Tour
“Sailing through the gulf from Posidonia, at a short distance from the coast, one sights the island of Leucosia; it takes its name from one of the Sirens, who arrived here after they cast themselves into the depths of the sea. Facing the island stretches the promontory of the Sirenuse, which closes the Gulf of Posidonia. Having rounded the promontory, another gulf appears, where the city called Hyele stands.”
(Strabo, Geography, Book VI, 1, 1)
Paestum
Location: Capaccio Paestum | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 25 km | Travel time: 30 minutes | Visit duration: 2 to 4 hours
Strabo recounts that Paestum, the Latin name for the Greek colony Poseidonia (founded in honor of Poseidon, god of the sea), was established by Greek colonists at the beginning of the 6th century BC. The city stands in the fertile Sele plain and is world-renowned for its Doric temples, which are among the finest examples of monumental architecture to survive to the present day: the Temple of Hera (the so-called Basilica, c. 540 BC), the Temple of Athena (formerly known as the Temple of Ceres, c. 500 BC), and the Temple of Neptune (now attributed to the cult of Apollo or Hera).
In addition to the sacred buildings, the urban area preserves a vast forum space and structures from the Hellenistic-Roman era. The archaeological site also houses an outstanding museum displaying artifacts from the city, the sanctuary of the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele, and the neighboring Greek and Lucanian necropolises. Notable among the funerary goods are vases, weapons, and pictorial cycles: foremost among these is the famous Tomb of the Diver (480-470 BC), a unique testimony to Greek painting from the Classical age.
Not far from the urban area, about 1,500 meters from the mouth of the Sele, lies the Heraion, a sanctuary founded by Greek colonists at the beginning of the 6th century BC. The place of worship, dedicated to the goddess protector of navigation and fertility, was established on an area already frequented by indigenous populations since the Iron Age (12th-11th century BC).
The Certosa di Padula
Location: Padula | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 104 km | Travel time: 80 minutes | Visit duration: 3 hours
The Certosa di San Lorenzo, founded in 1306, is among the most significant monastic complexes in Italy. Over the centuries, the original layout was enriched by artistic works funded by the dowries of novices from the noble families of the time. Spanning an area of over 50,000 square meters, the structure is predominantly Baroque and houses the largest cloister in the world (approximately 12,000 square meters).
Key highlights include the Library, with its spiral staircase and Vietri majolica floor, the Chapel, and the two choirs characterized by exquisite inlaid marble. Of particular interest are the spaces dedicated to daily and productive life: the monumental kitchen, the cellars with their enormous presses, and the external staircase, a Baroque masterpiece.
Today, the Certosa creates a dialogue between the ancient and the contemporary by hosting modern art exhibitions within its monastic spaces. The complex also includes the Archaeological Museum of Western Lucania, which preserves funerary goods from the necropolises of Sala Consilina and Padula, with artifacts ranging from prehistory to the Hellenistic age.
Velia
Location: Ascea Marina (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 26 km | Travel time: 40 minutes | Visit duration: 2-4 hours
Elea, renamed Velia during the Roman era, was founded around 540 BC on a promontory by Greek colonists fleeing Ionia (Asia Minor). The city rapidly became one of the most influential centers of Magna Graecia, not only for its commercial trade but, above all, for the renowned Eleatic School founded by the philosophers Parmenides and Zeno.
The settlement was organized into districts extending north and south of the Acropolis promontory, an area that maintained its sacred and public function from the 5th century BC onwards. Under Roman rule, Velia shifted its identity from a philosophical center to a place of vacation and healing, valued for its healthy climate. In the Middle Ages, due to the silting of the surrounding plains, the population retreated exclusively to the summit of the Acropolis, where the cylindrical tower stands today.
The Archaeological Park of Velia allows visitors to trace the entire evolution of the colony through a still-legible stratigraphy. Walking along the ancient Greek streets, one encounters monumental remains of public and private buildings: Hellenistic-era dwellings, the 3rd-century BC theater, the 2nd-century AD Roman baths, and the famous Porta Rosa—the oldest example of a round arch in Italy—which served as a link between the city’s districts.
Amalfi Coast
Location: Amalfi (SA) and Amalfi Coast | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 74 km | Travel time: 85 minutes | Visit duration: 1 day
The Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a unique example of the integration between Mediterranean architecture and a vertical landscape.
