Cilento National Park

Italy's second-largest national park, the Cilento and Valley of Diano is a UNESCO World Heritage site that features wild forests, verdant hills, and unspoiled coastline. It's also close to Paestum and other sights in Southern Campania.

Major Sights & Activities

Hiking - see the Cilento Hiking Page
Beaches - beaches with very clean water
- Acciaroli (along coast S of Castellabate)
- Marina di Casal Velino and Marina di Ascea
- Marina di Camerata
- Palinuro has good beaches (e.g. Spiaggia della Marinella, Spaiggia Marmelli)
Palinuro - beautiful promentory with caves you can explore by boat
- Palinuro grotto tours: www.artemiopalinuro.it/gite_alle_grotte_di_palinuro.asp, www.costieradelcilento.it, and www.fortinietorri.it
Grottos - a number of caves are in the region such as Castelcivita, Pertosa (the largest caves in southern Italy), San Michele
Velia Greek Ruins - an old Greek town that was part of Magna Grecia
Castles - Castel del Abate in Castellabate and Castelnuovo Cilento

Cute towns - vairous towns, among the most recommended are Pisciotta, which has an old-school anchovy fleet and hilltown
- Certosa di Padula/Certosa di San Lorenzo - the largest monestary in Italy and a World Heritage Site
- SCUBA Diving - various places near Palinuro offer great diving opportunities

Places to Eat

Roughly from north to south

Trentinara - East of Paestum (1:00)
- Locanda Lu Vottaro - “rustic, romantic eatery” with fresh seasonal ingredients, wild greens/herbs, open for lunch if you book ahead, popular on TripAdvisor, Slow Food Planet 2016, Osterie d’Italia 2016 [Antiche Mura also popular on TripAdvisor]
Agropoli - old town founded by Greeks, has market, just S of Paestum (:38)
- ?Il Ceppo - restaurant/hotel, via Madonna del Carmine 31 (outside town on road to Vallo), 097-484-3036, closed Tues, sea view, rec'd by Carla Capalbo, Gambero Rosso, Espresso, Michelin, and TCI, ~€40-50 or lunch ~€18-26.
- Polito - cheesemaker rec'd 2015 Repubblica
- Agriturismo Marino - rec'd Carla Capalbo for house-made wines (nearby is another producer, Botti)
- Ristorante La Veranda - rec'd Carla Capalbo
- U'Sghiz - rec'd Lonely Planet, panoramic
...also a branch of Gelateria Antica di Matteo on via Patella 22, rec’d TCI for nuts, ricotta/pear/fig, prickly pear, lemon, wood strawberries...see Torchiara (below) for more

