Castellabate… in tasca
PON-10.2.2A-FSE-PON-CA-2017-425 Insieme alla scoperta di un mondo Modulo-Cilento Guide 2 Esperto madre lingua : Ferraro Antonio Tutor: Margiotta Saveria
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ASSOCIAZIONE CILENTO VERDE BLU PON-10.2.2A-FSE-PON-CA-2017-425
Dedicato agli alunni che si sono impegnati con entusiasmo in questo splendido lavoro
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Castellabate is located in the south of Italy, in the Campania region, and it is part of the province of Salerno. It has been an autonomous county since 1806. There are about 9000 inhabitants on its territory which is situated between Punta Licosa and Tresino. It borders with the municipalities of Agropoli, Laureana Cilento, Montecorice and Perdifumo. It counts the hamlets of Santa Maria, San Marco, Ogliastro Marina, Licosa, Alano and Lago. The territory measures 32 square km while the costal line develops for 34 linear km. Castellabate is part of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano and has been granted the status of World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The sea and the coast of Castellabate
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are since 1972 under marine biological protection to preserve its natural heritage, representing one of the first example of Marine Park in Italy. Castellabate sandy beaches have been awarded the Green Flag.
2.THE CASTLE
The Castle was commissioned by Costabile Gentilcore, the fourth abbot of Cava dei Tirreni in 1123, under the privilege and permission of the prince of Normandy William 1st. It was built with towers at the cardinal points and presented itself like a fortress.
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The lands were previously occupied by the Longobards and the Normans but, the Benedictines of Cava reclaimed the area and built a fortress as a defense from the Saracen population. Beato Simeone completed the castle and added a small port to develop trade routes. Another reason for the construction of the castle was to unify the religious population of the area.
3.THE 5 DOORS TO CASTELLABATE
In Castellabate there are 5 doors to enter the medieval village: Porta del Mare is the most beautiful. Porta del mare is the most beautiful. The other four are Porta de li buoi , Porta Cavalieri, Porta la Chiazza and Fore a Porta. They are located in different places and they are not physical doors but, arches built in the past.
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Porta di Mare is the most beautiful and it is linked to a legend: in 1700, Teresa Stornella had to get married with Cipullo, a farmer under the feudal lord. For this reason, the brothers of Teresa and the future brother in law decided to kill him. Porta de li Buoi is near the centre of Castellabate. It is an old access into the center. Porta Cavalieri has been inhabited by Ruggero Leoncavallo. From there, the road to the sea starts. Porta la Chiazza was, in the past, an observation point in the event of attacks by the Saracens. In case of enemy sightings, smoke signals were sent during the day while fire signals were used at night. Fore a Porta is located today next to the Hotel Il Castello.
4.THE PONTIFICAL BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA
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The Romanesque Basilica of Castellabate dates back to the first half of the XII century. The ritual of its dedication took place on January 17, 1138, by the hands of Blessed Simeon V Abbot of Cava dei Tirreni, successor of San Costabile Gentilcore. The Basilica, initially built in two naves, according to the Romanesque style, underwent its first transformation in the XV century with the addition, on its left side, of noble chapels, whose bare pillars and arches of entry were covered with local sandstone in the following century. In the same century, the sacred temple was enriched with transept and apse, as evidenced by the Gothic monofore, which reappeared during the restoration work. Today, after restoration work, the temple, with the attached bell tower, has largely taken over its original face, preserving the Baroque style, the main facade, the transept and the apse. The Polyptych of Pavanino da Palermo is of capital importance for the knowledge of fifteenth-century painting in Southern Italy.
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5.PALACES AND TOWERS
Numerous palaces of civil origin, of great prestige and beauty are found in Castellabate. One of the most important is certainly Palazzo Belmonte. It is a noble structure built in 1733 merging pre existing buildings. This structure with a five acre park was originally built as a hunting lodge according to the style of the Spanish architects in the service of the Bourbons of
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Naples and houses the prince Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte. It represented one of the dwellings of king Charles of Bourbon, passionate about hunting and fishing. The defensive system of Castellabate included several costal towers, raised to spot the Saracen boat that approached the coast with the intent to plunder or conquer it. These towers also offered local population a first defense against possible invaders.
