, Palinuro with the Blue Grotto, Marina di Camerota and its caves rich in fossils and fresh water springs at the level of the sea, the bay of the Infreschi, marine reserve, Scario and so on.
PARCONATIONAL CILENT
The Park is one of the largest in Italy and because of its interest, due to its biodiversity, it has been included in the World Biosphere Reserve network. Both flora and fauna are very rich. As far as flora is concerned, we can remember the Primula Palinuri, the symbol of the Park, Aleppo Pine, the plurisecular and majestic Pisciottano olive grove, beech, cherry and chestnut woods, Mediterranean vegetation, etc. The fauna, equally rich, hosts the octopus in the rivers Heat, Mingard and Sammaro, the wolf has been observed on Mount Cervati and Alburni, the rate of the weasel, the eagle, the buzzard, the green and black woodpecker, etc .. Necessary will be the excursions to the territory of the Park to visit the historical centers and villages perched on the hills, immersed in the greenery, among the myriad of gastronomic events and local traditions, where you can taste salami, wines, cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, bread in the house, chestnuts, honey, etc., or abandon yourself to the most exciting manifestations of nature on both the highest mountains of Cilento, such as Monte Cervati, Gelbison, Bulgheria, the Alburni Mountains and along the coasts from Punta Licosa to Cape Palinuro to the Bay of the Infra.
It is possible to arrange guided tours at the places indicated or to give directions on excursions already organized on site.