Castellabate - hill town near the coast in the Cilento, S of Agropoli (:25)
- Giacardandia - Località Cenito San Marco, 097-496-6130, restaurant/hotel, rec'd by Alice
- I Due Fratelli - Località Santa Maria, Via Sant'Andrea, 097-496-8004, rec'd by Espresso and Michelin
- La Taverna del Pescatore - Località Santa Maria, Via Lamia 1, 097-496-8293, rec'd by Slow Food Osterie d'Italia and Michelin.
  - San Marco di Castellabate: Ristorante K Cilento, rec’d 2015 Repubblica
  - Castellabate: Il Chiostro Vineria rec’d 2015 Repubblica
  - La Taverna del Pescatore in Santa Maria di Castellabate - rec’d by CH
  - Arlecchino (rec’ Lonely Planet for views, popular with families, good grilled sepia and ricotta/pear cake)
  - Lido dal Pincio (rec’d Lonely Planet, informal beachside)
  - Il Caicco - rec'd NYT for seafood and white figs
  - Il Capriccio (rec’d Lonely Planet, popular with locals)
  - Arlecchino - rec'd Lonely Planet, Santa Maria di C
  - ?Agriturismo Giacaranda / Trattoria Lyceo Mediterraneo - rec'd Carla Capalbo ("one of Campania’s loveliest"), Conde Nast Traveler, and Luciano Pignataro
  - Luigi Maffini - winemaker rec'd by Carla Capalbo
Area inland of Agropoli/Castellabate:
- Valle dell'Angelo - hill town *well* inland from Paestum/Agropoli (1:46)
  - ??Osteria La Piazzetta - Piazza Canonica Iannuzzi 2, 097-494-2008, 097-494-2747, rec'd Slow Food Osterie d'Italia (still in 2016), 2015 Repubblica and Mangiarozzo forsimple, hearty dishes, homemade pasta and dishes, rooms for rent, warm welcome
- Cicerale - hill town inland from Agropoli (1:00)
  - Osteria Arco Vecchio - Via roma, 097-483-4187, rec'd by Slow Food Osterie d'Italia
    - Casale Denazzano - Golosario di Paolo Massobrio 2016 rec's for chickpeas
    - ??Agriturismo Corbella - rec'd Slow Food Planet 2016, also rec’d Carla Capalbo, Agrodolce, Luciano Pignataro in 2012 and 2011, cilento food, aromatic herbs like borage, in wild valley
  - Rutino - east of Castellabate (:43)
  - Cantine Barone's Pietralena Aglianico was named one of the three best red "everyday" (<€10) wines in Campania by Slow Food, Via Giardino 2, 097-483-0463
Montecorice - seaside town just S of Castellabate
San Mauro Cilento - further inland from Agnone Cilento/Acciaroli/Montecorice (:25)
- Acciaroli (:17)
  - 'A Tartana - rec'd Repubblica in 2016
  - Il Rosso e il Mare - rec'd Carla Capalbo
  - Agriturismo Le Serre - rec'd Carlao Capalbo as a peaceful location between the beach and hills
  - Dom Florigi - Via Porto, rec'd Carla Capalbo for local wines/oils
  - nearby hill town of Pollica:
    - ?Agriturismo al Sentiero - popular on TripAdvisor, rec'd Slow Food (cracked salella olives), Scatti di Gusto in 2012 and 2015
    - Trattoria Villa Mare Luna - rec'd Carla Capalbo
  - inland in Stella Cilento: Agriturismo I Fornari - rec'd by Luciano Pignataro, one of his favorites
- Casal Velino (:31-:38)
  - Locanda Le Tre Sorelle - “quiet, romantic restaurant” with good fish, view of sea and open-air terrace, rooms for rent, Slow Food Planet 2016, Luciano Pignataro
  - (Marina di) Casal Velino: I sapori della terra, grocery store that has cilento figs, olives, etc.
  - Il Molino: place with gluten-free baked goods/flours
  - #I Moresani Agriturismo - has horses, farm/store with slow food presidium (in Osteria d'Italia 2016/Slow Food Planet 2016) goat cheese, olives, rec'd Lucian Pignataro in 2011 and 2014, Scatti di Gusto, Lonely Planet
  - La Dispensa di Teodora - food specialty shop rec'd Carla Capalbo
  - inland in Acquavella: L'Arenaro - goat milk cheese rec'd Carla Capalbo
  - Nearby in Pioppi: Piazza di Millenario Gelato - rec'd by Lonely Planet
- Ascea (:46)
  - Caseificio Chirico Benedetto - Golosario di Paolo Massobrio 2016 rec’s for mozzarella nel cesto
  - 2015 Repubblica rec’s agriturismo Aurella
  - Agriturismo Le Favate - rec'd Carla Capalbo for olive oil and 1600s villa (they also have produce, jams, limoncello made on the property), also rec'd 2015 Repubblica
- Pisciotta - cute hill/seaside town just N of Palinuro (1:00)
  - ?Da Angiolina - open 50 years, traditional, local fish, popular on TripAdvisor, rec'd by TCI, Gambero Rosso, Mangiarozzo, 2016 Slow Food Planet, Carla Capalbo
