|
Small travel between culture and nature
- an escursion up Mount Gelbison (1,700 m.) along the pathway the ancient worshippers walked up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Monte Sacro; or to the old village of Roscigno, abandoned about two centuries ago but still unimpared.
- another alternative would be the small town of Teggiano which overlooks the Vallo di Diano, fiefdom of the Sanseverino family, whose castle can be visited.
- the Excavations and the Museum of Paestum, the Excavations of Velia, the Virtual Museum of Hera Argiva at the mouth of the river Sele. Paestum (the ancient Poseidonia of the Magna Grecia) is one of the most prominent archeological sites in Italy. The town is surrounded by well kept Roman walls which are 5 km long. It includes the three famous and imposing Doric temples of the VI and V century BC, and the Archeological Museum which houses the precious fresco of The Diver.
- Velia is the Roman name for the ancient Greek town of Helea, founded circa 540 BC. Archeological excavations have gradually unveiled the remains of this town, and just recently the amphitheatre and the Porta Rosa (Pink Door).
- the sanctuary of Hera Argiva, located at the mouth of the river Sele, is hidden amongst vegetation. In ancient times the foundation of this temple, actually built in VII century BC, was attributed to Jason (the mythological husband of Medea) and his Argonauts. The newly built Virtual Museum examines these fascinating aspects of the past.
- the Chartreuse San Lorenzo of Padula was founded in 1306 by the feudal landlord of Reggiano and Cilento, Tommaso Sanseverino. This is one of the most imposing religious sites in Europe, the size of which is 50,000 square metres. It is a harmonious architectural and artistic whole made up of Medieval, Renaissant and Baroque elements, well preserved.
- the grottoes of Pertosa and Castelcivita: The grottoes of Castelcivita, inhabited in prehistoric times, are a few kilometers away from Paestum and located along the banks of the river Calore. They are one of the most significant spelaeological sites in Italy. There the calcareous rocks have, during the centuries, turned into something phantasmagoric and are greatly enhanced by skilful illumination, for a distance of 1,700 metres.
- the grottoes of Pertosa are located at the foot of the Alburni mountains, in an unspoiled natural environmernt; their geological origin is due to Karst-formations. They were inhabited during the stone age, then used by the Greeks and Romans as religious venues; more recently they have been used by shepherds for shearing the sheep. The name "Per-tosa" originated from the word "tosa" which, in English, means shearing.
|
