NORTHERN CILENTO: WHERE MOUNTAINS AND SEA MEETS
In the area including the towns of Agropoli, Auletta, Caggiano, Castellabate, Cicerale, Laureana Cilento, Lustra, Montecorice, Ogliastro Cilento, Prignano Cilento, Perdifumo, Rutino, Salvitelle, Serramezzana, Sessa Cilento, and Torchiara, there is the majestic Mount Stealla (on the top of it, at 1131 m, there is a famous sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady, Stella Maris. The area, crossed by Alento River, is the original core of Cilento. In this territory sea meets mountains under a beautiful sky, creating wonderful landscapes, today World Heritage by Unesco.
Agropoliis
considered the entrance to Cilento and Vallo di Diano; its sea it crystalline
and beautiful and reflects the several sensations created by the wonderful sandy
beaches and the hot rocks, such as in Trentova
Bay.Agropoli is famous for the Carnival and for many summer events. The castle deserves a visit: it was built during Angevin-Aragon period (on a former Byzantine building of VI century). There is also a nice tower on the coast (XVI century), called of Saint Francis.
The territory of Castellabate, awarded
with the Blue Flag thanks to the bay of Ogliastro Marina and the small isle of Punta Licosa, offers long wide golden beaches with picturesque rocks. It still
preserves Middle Ages features. The Pontifical Basilica deserves a visit: it
is in Romanic style and contains a polypthic by Pavanino da Palermo. This painter
was very important in 1400 in Southern Italy.
In the more inner towns, visitors will discover the ancient traditions of local productions and of typical dishes, that attract tourists. The tour can start in Lustra, the town of figs, with its nice hamlet Rocca Cilento and the noble palaces and the castle. Then there is Prignano Cilento, where a famous historical theatre performance takes place every year, Opera “ri Turchi”, about the life of Saint Nicholas. This is a perfect occasion to visit the XVIII century palace Palazzo Cardone.
In Perdifumo there is the beautiful event, The flight of the Angel: an Angel (played by a child) and the Devil live their eternal fight. The two characters also pronounce interesting verses, in Baroque style. The castle Vargas - Machucha where the philosopher Gian Battista Vico stayed for a period deserve a visit: in it there is a library dedicated to him and to local history.
Cicerale is one of the biggest towns of Cilento and still preserves the picturesque hamlet of Monte Cicerale. The town is surrounded by the typical Mediterranean bush, especially in the oasis of Ceraso, Bocca di fava, and Corbella.
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