Cilento, 2009/2013

Cilento is located in Southern Italy, in the south-western corner of Campania, approx. 150 km south of Naples, and stretches from the Gulf of Salerno to the Gulf of Policastro at the start of Calabria. In the hinterland, the Vallo di Diano forms a natural geographical border. Cilento is a cultural landscape thousands of years old; the Greeks founded many settlements alongside the philosophical school of Elea, while Lucanians and Romans, Spaniards, Habsburgs, Saracens and many other peoples have left their mark on the culture and landscape. The larger and better-known towns are Agropoli, Paestum, S. Maria di Castellabate, Palinuro, Marina di Camerota or Vallo di Lucania.

Today’s Cilento is authentic and lacks the artificial tourist backdrop found in many areas of Northern Italy, making it typically Southern Italian and lively – often loud and vibrant, often chaotic or littered, but with people full of warmth, joy of life, hospitality and Mediterranean serenity. The Tyrrhenian Sea delights with excellent water quality, and there are glorious beaches, spectacular coastlines and a wild and romantic hinterland with many villages perched on mountain peaks and ridges. The much-praised Cilentan cuisine is also well worth a mention.

As a holiday region, Cilento is still primarily visited by Italians from the northern cities; this may be due to the long journey, the lower level of awareness and the lack of large hotel complexes – fortunately. Although there is a good infrastructure of buses and trains, I still recommend having your own vehicle to explore the countryside flexibly and to reach the often remote starting points for hikes. It’s worth noting that most side roads are winding and bumpy, so progress is slow. On the other hand, these roads are ideal for road cycling or mountain bike tours. Furthermore, in addition to water sports, Cilento is excellent for hiking; in recent years, many paths have been marked and described in hiking guides. It also often happens that you are recognised as German and spoken to in German, because many locals once lived and worked in Germany and have now returned home.