Amalfi, the heart of the coast, owes its historical significance to its role as an Ancient Maritime Republic. Famous for the skill of its navigators—credited with perfecting the compass—the city preserves traces of its glorious past in the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the ultimate expression of Arab-Norman style. Among the alleys and staircases of the center, the Cloister of Paradise, the Ancient Arsenals of the Republic, and the Paper Museum, which documents the ancient tradition of handmade paper, are well worth a visit. The Civic Museum also houses the Tabula Amalphitana, the first maritime code in history.
Positano, characterized by the iconic vertical development of its colorful houses, is internationally known for “Moda Positano” and the artisanal production of custom-made sandals, displayed in the many boutiques along its pedestrian paths.
The itinerary along the coastal road passes through other centers of excellence:
Ravello: Suspended over the sea, it is home to Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone and hosts prestigious international music festivals.
Atrani and Praiano: Villages that preserve their original urban structure, with houses perched on the cliffs overlooking sheltered coves.
Minori: Home to an important 1st-century AD Roman Villa.
Furore: Famous for the fjord where Roberto Rossellini filmed “L’Amore” starring Anna Magnani.
Cetara: A seafaring village linked to anchovy fishing and the production of the historic Colatura d’Alici (anchovy drippings).
Vietri sul Mare: Renowned since the Middle Ages for the production of artistic ceramics, the chromatic symbol of the region.
Agropoli
Location: Agropoli (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 16 km | Travel time: 20 minutes | Visit duration: 2 hours
The medieval village of Agropoli stands on a promontory that has hosted human settlements since the Neolithic period. Originally a Greek commercial port and home to a temple dedicated to Artemis, it became the maritime village of Ercula under the Romans, flourishing as the nearby port of Paestum silted up.
Barbarian invasions pushed the population to fortify the upper part of the rock. The Byzantines erected the first defenses, renaming the site Akropolis due to its strategic position. After serving as a bishop’s seat, the city fell to the Saracens, who turned it into a ribat (stronghold), using it as a base for raids into the hinterland and nearby Salerno.
Today, the defensive walls are almost entirely preserved. Access to the village is through the monumental 17th-century gate, reachable by climbing the characteristic wide steps that connect the modern city to the hilltop.
What to see:
Panoramic Viewpoint: From the ancient gate, you enter a terrace overlooking the harbor, with a view stretching across the Gulf of Salerno to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
Historic Center: A network of alleys and small squares where you can taste local cuisine, including the typical Agropoli-style pizza served in wicker baskets.
Angevin-Aragonese Castle: Located at the highest point, it features a triangular layout with three circular towers and a defensive moat. The internal parade ground has been converted into an open-air theater.
Capri
Location: Capri | Distance from Il Pilaccio: Reachable by sea (Metrò del Mare) | Travel time: approx. 100 minutes | Visit duration: 1 day
Anciently joined to the Sorrentine Peninsula, the island of Capri is defined by a rugged coastline, characterized by sea caves and limestone cliffs that culminate in the famous Faraglioni—three rocky peaks emerging a short distance from the shore. The island’s architecture unfolds between tuff stone villas and an urban center where the luxury of the “Piazzetta” coexists with the simplicity of rural roads and coastal paths.
The Roman Legacy:
Capri became one of the nerve centers of the Roman Empire. Emperors transformed marine grottoes into private nymphaea and built monumental residences.
Villa Jovis: Built by Emperor Tiberius on the summit of Mount Tiberius (334 m above sea level), it is the most imposing of the imperial villas. Spanning approximately 7,000 square meters, the structure bears witness to the opulence of the era with its wide terraces overlooking the Gulf of Naples.
Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra): Likely a nymphaeum for the nearby Villa di Damecuta (dating back to the time of Claudius), it owes its fame to the unique refraction of sunlight that colors the water an intense blue.
The Modern Era and Environmental Protection:
Villa San Michele: Built by Swedish physician and writer Axel Munthe on the remains of an ancient chapel dedicated to San Michele. Today, the villa is a museum surrounded by a botanical garden and a park dedicated to the protection of migratory birds and Mediterranean flora, reflecting Munthe’s commitment to conserving the island’s fauna.
Cilento Villages
Location: Cilento (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: from 4 to 63 km | Travel time: from 10 to 100 minutes | Visit duration: variable itineraries
Cilento is not just a seaside destination, but an inland region structured around historic villages, each guarding its own traditions and identity. A layered cultural heritage that reveals itself through off-the-beaten-path itineraries.