  - Perbacco dal 1987 - Osterie d’Italia 2015 & 2016, 2015 Repubblica (although not in Slow Food Planet)
  - Principe di Vallescura
  - Villa Mare Luna
  - Osteria del Borgo is popular on TripAdvisor
  - Angiolina - 3 shrimps by Gambero Rosso in 2015 Ristoranti d’Italia
  - Alici de menaica - slow food presidium producer
  - A’Machina / La Locanda del Fiume - rec'd Luciano Pignataro
San Mauro la Bruca - inland from Pisciotta (1:17)
- Torre Orsaia - hill town in NE of Palinuro (1:24)
  - Slow Food Osterie d'Italia rec's Da Addolorata - Via Pulsaria 15, 097-498-5669, ~€15.
Palinuro - seaside town with good beaches an sea caves (1:17)
- Da Carmelo
- Da Isidoro
- Lido Ficocella
- Sant'Agata
  - Bar da Siena (Lonely Planet says best gelato in town)
  - Pasticceria Egidio (Lonely Planet rec’s for pastries)
San Giovanni a Piro - a bit inland/south/east from Palinuro (1:27)
- Incontro, on Lungomare Marconi, Località Scario, 097-437-1009, rec'd Gambero Rosso
Camerota - town in Cilento, south/east of Palinuro (1:33)
- Rianata 'a Vasulata - via San Vito 25, 097-493-5427, another rustic, cheap restaurant rec'd by Slow Food Osterie d'Italia and Mangiarozzo
  - Ristorante Brera - most popular Cilento restauarant on TripAdvisor
  - Antica Trattoria Valentone - rec'd Carla Capalbo as oldest trattoria in Marina di Camerota that serves "simple, flavourful dishes"
  - inland in Celle di Bulgheria: Arcella Coop - a place working on saving heirloom fruit trees, rec'd Carla Capalbo
Vallo della Lucania - hill town in the Cilento, SE of Castellabate...much further inland than Montecorice/San Mauro Cilento (~45 min S on SP430 from Paestum)
- la Chioccia d'Oro - Bivio di Novi Velia, 097-470-004, closed Fri, Alice says it may be "the most loved restaurant in this area", rec'd by Gambro Rosso, Slow Food Osterie d'Ialia, Espresso, Michelin, 2015 Repubblica, and TCI, ~€22-25, lunch special €15. Also has rooms for rent. ...we ate there in 2012 and enjoyed it (don't miss the view from the tower in the historic center of Novi Velia)
- U' Parlatorio - Via San Pietro Celestinio 66, Località Massa, 097-476-210, closed Mon, rec'd by Slow Food Osterie d'Italia, Espresso, ~€22-25.
- Oleificio Emilio Conti - Via Naionale Massa 11, Località Massa, 097-475-826, 333-226-7684, Carla Capalbo calls Emilio Conti "one of Italy's true olive oil experts"
- Vineria Lo Spechio - Piazza Valenzani 57, 097-475-636, wine shop rec'd by Carla Capalbo
- Padula - town deep inland, near A3 on the way to Calabria, has Certosa (monestary) (2:00)
  - Fattoria Alvaneta - Corsa da Alvaneta, Località Pantagnoni, 097-577-139, closed Tues, family restaurant, rec'd by Slow Food Osterie d'Italia, ~€18-22.
  - ?Taverna del Lupo - Luogo Municipio 8, closed Mon, Sun evening (except summer), near San Lorenzo monestary, great ingredients, family-run Cilento specialties, good torta di cioccolata, rec'd by Gambero Rosso, Slow Food Osterie d'Italia, Lonely Planet, and Mangiarozzo, 097-577-8376.
- Caselle in Pittari - hill town deep in the Cilento (1:34)
  - Slow Food Osterie d'Italia and Carla Capalbo rec'd Ristorante Zi' Filomena on Viale Roma 11
Policastro Bussentino
- Ispani - inland/east of Policastro Bussentino
  - Cantina Carlino - rec’d 2015 Repubblica
- Sapri - all the way south, just north of Maratea (in Basilicata) (1:32)
  - ??Crivella Gelati & Dessert - named by Dissapore in 2015 as one of the top gelaterie in Italy (still in 2017); also rec'd Golosario di Paolo Massobrio 2016, Gambero Rosso Gelaterie d'Italia 2020
  - Forneria Zicca - Golosario di Paolo Massobrio 2016
  - Restaurant Tintobrace - rec’d 2015 Repubblica
  - ’A Cantina i Mustazzo - rec’d 2015 Repubblica
  - La Chocolatera - Carla Capalbo

Resources

The main Park Webpage has good English descriptions of the park
Wikipedia page on Cilento has brief overview of the area and its historical significance
Another official park page has descriptions (in Italian) of some of the hikes
DiscoverItalia's Cilento page offers some sample itineraries

Where to Stay

Via Forana 1 - in Laurito, a small village in the Cilento mountains (not to be confused with Positano's Laurito Beach~~); beautiful villa run by an English-speaking couple (wife Suzanne is American)~~ www.viaforrania1.com --> alas, closed!