Cilento
Encyclopedia
Cilento is an Italian geographical region of Campania
in the central and southern part of the Province of Salerno
and an important tourist
area of southern Italy
.
(on Tyrrhenian Sea
) is located between Paestum
and the Gulf of Policastro, near the town of Sapri
. More of touristic towns by the coast are "frazioni
"; as for example Santa Maria di Castellabate
, Acciaroli
, Velia, Palinuro
, Marina di Camerota
, Scario
and Policastro Bussentino
.
The inner boundaries are the Alburni mountain
s and Vallo di Diano
, sometimes considered as part of cilentan geographical region, which has in Sala Consilina
its largest center.
The most important towns in this area are Vallo della Lucania
(in the middle), Sapri and Agropoli
: this is the largest town of Cilento and the principal harbour. Most of this area is included in "Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park".
mythology and legends, as in the names of some towns, which is also visible in the remains of the colonies of Velia
(ancient Elea) and Paestum
(ancient Poseidonia). Velia was also the seat of "Eleatics
", a school of pre-Socratic philosophers as Parmenides
, Zeno of Elea
and Melissus of Samos
).
(in the most central position), Agropoli
(the largest town, situated in the north), Sala Consilina
(the most populous town of Vallo di Diano) and Sapri
(in the centre of southern Cilento, with the most important railway station). Another more recent proposal was to move Cilento from Campania to Basilicata
, as a third province together with the existing provinces of Potenza
and Matera
.
there was instituted, on 1991, a national park
, to protect the territory from building speculation and mass tourism. In 1998 the park becomes a World Heritage Site
of UNESCO
.
, is a stretch of coastline situated in the gulfs of Salerno
and Policastro, extending in 16 municipalities; from Capaccio-Paestum
in the north-west to Sapri
in the south-east.
, and its language
is influenced by Lucanian. In the north of Cilento the dialect
is more influenced by Neapolitan
, but in the south it has many similarities with Sicilian
.
, both red, white and rose, under the Cilento DOC appellation comes from this area. Grapes destined for DOC product must be harvested to a maximum yield
of 12 tonnes/hectare
with the finished red wines fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 11.5% and the whites and roses fermented to 11%.
Red Cilento wines are a blend of 60-70% Aglianico
, 15-20% of Piedirosso
and/or Primitivo, 10-20% Barbera
and up to 10% of other local red grape varieties. The whites are a blend of 60-65% Fiano
, 20-30% Trebbiano
, 10-15% of Greco
and/or Malvasia bianca with up to 10% of other local white varieties. The roses are blends of 70-80% Sangiovese
, 10-15% of Piedirosso and/or Primitivo and up to 10% of other local red grape varieties. A separate varietal
Aglianico can also be produced under the Cilento DOC provided that at least 85% of the wine is Aglianico with Primitivo and/or Piedirosso permitted to fill in the remainder and that the wine is aged at least one year before it is released.
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
in the central and southern part of the Province of Salerno
Province of Salerno
The Province of Salerno is a province in the Campania region of Italy.-Geography:The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 139,579; Cava de' Tirreni with a population of 53,488; Battipaglia with a population of 51,115; and Nocera Inferiore which has a...
and an important tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
area of southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Geography
The coastCoast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
(on Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
) is located between Paestum
Paestum
Paestum is the classical Roman name of a major Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It is located in the north of Cilento, near the coast about 85 km SE of Naples in the province of Salerno, and belongs to the commune of Capaccio, officially also named...
and the Gulf of Policastro, near the town of Sapri
Sapri
Sapri is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of the southernmost towns of the region of Cilento and its population is 7,105.- History :...
. More of touristic towns by the coast are "frazioni
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
"; as for example Santa Maria di Castellabate
Santa Maria di Castellabate
Santa Maria di Castellabate is a frazione of Castellabate, a commune in the province of Salerno, southern Italy. It is the largest frazione of its comune and of the province. It is also the seat of the town hall.-History:...
, Acciaroli
Acciaroli
Acciaroli is an Italian hamlet of Pollica , located in Campania region and the greatest one of its comune.-Geography:...