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6.TORRE PERROTTI
Torre Perrotti is a monumental emblem in the urban historical context of significant landscape interest, assuming a con notation of a qualified cultural landscape. Thus the tower in its superb architectural form has become a historical memory of the family and of the place, rising in time as a monumental symbol of the coastal territory of Castellabate. The Tower owned by the noble family of Baroni Perrotti is the only one in the entire coast of Campania to be inhabited and by the same family in the last two centuries. It is reached along the outer perimeter of the castle and houses the homonymous palace, dating back to the 12th century. The Tower is an ancient
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building of the 15th century with a terrace overlooking the beach of Marina Piccola. Built as a watch tower today it accommodates many civil ceremonies and with the 16th century palace is one of the largest historical residence for tourists. 7.VILLA MATARAZZO
Villa Matarazzo is the ancient home of the Matarazzo family set in the middle of the lively Corso Matarazzo in Santa Maria di Castellabate. It is surrounded by a pine forest and there is a rose garden in the middle of it. The 19th century villa was the summer residence of count Francesco Matarazzo, immigrated to Brazil in 1881, where he became one of the most important industrialists of the world. The history of this family is a very important page in the history of Castellabate for the important role it has played in its growth and for the generosity it had for the people who keep a wonderful memory of it. Villa Matarazzo is today property of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano (our partner in this project) and houses the permanent exhibition Mare Antico and a library. During summer many initiatives are promoted there.
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8.PORTO DELLE GATTE
“Lu Travierso” also known as Porto delle Gatte is a structure of the 12th century formed by an arched building commissioned by Abbott Simeone. Inside the arches there were useful warehouses for storing goods like cereals, olive oil and wine, which were exchanged particularly with Cava dei Tirreni and Naples. The use of those warehouses changed several times during the years, from places where fishermen kept their nets and fishing equipments to commercial premises and to restaurants.
9.THE SANCTUARY
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The Sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare is a religious structure known as early as 1102. It has existed prior to the settlement of the modern village and although with considerable transformation it is located in the same place where it was initially built. The building consists of 3 naves divided by pillars and has a hexagonal bell tower that distinguishes the landscape of Marina Piccola. At the center of the apse stands a statue of Santa Maria, patron saint of the village. Every august 15th a religious and patron feast is held in her honor. 10.PUNTA LICOSA
Punta Licosa is rightly considered one of the 12 most beautiful seaside resorts in the world. The coast of Punta Licosa consists of many rocky beaches which are really uncontaminated paradises. Leucosia, home and tomb of the Sirens, encloses in a strip of 3 km of coastline, history, legend and breathtaking landscapes. Here you can admire the remains of the old settlements dating back perhaps to the XI or X century, submerged in the sea
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between the tip and the small neighboring island. Here you can see walls belonging perhaps to a Roman villa, columns and tombs. 11. PUNTA TRESINO
Many centuries before Christ, Punta Tresino was a small community dedicated to agriculture. It is an uncontaminated mountain, an extreme offshoot of Mount Stella that extends to the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea, located between the municipalities of Agropoli and that of Castellabate. The name Tresino probably derives from the presence of the Trezeni Greeks who settled in the area. Like Licosa, Tresino has its legend as well. It is said that a Saracen princess fell in love with a fisherman in the area. Every evening she waited on her rock for her love who, one day, never returned. The princess decided to take her life and Neptune petrified their love. Even today at Punta Tresino there is a rock shaped like a woman and it is believed it is the princess. At Punta Tresino you can go trekking or take walks on foot or on horses. These activities are organized by tourist guides.
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12.ITINERARIES. The Cilento National Park is Italy’s second largest national park. Castellabate is at the northern end of the park, cradled between the two promontories of Tresino and Licosa, with gorgeous landscapes to enjoy. The park, along with a designated Marine Protected Area, were established to preserve the natural habitats of indigenous plants, animals and marine life and to keep the environment clean and healthy, while making the area’s natural and cultural treasures accessible to visitors. These unique natural areas can be explored on foot, so you can enjoy endless panoramas and an outing surrounded by the calming effects of nature.
