Discovering new itineraries and new cultures, experiencing travel as a learning tool that involves all fields of knowledge: art, science, archaeology and nature. If this is one of your objectives, the Province of Salerno offers infinite opportunities for stimulation: from the coasts to the hinterland, there are many places and programs to bring you into contact with culture, and much more, through excursions that are not necessarily conventional: cultural and naturalistic itineraries, meetings and workshops at Educational Farms to discover the rural environment.
A cultural itinerary can start from the provincial capital, Salerno, which is a very lively and extremely modern city. Then, you should make a visit to the Charterhouse of San Lorenzo in Padula, one of the largest, most interesting monasteries of Europe for its architectural importance, founded in 1306 by Count Sanseverino.
You definitely have to see the two archaeological sites of the Cilento that are famous throughout the world. Paestum, which has three of the best-preserved Greek temples of antiquity, and Velia, which has the remains of the Acropolis, an Ionic temple and a small theatre from the 3rd century BC.
It is also worth visiting the archaeological museums that display the majority of the finds coming from the excavations conducted in the province. For example, there is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum, which takes visitors on a tour of the city's history. But there are also many museums of peasant culture that are of significant interest: those of Teggiano, Roscigno and Morigerati offer objects, testimony and historic memories of a far-off agricultural past along an original path that fascinates both young people and adults.
Then, there are many naturalistic itineraries due to the many parks and wildlife refuges in the area. The Parco Regionale dei Monti Lattari offers a pleasant surprise for those who enjoy trekking: a walk along the “Path of the Gods,” which comes so close to the sky that you seem to be in direct contact with Olympus.
On the other hand, in the Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano, in addition to walking, biking and horseback riding, there are fascinating visits to the Grottos of Castelcivita, a speleological route that is about 3 kilometres long, and the Grottos of Pertosa Auletta, whose origins date from over 35 million years ago. And then there is the Oasi del Fiume Alento that offers schools of every type of level, a rich offering that is organized into educational environmental workshops and guided tours.
Finally, don't miss a trip along the Divina Costiera, which provides spectacular scenery and lots of fun. The most “in” town is, without doubt, Positano, with its narrow, twisty streets, steps and characteristic majolica in the town centre, which is full of elegant, colourful shops. And then, Ravello, with fascinating sights, such as its historic residences, and Vietri sul Mare, famous throughout the world for its long artistic ceramic tradition. The journey is worth it!