Perdifumo
Home to the estate, this village dates back to the 11th century. Its name derives from its proximity to a watercourse (from the Latin pes de flumine). The center is a network of stone alleys where you find a 16th-century fountain, the Church of San Sisto, and Palazzo Giardulli, now a museum housing an ancient oil mill. In the hamlet of Vatolla stands Palazzo Vargas: an ancient stronghold where the philosopher Giambattista Vico stayed. The restored building now houses the G.B. Vico Foundation and a study center.
Castellabate
A medieval village founded around the year 1000 on a hilltop to defend the population from Saracen raids. The name derives from the Abbot’s Castle (Castello dell’Abate), built in 1123 to monitor the coast between Punta Licosa and Punta Tresino. Among arches and stairways, you discover the Basilica of Santa Maria de Gulia, featuring a Renaissance facade. From the village square, the view stretches across the valley to the sea of Licosa.
The abandoned villages: Roscigno Vecchia and San Severino di Centola
Roscigno Vecchia: A “museum town” abandoned in the early 20th century due to landslides. Walking through its silent streets, one observes the typical social structure of Cilento: from noble palaces with private chapels to peasant houses. The Museum of Rural Life collects period tools and photographs. Nearby, the Monte Pruno site preserves the remains of a vast Oenotrian and Lucanian settlement (7th–3rd century BC).
San Severino di Centola: A 13th-century village strategically located on a rocky ridge. It shares the fate of abandonment with Roscigno, maintaining a suspended atmosphere at the foot of the ancient castle.
Acciaroli
A seaside village known for its water quality, consistently awarded the Blue Flag. The center retains the charm of a fishing village, transforming in the evening into a social hub thanks to the bars and artisanal shops that liven up the streets of the harbor and the old core.
Pompeii
Location: Pompeii and Castellammare di Stabia (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 98 km | Travel time: approx. 100 minutes | Visit duration: 1 day
Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, crystallized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city represents an intact testimony of daily life in the Roman Empire, documented in both its monumentality and its humbler aspects. Walking along the decumani (east-west axes) and cardi (north-south axes) that develop around the Forum, it is possible to observe the urban complexity of the time: from temples (Apollo, Jupiter, Vespasian) to public buildings such as the Basilica, the Macellum (market), and the Thermal Baths.
Social distinction is evident in the building fabric: luxurious domus, such as the House of the Faun or the Villa of the Mysteries (famous for its Dionysian frescoes), stand alongside workshops, cauponae (inns), and lupanaria (brothels), offering a realistic cross-section of 1st-century Roman society.
Stabiae (Castellammare di Stabia)
Ancient Stabiae was also buried by the eruption of 79 AD and rediscovered during the Bourbon era. While it initially served as a logistical and production hub for nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum, over time it became a renowned resort location for the Roman aristocracy. Unlike the urban context of Pompeii, Stabiae is famous for its panoramic villas d’otium (leisure villas), such as Villa Arianna and Villa San Marco, which preserve private thermal complexes and wall decorations of the highest value.
Pertosa Caves
Location: Pertosa (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 85 km | Travel time: 90 minutes | Visit duration: half a day
Situated at the foot of the Alburni Mountains, the Grotte dell’Angelo represent one of the most important karst phenomena in southern Italy, with a formation process that began approximately 35 million years ago. Access is through a large natural cavity that leads into a complex system of underground tunnels and caverns.
The visit begins with a boat crossing on the subterranean Negro River, an evocative experience that leads into the heart of the massif. The system is divided into three main branches:
Source Branch: Characterized by the constant flow of water.
Paradise Branch: Rich in spectacular limestone formations.
Wonders Branch: The most scenic sector due to the density of concretions. Among centuries-old stalactites and stalagmites, peculiar formations known as “the Elephant” and “the Sphinx” stand out.
The route ends in the Hall of Sponges, where the unique rock formations and the transparency of the crystals allow visitors to appreciate the porous and shifting nature of the stone. To enhance the experience, the caves periodically host itinerant theatrical performances of Dante’s Inferno, utilizing the natural setting to offer a different and immersive perspective on the site.