, Velia, Palinuro
Palinuro
Palinuro is a small town, the most populated civil parish of Centola, Province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Italy. The name of the town is derived from Palinurus, the helmsman of Aeneas, as recorded in the fifth and sixth books of the Aeneid.- Geography :Palinuro lies on the southern...
, Marina di Camerota
Marina di Camerota
Marina di Camerota is an Italian town, the largest hamlet of Camerota, situated in the province of Salerno, Campania. In 2007 it had a population of 3,500 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Scario
Scario
Scario is an Italian hamlet , the largest in the municipality of San Giovanni a Piro in the province of Salerno, Campania region.- Geography :...
and Policastro Bussentino
Policastro Bussentino
Policastro Bussentino is an Italian hamlet , the greatest one in the municipality of Santa Marina in the province of Salerno, Campania region.-History:...
.
The inner boundaries are the Alburni mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
s and Vallo di Diano
Vallo di Diano
The Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
, sometimes considered as part of cilentan geographical region, which has in Sala Consilina
Sala Consilina
Sala Consilina is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. With 12,738 inhabitants it is the most populated town of Vallo di Diano.-History:...
its largest center.
The most important towns in this area are Vallo della Lucania
Vallo della Lucania
Vallo della Lucania is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy...
(in the middle), Sapri and Agropoli
Agropoli
Agropoli is a town and comune located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilento coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its population is 21.251.-Pre-medieval period:...
: this is the largest town of Cilento and the principal harbour. Most of this area is included in "Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park".
Greek colony
The region is steeped in GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
mythology and legends, as in the names of some towns, which is also visible in the remains of the colonies of Velia
Velia
Velia is the Italian name of the ancient town of Elea located on the territory of the comune of Ascea, Salerno, Campania, Italy in a geographical sub-area named Cilento...
(ancient Elea) and Paestum
Paestum
Paestum is the classical Roman name of a major Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It is located in the north of Cilento, near the coast about 85 km SE of Naples in the province of Salerno, and belongs to the commune of Capaccio, officially also named...
(ancient Poseidonia). Velia was also the seat of "Eleatics
Eleatics
The Eleatics were a school of pre-Socratic philosophers at Elea , a Greek colony in Campania, Italy. The group was founded in the early fifth century BCE by Parmenides. Other members of the school included Zeno of Elea and Melissus of Samos...
", a school of pre-Socratic philosophers as Parmenides
Parmenides
Parmenides of Elea was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Elea, a Greek city on the southern coast of Italy. He was the founder of the Eleatic school of philosophy. The single known work of Parmenides is a poem, On Nature, which has survived only in fragmentary form. In this poem, Parmenides...
, Zeno of Elea
Zeno of Elea
Zeno of Elea was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher of southern Italy and a member of the Eleatic School founded by Parmenides. Aristotle called him the inventor of the dialectic. He is best known for his paradoxes, which Bertrand Russell has described as "immeasurably subtle and profound".- Life...
and Melissus of Samos
Melissus of Samos
Melissus of Samos was the third and last member of the ancient school of Eleatic philosophy, whose other members included Zeno and Parmenides. Little is known about his life except that he was the commander of the Samian fleet shortly before the Peloponnesian War. Melissus’ contribution to...
).
Sixth province of Campania
In the 1990s it was proposed to make Cilento a new province of Campania . This proposal has never come near to implementation; in particular there was the difficulty of choosing an administrative centre. The four candidates were Vallo della LucaniaVallo della Lucania
Vallo della Lucania is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy...
(in the most central position), Agropoli
Agropoli
Agropoli is a town and comune located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilento coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its population is 21.251.-Pre-medieval period:...
(the largest town, situated in the north), Sala Consilina
Sala Consilina
Sala Consilina is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. With 12,738 inhabitants it is the most populated town of Vallo di Diano.-History:...
(the most populous town of Vallo di Diano) and Sapri
Sapri
Sapri is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of the southernmost towns of the region of Cilento and its population is 7,105.- History :...
(in the centre of southern Cilento, with the most important railway station). Another more recent proposal was to move Cilento from Campania to Basilicata
Basilicata
Basilicata , also known as Lucania, is a region in the south of Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south, having one short southwestern coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania in the northwest and Calabria in the southwest, and a...