ITINERARY 1 – FROM ZONA LAGO TO PUNTA TRESINO
The path starts at Zona Lago which was the site of the ancient Trezeni people whose name was given to the protective promontory (Tresino). This area is also a designated Marine Protected Area that encompasses 19 kilometers of coastline from here to Ogliastro Marina.
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Along this stretch of shoreline there are some fascinating geological features. The beach here holds another secret – an ancient archeological site. The Cava dei Rocchi was a Greek quarry, and tangible testimony of the temple dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea, erected by the Trezeni people on the Tresino Promontory. It is believed that the columns from Paestum (ancient Poseidonia) were excavated here, as well. You can still see the circular extractions from the rock. To start the hike, walk up steadily uphill going through aromatic natural shrubs dotted with fragrant rosemary, pretty wildflowers, and berry bushes, with views down to the glassy water and the town of Santa Maria di Castellabate. You’ll arrive at the abandoned village of Tresino, once an important settlement. The village of San Giovanni in Tresino continued to be inhabited until the period around World War II. Continuing uphill you arrive at the point where you can bask in the sun and gaze at the spectacular scenery –looking down you’ll see the Marine Protected Area.
ITINERARY 2 – FROM SAN MARCO DI CASTELLABATE TO PUNTA LICOSA
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Take an easy, delightful walk to the point of the promontory known as Punta Licosa, an enchanting spot where a miniscule island holds Castellabate lighthouse. The trail begins in the charming fishing village of San Marco di Castellabate, where life still revolves around the sea. The path passes some vacation villas and skirts the coast, ducking in and out of woods with stands of pine, myrtle and carob trees filled with the chatter of birds and sprinkled with wildflowers. The trail passes a tiny stone village and ends at a small castle and chapel, still owned by the Prince of Belmonte.
13.ITINERARIO TRESINO
The coastal strip between Agropoli and Santa Maria di Castellabate is a place where time seems to have stopped.For this itinerary we start from the Lago area, north of Santa Maria di Castellabate towards Agropoli. The direction to take is San Giovanni and always uphill. After approx. 40 min walk, and
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even before arriving at the abandoned village of San Giovanni (228 m), you reach a spring Wheel you can cool off for a few minutes, and from Wheel you can admire a splendid view of Santa Maria di Castellabate , Punta Licosa, Castellabate and Monte Stella. In San Giovanni it is possible to admire the square with its suggestive staircase and the ruins of the church. Continuing northwards, the view opens up more and more on the Trentova Bay of Agropoli, on Paestum, on the Amalfi Coast and Capri. The trekking route continues to the north, in the direction of Contrada Pastena, until you reach Punta Tresino and the Coastal Tower, from which you can admire Punta Licosa to the south and, ever closer, Agropoli to the north.
14.THE CILENTO COAST
The Cilento coast is not far from the more famous Amalfi coast. It has got spectacular mountain ranges and pristine beaches. The territory of Cilento extends from the city of
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Paestum, site of the Doric Temples, up to the gulf of Policastro, near Sapri. Besides Paestum, Velia is another important archeological site in the territory. Cilento is known as one of the centers of the Mediterranean Diet. The most important towns in this area are Vallo della Lucania, Sapri and Agropoli. The 5 most beautiful beaches are Cala Bianca, Baia of Trentova, Pollica, Palinuro and Punta Licosa. Every year many localities of the coast are awarded with the Blue Flag and the Vele, assigned by Legambiente for their spectacular natural beauty and for the crystal clear water.