Venus Hair Waterfall
Location: Casaletto Spartano (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 88 km | Travel time: 90 minutes | Visit duration: 2-3 hours
Located in the heart of the Cilento hinterland, the Venus Hair Waterfall (Cascate Capelli di Venere) forms along the course of the Bussentino River. The site owes its name to the presence of Adiantum capillus-veneris, a moisture-loving fern that entirely covers the rock faces, creating an effect of fronds suspended over the water.
Geomorphology and Environment
The main waterfall develops over a travertine shoulder, a porous limestone rock formed by calcium carbonate deposits carried by the river waters. The cascade is not a single drop but splits into countless rivulets that weave through the dense blanket of ferns and mosses, feeding natural pools and small crystal-clear mirrors of water below. The water temperature, constant around 6-8°C, and persistent humidity create a local microclimate that favors botanical biodiversity rare at these latitudes.
Industrial Archaeology and Trails
The site is not only a natural attraction but also preserves traces of ancient human use of water resources. Along the path flanking the river, there are remains of an ancient water mill and a Norman-era stone bridge, evidence of how the force of the Bussentino was harnessed for local production activities in centuries past.
Technical Advice
The route winds along wooden walkways and paths that can be slippery due to the high humidity. The area is equipped with designated rest spots, making it a functional stop for those exploring the Cilento interior toward the Gulf of Policastro.
Castelcivita Caves
Location: Castelcivita (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 56 km | Travel time: 70 minutes | Visit duration: 3 hours
Located on the south-western slopes of the Alburni Mountains, a short distance from the Calore River, the Castelcivita Caves constitute one of the most significant underground complexes in Italy. The site, an integral part of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni National Park, represents a geomorphological heritage of immense value.
Morphology and Underground Routes
The system extends for approximately 4,800 meters, of which 1,200 are open to the public. The main structure consists of a wide gallery from which secondary tunnels branch out at various heights. The path is characterized by impressive concretion phenomena—stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones—creating dramatic environments and galleries with extremely varied natural colorations. Shafts and underground water basins complete the landscape of this karst labyrinth.
History and Archaeology
The caves, situated at 94 meters above sea level, have been frequented since prehistoric times. Findings of stone and bone artifacts dating back approximately 40,000 years indicate that the cave entrance was used by groups of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers as a secure shelter.
In modern times, the first systematic explorations date back to the 1920s, conducted by speleologists from Trieste following the pioneering attempts by the Ferrara brothers in 1889. Following World War II, thanks to the intervention of Neapolitan speleological groups, the current tourist itinerary was established.
Myths and Names
The identity of the caves has shifted over the centuries, fueling local legends:
Devil’s Caves: A name widespread in the 18th century due to the reverential fear of the underground unknown.
Spartacus Caves: According to legend, the rebel gladiator and his army sought refuge here in 71 BC during the revolt against Rome.
Cave of the Prince of Piedmont: A title granted in honor of Umberto II of Savoy, who visited the site in August 1932.
Mount Stella
Location: Mercato Cilento (SA) | Distance from Il Pilaccio: 5 km | Travel time: 15 minutes | Visit duration: from 3 hours to a full day
Mount Stella (1,131 m a.s.l.) is the massif that dominates the northern part of the Cilento National Park. Its position, close to the coastline, makes it an exceptional viewpoint—among the widest in Southern Italy—with a vista ranging from Calabria to the Amalfi Coast.
Trails and Natural Environment
A dense network of trails, also suitable for non-expert hikers, allows for the exploration of a heterogeneous ecosystem. The vegetation varies significantly with altitude:
Hilly belt: Characterized by Mediterranean scrub with broom, myrtle, carob, and prickly pears.
Slopes and mountain areas: Holm oak and chestnut woods give way, toward the summit, to high-altitude meadows where endemic species such as Romulea columnae (known as the “little star”) and Timothy-grass bloom.
Archaeology and Spirituality on the Summit
Reaching the top offers, besides the 360° view of the Cilento territory, important historical evidence:
Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella: An ancient small church whose remote origins date back to the early centuries of the Christian era, a destination of deep-rooted local devotion.
Castellum Cilenti: Remains of fortifications dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries that testify to the strategic importance of the mountain in the Middle Ages. Many scholars identify the area with the ancient Lucanian settlement of Petilia, which served as a defensive and political center for the inland populations.
Mount Stella is easily accessible from the estate. For those wishing to explore the trails independently, we provide detailed maps and directions to navigate the area in complete safety.