Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

You can find the Italian version of the following at: parconazionaledelcilento.blog.tiscali.it

GOING ON EXPLORING THE CILENTO COAST: VELIA AND ASCEA, PALINURO, CAMEROTA,

We continue the journey in the Ancient Greece of Cilento area with another archaeological

site of great importance .. Velia . And while true that when, after the first excavations of the

ruins of the city an archaeologist claimed Velia would never become an important tourist

flows destination.... and maybe there was some truth in those words ... but I assure you that

in the eyes of the tourists who wander through Elea ruins is no less fascinating than visiting

other more renowned places.

Velia was founded by the Phocians in 540 B.C. Phocaea was an Ionian city situated on the

shores of the Anatolian peninsula. Its inhabitants were skilled sailors and traders, and having

the monopoly of trade alum (excellent fireproof material for construction and necessary for

the processing of fabrics and leathers) expanded for most of the Mediterranean and founded

several colonies including Massalia the modern Marseille), on the French coast of the

Mediterranean, and Alalia to Cirno (Corsica). It is more likely, however, that the Etruscans

and Carthaginians feared the Phocians to their expansion in the Mediterranean sea and attack

them to prevent their competition in the sea trades.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Written sources: Prof. M. Naples was the first to be interested in the geomorphology of the

city of Velia and its ancient coastline as far back as 1963, and it was he himself who began a

series of excavations which then led to the discovery of the buried city. The written sources

come to us mainly by Strabo, who in the main point of his account says "Elea is beyond the

cape and the island of Leucosia, in a bay adjacent to Paestum”. The most profitable economic

activities were fishing, sea trade and ship building.

In the picture above you can admire the medieval tower built with stones from the site of the

city of Velia. This was a common practice in ancient time especially in Paestum area.... it is,

in fact, not uncommon to find in the rich mansions fireplaces or other masonry built with

huge limestone slabs from the archaeological zone.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

PORT ROSE

Porta Rosa, dating back to the mid-fourth century B.C. a very important discovery because

until then it was thought that the Greeks did not know the use of the arch and that it was an

Etruscan invention. The port is part of the defensive system of the city and allowed the

passage on one side of the hill. Prof. M. Napoli is the archeologist who excavated the door

and gave it his wife's name' Rose. The door gives us a precise idea of the harmony and

perfection achieved by Greek architecture.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Talking of Velia is talking about ASCEA

In the picture you can see the beautiful cliff. Sure many among you know it, but probably

you just know the part where you park your car and go to the beach nearby. The true beauty

of the cliff is hidden ... and only a few people have the opportunity to enjoy it, but to do that

you have to cross the caves ... not natural, unfortunately, but not without charm ...

Those who really want to enjoy something special must screw up their own courage to

appreciate the beauty of the places .... For example .. after going through the first cave just

swim on the right .. There is a kind of "cave of Polyphemus' cave in the rock .., (I call it this

way) very wide, not very deep indeed .... but the fine sand there compete with the most

exotic and renowned beaches ... Another picture of the cliff.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

(Another beautiful image of Ascea ) Near the parking area there is also a wooden restaurant

a hangout for those who love fresh fish, once managed by the legendary "Montagna". Now

the restaurant is run by his son Aniello who continues his father's tradition with some

success.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Palinuro Cape

It is not easy to imagine where the picture of this beautiful sunset has been taken, but it

seemed to me the right way to start talking about another pearl of the Cilento coast ....

Palinuro .... sure you all know the fascinating legend of Palinuro…. Ulysses' helmsman who

gave his name to these magnificent places of unparalleled beauty. Palinuro village twenty

years ago was considered one of the most popular seaside resort in Italy ... To make it

famous throughout Europe and in other parts of the world was the Club Med organization

which every week brought to Palinuro about 1500 tourists from all over the world At this

point you might ask and then???