15. PAESTUM
Paestum is an ancient city of Magna Grecia called by the founders Poseidonia in honor of Poseidon. The extension of its inhabited area is still well recognizable today, enclosed by its Greek walls. Paestum is surrounded by a wall almost completely preserved. At the cardinal points the four main access doors open: Porta Sirena, so named after a fantastic animal sculpted outside it, is on the east side; on the south
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side, Porta Giustizia opens with a large entrance vestibule, sided by two towers; the entrance to the west, overlooks the sea, and is also equipped with a wide paved vestibule sided by two towers; little remains instead of the Porta Aurea, north of the city, demolished at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Miraculously arrived in excellent condition, so as to be considered unique examples of the Magno-Greek architecture, are the three Doric temples built in the two urban sanctuaries of Paestum, dedicated respectively to Hera and Athena. It was thanks to a series of restoration interventions that allowed, in addition to the recovery of the buildings, to shed light on the techniques and materials used for the realization of the same. The so-called "Basilica" is actually a temple dedicated to Hera ,It is a Doric temple dedicated to Hera, goddess of fertility, life and birth, protector of marriage and family.
16.VELIA Velia was founded by the the Focei around the 6th century B.C on a promontory, formerly stretched out over the sea, near a source consecrated to Yelie nymph. Also very important was the Medical School, whose doctrines and medical practices have perpetuated until the medieval era in the culture and tradition of the famous Salernitana Medical School. Velia was the starting point of the ancient “Via del Sale. The important paths of inward penetration restocked with salt the whole of Vallo of Diano. The Greek historian and geographer Strabo, in his Geography, speaks of the city of Elea-Velia, specifying that the Focei, its founders, initially called it Hyele (Υέλη), a name that later became Ele, and finally, Elea.
The Romans adopted the Velia form for the name of the city, attested from Cicero.
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Local toponyms influenced by the name Velia are the neighboring towns of Novi Velia and Casalvelino.
At The excavation site, not far from Ascea Marina, one can visit every the ancient city remains the Porta Area, Porta Marina, Porta Rosa, the Hellenistic Baths and the Roman Baths, the Agora, the Acropolis, the Southern District and the Archaic Quarter.
17.THE CERTOSA OF PADULA
The Charterhouse of Padula, or San Lorenzo, is located in Padula, in the Vallo di Diano. This is the first Charterhouse to be established in Campania, anticipating that of San Martino in Naples and San Giacomo in Capri.
Since 1957 it houses the provincial archaeological museum of western Lucania and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 together with the nearby archaeological sites of Velia, Paestum, Vallo di Diano and the Cilento National Park. Since December 2014 it is part of the assets managed by the Campania Museum Complex. In 2017 it had 87,626 visitors. The works of the Charterhouse began at the request of Thomas II Sanseverino, under the supervision of the prior of the Certosa of Trisulti, on January 28, 1306 on the site of a pre-existing monastery.
Sanseverino, count of Marsico and lord of Vallo di Diano, was very close to the Angevin family, and subsequently, he donated
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to the religious order of the Carthusians the newly built monastic complex. The reasons for the construction were especially political. Sanseverino, with the construction of the Certosa, wanted to ingratiate himself with the royal Angevins of the Kingdom of Naples: the Carthusians were a French religious order; the generalate house was in Grenoble, and it could not but be very welcome to the Angevin sovereign, the foundation of a Certosa in Padula. Thus, the second certosino place in southern Italy was born, after the Certosa of Serra San Bruno in Calabria.
18.Museo Vivo del Mare, Pioppi
This museum is dedicated to the marine environment, it is located on the first floor of Palazzo Vinciprova, in Pioppi (Pollica).Open to the public in 1998 for the will of unchallenged Mayor Angelo Vassallo is now run by Legambiente.Recentely renovated and refurbished, it consists of three rooms and twelve tanks, which reconstruct the marine habitats typical of the Cilento coast, where native fish and marine organisms are
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present. Among the most important areas of interest are the interactive location about cycle, the multimedia section dedicated to marine turtles, the tank of alien species, and the wastewater at the sea.”Educating, Exciting, Knowing and Living”: these are the key words of the trip that the museum proposes to each visitor in order to convey the invaluable heritage of biodiversity guarded by Cilento. The Castle, as it is called by the inhabitants of Pioppi, was built in the XVII century by the Ripoli family.
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Ringraziamenti:
La famiglia Perrotti, Associazione Cilento Verde Blu, Condotta Slow Food Gelbison, Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni per la cortesia, l’attenzione nei nostri riguardi e il loro contribuito al modulo formativo.
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