Cilento, land bell rolling hills covered by olive trees that are reflected in the blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea, has always been a crossroads of peoples and traditions. Crossed by lively streams, rich in chestnut and holm oak, its beautiful landscape is interrupted by villages clinging to the rocks or laid on the sea shores.
It is here that stands the magnificent National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano with the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the Certosa di Padula, inserted in 1998 in the world heritage list of UNESCO.
National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano
The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, second largest park in Italy in size, extends from the Tyrrhenian coast to the foot of the Apennines in Campania and Basilicata and preserves numerous traces of human presence.
The Park includes the peaks of the Alburni, Cervati and Gelbison and the coastal buttresses of Mount Bulgheria and Mount Stella.
The floristic population of the Park consists of about 1800 species of wild native plants, but also the fauna is very diversified thanks to the variety of environments in the area.
coastal and mountainous areas, rivers and streams, cliffs and forests, the habitat of many wildlife areas bolster the presence of species of high conservation value, such as the peregrine falcon.
On the peaks, on the altitude of the prairies and mountain cliffs, are frequently the wolf, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and its favorite prey: the partridge (rock partridge) and the Hare Apennine (Corsican Hare).
The extraordinary natural characteristics, due to the considerable heterogeneity of the territory, are flanked by the mythical and mysterious character of a land rich in history and culture: the call of nymph Leucosia, the beaches where the destinies of Aeneas Palinuro and have separated, the remains of Greek colonies of Elea / Velia and Paestum, the wonderful Certosa di Padula. The latter three sites are the main cultural attractions of national and international importance that have allowed the park to boast the prestigious award of World Heritage Site by UNESCO released.
Paestum
One of the most important monuments of Ancient Greece, called by the founders Poseidonia in honor of Poseidon, but devoted to Hera and Athena.
A Paestum are countless artifacts and decorative artifacts, many of which are kept in the National archeologic museum. Of immense beauty are the three temples of the Doric order arrived in good condition, as to be regarded as unique examples of Magna Graecia: the Temple of Neptune (530 BC) actually dedicated to Hera and built in sandstone, it is the largest between the temples of Paestum; the Temple of Athena (500 BC), also known as the Temple of Ceres; the Basilica (540 a.c.) which is actually a temple dedicated to Hera.
Elea / Velia
ancient center of Magna Grecia, founded in the sixth century BC, are the port area, Porta Marina, Porta Rosa, the Baths Hellenistic and Roman baths, the Agora, the Acropolis, the city of Velia, from the greek Elea, the Southern district and Quartier Archaic.
Of undisputed value Porta Rosa, a prestigious monument that held the dual function of connecting the two parts of the city, and the viaduct joining the two top of the acropolis.
Among the reasons why Velia a heritage site should mention the Eleatic school, a philosophical school which boasted among its exponents, Parmenides and Zeno born here.
The Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula
And ‘the largest Carthusian monastery in Italy and among the most famous, and is located in Padula, in the province of Salerno.
Founded in 1306, this monastery has the largest cloister in the world (about 12,000 m²) and is surrounded by 84 columns.
The main part is in Baroque style and occupies an area of 51,500 sqm on which more than 320 rooms are built. Today the Certosa houses the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Western Lucania, which contains a collection of finds from the excavations of the necropolis of Sala Consilina and Padula.
Source: Website