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

The rabbit rock and its beautiful sandy beaches

One of the most beautiful beaches all over the Cilento area.. Il Buondormire beach ... I think

the name comes from the fact that if you get on this beach in the early morning you find the

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

place so peaceful you can easily enjoy a restful nap. Almost inaccessible from the ground,

except for a steep and not always easy hiking trail that descends down from the hill, you get

there, however, almost always by boat ... and it is really worth to spend a day on this beach.

The sand is of a golden yellow colour with a crystal clear water... Anyway you don't need an

expensive boat to enjoy the beauty of the place ... when you get in Palinuro go to the port

area .... just before the port you will find a wide parking lot where you can leave your car ...

then go down to the harbour and rent one of the many boats that constantly leave and come

back from the caves and, of course, the Buondormire beach... if you have time ... do not

make the round trip....

it lasts just over an hour and you'd end up without enjoying an unforgettable day off to sea

... on the contrary ask the boatman to leave you on one of the many beaches along the coast

and ask them to pick you up back in the late afternoon.... have a nice time....

Another beautiful place on Palinuro coast ... the Natural Arch ... you see on the right. It is a

huge rock arch made up by the action of wind and water as well as by some landslides ...

which probably first originated the arch itself.

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

The Caves

In the picture you can see one of the many caves at the foot of the cliffs of Capo Palinuro ...

some are exceptionally beautiful and can be visited only by boat.

The azure cave by far the most famous of all, the cave of the Blood .. the cave of bones etc ...)

to admire other caves, however, like the one in the picture, you just have to make a long

swim from the Natural Arch towards Capo Palinuro ... you'll find small beaches of unparalleled

beauty ....

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Camerota: among the most beautiful pearls of the Cilento coast

Camerota coast with its beautiful spots... the photo above is of a breathtaking cliff... being

there "under it" is an experience to do ... not just for its crystal clear water ... but for the

incredible feeling that the incumbent and immense mass of rock above gives ... a great view

of the Infreschi bay see an isolated boat in this bay is really a rare event ..

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Still a view of Infreschi bay, to see an isolated boat there is really a rare event .. in the sense

that, in the summer, there are so many yachts at anchor because the bay itself is a natural

harbour.

The beach you see is called the Pirate’s beach where there is a nice restaurant ... do not

expect to find a real restaurant because it is not .... but I assure you that eating a plate

of spaghetti on a beach which can be reached only from the sea is not that bad ...

The boat in the pic is anchored at the bottom of the Infreschi bay .. where is the

restaurant I've just told you about.... in this way the place can be easily be recognize ...

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

And now the wonders of Baia Infreschi ..... in the picture you can see one of the beautiful

beaches where you can spend a truly unique "sunny hot day" .... enerally a few people

around... fine sand for those who love it, rocks ... for those who love rocks ... and a

really clean water .... some can say ..... ...those who have the boat choose the beach

they want without problems .... do not worry the opportunity to experience the wonders

of Baia Infreschi and generally the whole coast of Cilento is real ... just go to Camerota

and reach the harbour area where you will find a large parking lot ... park your car and

go to the boatmen association who provide the service of boat trips for tourists ... usually

it’s a a two-hour trip which includes a round trip from Infreschi Bay, a short stay on the

beach and an entry in the Pirate’s Cave which I will tell you about later ... but you can

ask the boatman to leave you on a beach of your choice (I suggest you choose one right

in the bay) so you can go swimming around and explore the entire place... have a nice

stay in Camerota ...

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Still a beach in Infreschi bay... as you can see what I'm talking about just gives you

anything but a faint idea of the place ... ...

In the picture the Pirate cave at Infreschi Bay ... a destination for many boat trips ...

What makes the place really incredible is the stunning colours and the presence of an

underground source of fresh water which is really cold ....my word..

Comenius project: curato dalle classi 4 F, 2aL Liceo Scientifico A. Gatto Agropoli (SA)

[2013]

Another beautiful beach of Baia Infreschi ....