I will tell you a secret today. At the southern end of Campania, in the heart of the mountainous and forested Cilento National Park, Vallo di Diano and Alburni, at the same time on the shore of crystal-clear Tyrrhenian Sea, is hidden Palinuro. Tourists? It’s not easy to spot the few foreigners among italian people who enjoy the beauty of this place. Beaches? Sandy. You can choose between: long and wide or small crumbs hidden in the corners of the irregular shoreline. Come and experience the undiscovered beauty of Campania, only 180 km south of Naples, since 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Post dedicated to Michelle Turner
Cilento is a place I have known for a good few years, but never had a chance to it them in the tour schedule, although I have been circling arund several times over the Basilica and Calabria and the crazy but beloved Naples. That was until 2015, when in the last weeks before the end of it I received an email inviting me tomCampania for a ten-day event called Italy Coast to Coast. Goal? Promotion Amalfi Coast and Cilento Coast among Polish lovers of Italy. I went there in March 2016, I also went this year, because satisfied with cooperation with me organizers resumed the invitation. The first time Cilento got me captivated, the second time I totally fell in love. I remember that moment, it was a beautiful day March 23th when, after a delicious dinner with local specialties, we drove to a buffalo and vineyard farm for tasting, and then to the club on a long sandy beach in Paestum, to watch the sunset. The sky was clear, on the horizon, slightly to the right, was seen the lines of the Amalfi Coast clearly appeared, and the great fireball slowly fell downward until it finally sank in the calm, gently screeching sea. Next to me anglers were fishing on an empty beach, and I stood there and did not want to leave. I just fell in love, and that means two things: I will definitely return to Cilento, and I will surely discover more miracles to you.
This wonderful moment I perpetuated on the movie above.
Palinuro is a true pearl of the Cilento Coast, hidden amongst the high green mountains of Cilento National Park, Vallo di Diano and Alburni (it. Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni), far from the main routes. The park was established in December 1991, it covers the area of about 1810 km², making it the second largest national park in Italy, next to the neighboring located in Basilicata and Calabria the Pollino National Park, which huge atractionis Raganello Gorge, described by me. In 1998 Cilento National Park, Vallo di Diano and Alburni together with the Archaeological Park in Paestum, Velia and the monastery in Padula were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. And now I invite you to Palinuro.
Green slopes and young leaves. Here’s the Campania at the end of March. The picture was taken while driving a bus, such views enjoy the eye along the road to Palinuro.
My first look at Palinuro. I crawled into the wall and was delighted by the color of the water. In the distance, there is a small port from which fishermen go and cruise ships offering cruises along the coast and tossing beach-themed sailors into the wonderful places you saw in the first photo at the beginning of the entry. I haven’t even got there yet.
We left somewhere behind us Paestum and the buffalo farms.
Port in Palinuro. I’ll take you there.
Hand-painted ceramics are famous for the Amalfi Coast, but it’s also popular at the southern tip of the Campania.
Long, wide and sandy beaches aren’t uncommon in this part of Campania. See this peninsula in the distance? Among its irregular shoreline is hidden among others beach visible on the first photo in the post and numerous caves.
So it looks like a bird’s eye view. © Marcaneto Hotel
It’s Grotta Azzura in Palinuro. Not only Capri hides such miracles. I was supposed to be here, but unfortunately the whimsical March weather made us thwarted, the sea was too rough to sail on a boat trip. The Author of the photo unknown.
© Oleg.
© Residence San Salvatore Palinuro
The town itself isn’t unique in terms of architecture or monuments, but, it’s so normal there! Returning to the party where I was twice on the Amalfi Coast and Cilento Coast. The team, both last year and this year, in addition to the Italian organizers, consisted of people of different nationalities. They were from the USA, the Netherlands, Russia, Lithuania, India, China or some other part of Italy. Everyone raved about the Amalfi Coast, and after crossing over to Cilento, everyone said that it was beautiful, but Amalfi was sweeping because of the views, the town. True, the panoramas offered by the Amalfi Coast are unmatched, the towns are delighted, and colorful Positano is a real gem, in vain to seek similar. But in the season there are also traffic jams, piston and high prices. Cilento’s such attractions do not provide, but the cost of staying here is lower, the beaches are wonderful, and the people are gone, disguised by wealthy turtles. I want to tell you that knowing Italy is pretty good, I look at it differently than friends and colleagues from the event. I see more than wonderful panoramas and charming towns. It’s a completely different place, although located so close to each other, it offers quite different attractions, but equally worth a visit, which is confirmed even if the list of UNESCO on which both coasts are located.
© Oleg.
