Guide to the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park: A Journey Through History, Myths, and Nature.
Established in 1991, the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park is the second-largest national park in Italy. This vast protected area spans the southern part of Campania, nestled between the Sele Plain, the border with Basilicata, and the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Famous throughout the world for its inestimable cultural value, the park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to unique treasures such as the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the majestic Certosa di Padula.
A land of myths and millennia of history
Few places in the world can boast such a wealth of legends and historical accounts. As you explore Cilento, you’ll feel as if you’re leafing through an open-air book of mythology:
- Classical Myths: From the waters of Punta Licosa, where the song of the nymph Leucosia echoed, to the famous Cape Palinuro, the beach where Aeneas’s legendary helmsman—as described by Virgil—lost his life.
- Greek Archaeology: The colonies of Magna Graecia come to life amid the majestic temples of Paestum and the excavations at Elea-Velia, the birthplace of the philosophers Parmenides and Zeno.
- Baroque Art: In the heart of the inland region stands the magnificent Certosa di San Lorenzo in Padula, one of the largest and most spectacular Carthusian monasteries in Europe.
From the Alburni Hinterland to the Vallo di Diano
The park’s landscape is characterized by an extraordinary geological diversity:
- The Vallo di Diano: A fertile and productive plain, traversed by the Calore and Tanagro rivers, which make it lush and verdant.
- The Alburni Mountains: Known as the “Dolomites of the South,” these are sedimentary mountains composed of limestone and dolomite. Among their peaks and dense forests nest the wood pigeon, the woodcock, and numerous nocturnal birds of prey.
🦇 A must-see in the hinterland: At the foot of the Alburni Mountains lie the spectacular Castelcivita Caves, an underground labyrinth stretching nearly 5 kilometers and filled with stalactites and stalagmites, offering an extraordinary variety of subterranean environments.
The Apennine Peaks and the Giants of the Park
In addition to the Alburni Mountains, the park’s mountainous heart is home to the highest peaks in Campania, perfect destinations for hiking and trekking enthusiasts:
- Mount Cervati (which, at 1,898 meters, is the highest peak in the region) and the mystical Mount Gelbison, also known as Mount Sacro.
- The coastal foothills of Mount Bulgheria and Mount Stella, which overlook the coastline from above.
The Spectacular Cilento Coast
The park ends along a breathtaking coastline overlooking the Gulf of Salerno and the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. Here, the Mediterranean scrub plunges directly into a sea that is awarded numerous Blue Flags every year. Among the most beautiful and beloved beach resorts are:
Palinuro and Marina di Camerota: Famous worldwide for their rugged coastlines, golden beaches, and a stunning network of coves, inlets, and sea caves beloved by divers from all over Europe.
Castellabate and Punta Licosa: Medieval villages frozen in time and rugged headlands.
Agropoli and Pisciotta: Ancient gateways to the Cilento region, rich in history and centuries-old olive groves.