© fabcat
At Cilento lives Michelle, co-organizer of Italy’s Coast to Coast, British, who together with her husband 25 years ago threw everything and love in this beautiful corner of Italy moved, launched a new life and activities to promote the region. Michelle every time she tries very hard to make her guests spot the hidden beauty of Cilento. This time, when she whished me farewell, I said that I’m convinced and now I will convince you my dear readers 😉
Port of Palinuro after dark. Guess what I was doing here. I hope you are not hungry;)
Where to eat in Palinuro? Taverna dell’Porto
There are many restaurants in Italy, where I ate very tasty, but only a few of them made me feel like I was pounding with impatience as I again had the great pleasure to sit at the table and indulge in culinary delights. In Campania, to my two favorite restaurants on the Amalfi Coast: Ristorante Bella Vista sul Mare in Ravello and Le Arcate in Atrani, recently joined Taverna dell’Porto in Palinuro. You should seen it, what a night! At the end of the ten-day event Italy Coast to Coast, where I was invited by Sposa Mediterranea and Bride & Groom Weddings , we drove to a modest-looking pub just off the harbor in Palinuro. In summer, its terrace is practically on the beach and is open in winter, late-spring and early spring (March in Campania is still early spring). The terrace is covered and protects guests from cold in winter. The menu is based on the seafood, and tastes heavenly. We were personally served by the Chef Sergio, while the two great musicians played and sang opera arias for us.
Where to sleep in Palinuro? Eco del Mare Residence
I spent only one night here and would happily return again. The modest, cozy and wonderfully located seafront Eco del Mare Residence Bed & Breakfast offers clean and very comfortable suite rooms and communal terrace on which staff serving breakfast with stunning sea views with a large piece of coastline. The owner – Rosa – is nice, and warm person who will give you all the information you need about Palinuro and its surroundings.
Such a view you’ll have from the terrace at the Eco del Mare Residence
View from my room window at the Eco del Mare Residence
Still warm! Such delicious breakfasts at the Eco del Mare Residence
And by this street, walking towards the setting sun, you will reach the small beach
At the end of the corridor there is a public, large terrace
Or maybe someone wants a coffee?
The sun sinking in the sea centrally in front of me. Where are such miracles? On the terrace of the Eco del Mare Residence
Wedding in Palinuro
© Bride&Groom Weddings
The wonders of architecture and art, the world’s best cuisine, beautiful clothes, music, cars. Italians have an incredible imagination I know it for a long time. During my last two trips to Campania, I had the opportunity to see their fantasies in arranging weddings and various occasional parties. One of the newer destinations gaining more and more interest among young couples is Palinuro. Wedding in the church? No problem, after all, in Italy churches are “at every corner”, maybe wedding on the beach or in the lemon garden? Of course! Vespa for the wedding? Name it, even old tricycles properly restored waiting. Photo session with beautiful landscapes in the background? No problem! Chocolate fountain for a wedding? Everyon already know it, so maybe hire a guy who will prepare for the guests mozzarella when the “O sole mio” will sing the Teatro San Carlo in Naples?
© Bride&Groom Weddings
Campania is home to Sposa Mediterranea, the Bride & Groom Weddings, which organizes weddings, and special events throughout Italy, especially the Amalfi Coast and Cilento, for Italians and foreigners from around the world. The manager of Sposa Mediterranea – Suita Carrano Bonadies, is a person very well known in the Italian wedding industry, having a great knowledge and extensive experience. The Polish representative of the Suita isMalgorzata Ewa Mikrut, who has been living in Sorrento for over twenty years. Gosia will gladly give any interested persons a wedding or other event in Italy any information. I encourage you to visit the page on Facebook Wedding in Italy with Margherita – Sposa Mediterranea Group. You will also find the email address and phone number listed below. And in the next post I will tell you exactly possibilities for young couples in this part of Italy.
ATTENTION! Especially for italia-by-natalia readers! All young couples from Poland who opt for Sposa Meditarranea services for Italy by Natalia password will receive a 10% discount on wedding services throughout Italy.
How to get to Palinuro?
by car heading the highway A3 in the direction of Reggio Calabria. There are several places to exit the motorway. One of the routes (quicker) is the arrival almost to the border of Campania and the Basilica, the exit Buonabitacolo – Padula. The second route is a downhill exit of the Battipagia Sud highway for Salerno and continuing along the SS118, which greatly expands the route, but also gives you the opportunity to explore on the road, such as the Archaeological Park of Paestum.
by train There are two options. The first is a train from Stazione Centrale, Naples Central Station, to the town of Centola. Travel time 2 h, ticket price 8.80 euro / adult. Then transfer to the bus 113 of Caoplinea to Palinuro, below I attached the timetable.
Symbol 09 in the schedule means weekdays, except July and August. Symbol 23 means weekdays (Monday – Friday) in July and August.
The second option is a train from Naples to Pisciotta – Palinuro, a railway station located 8 km from Palinuro. Then take a taxi for around 35 euros. The bus is said to be popular, but due to the rarity of the connections and nobody knows the timetable. It is not recommended form of transport.
Cilento Coast – what else to see?
Soon you will be able to read more about this amazing corner of Italy, and now I’m inviting you to the nearby Castellabate, the charm of which was used in the film “Welcome to the South.”
Campania. Castellabate – Benvenuti al Sud, or Welcome to the South
Additional information:
- main photo www.villadonmichelecilento.com;
- website Eco del Mare Residence.
If you have any questions, please, ask them in the comments on this post, I will try to answer each and advise. I’ll be happy to read your experiences, the weather in Sicily, go ahead and share the information, I’m sure it will help those who just planning to go there 😉
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Natalia
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