, as a third province together with the existing provinces of Potenza
Province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.-Geography:It has an area of 6,545 km² and a total population of 387,107 . There are 100 comuni in the province .-History:In 272 B.C. the province was conquered by the Greek army...
and Matera
Province of Matera
The Province of Matera is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera.It has an area of 3,447 km², and a total population of 203,837 . There are 31 comunes in the province . The main comunes by population are:- External links :* **...
.
National Park
In a great part of the territory of Cilento and Vallo di DianoVallo di Diano
The Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
there was instituted, on 1991, a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, to protect the territory from building speculation and mass tourism. In 1998 the park becomes a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Coast
The Cilentan Coast, or Costiera Cilentana in ItalianItalian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, is a stretch of coastline situated in the gulfs of Salerno
Gulf of Salerno
The Gulf of Salerno is a gulf of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the coast of the province of Salerno in south-western Italy. The northern part of this coast is the touristic Costiera Amalfitana, including towns like Amalfi, Maiori, Positano and the city of Salerno itself.The Gulf of Salerno is separated...
and Policastro, extending in 16 municipalities; from Capaccio-Paestum
Capaccio
Capaccio is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. The ruins of the ancient city of Paestum lie within borders of the comune.-Airport:...
in the north-west to Sapri
Sapri
Sapri is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of the southernmost towns of the region of Cilento and its population is 7,105.- History :...
in the south-east.
Language
Cilento was part of ancient LucaniaLucania
Lucania was an ancient district of southern Italy, extending from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. To the north it adjoined Campania, Samnium and Apulia, and to the south it was separated by a narrow isthmus from the district of Bruttium...
, and its language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
is influenced by Lucanian. In the north of Cilento the dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
is more influenced by Neapolitan
Neapolitan language
Neapolitan is the language of the city and region of Naples , and Campania. On October 14, 2008 a law by the Region of Campania stated that the Neapolitan language had to be protected....
, but in the south it has many similarities with Sicilian
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
.
Cilento DOC
Italian wineItalian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
, both red, white and rose, under the Cilento DOC appellation comes from this area. Grapes destined for DOC product must be harvested to a maximum yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
of 12 tonnes/hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
with the finished red wines fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 11.5% and the whites and roses fermented to 11%.
Red Cilento wines are a blend of 60-70% Aglianico
Aglianico
Aglianico is a black grape grown in the Basilicata and Campania regions of Italy. The vine originated in Greece and was brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin for "Greek vine"...
, 15-20% of Piedirosso
Piedirosso
Piedirosso is a red Italian wine grape variety that is planted primarily in the Campania region. The grape is considered a specialty of the region, being used to produce wines for local and tourist consumption. Its name "piedirosso" means "red feet" that reflects the bottom of the vine which used...
and/or Primitivo, 10-20% Barbera
Barbera
Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy . It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid...
and up to 10% of other local red grape varieties. The whites are a blend of 60-65% Fiano
Fiano (grape)
Fiano is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Campania region of southern Italy and on the island of Sicily. In Campania, this fairly strong flavored white wine grape is particularly noted around Avellino where the Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita wine...
, 20-30% Trebbiano
Trebbiano
Trebbiano is the second most widely planted grape in the world. It gives good yields, but makes undistinguished wine at best. It can be fresh and fruity, but does not keep long. Its high acidity makes it important in Cognac production...
, 10-15% of Greco
Greco (grape)
Greco is an Italian wine grape that may be of Greek origin. The name relates to both white and black wine grape varieties. While there is more land area dedicated to Greco nero, the Greco bianco is the grape most commonly referred to by the shorthand "Greco"...
and/or Malvasia bianca with up to 10% of other local white varieties. The roses are blends of 70-80% Sangiovese
Sangiovese
Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...
, 10-15% of Piedirosso and/or Primitivo and up to 10% of other local red grape varieties. A separate varietal
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
Aglianico can also be produced under the Cilento DOC provided that at least 85% of the wine is Aglianico with Primitivo and/or Piedirosso permitted to fill in the remainder and that the wine is aged at least one year before it is released.
See also
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano National ParkCilento and Vallo di Diano National ParkThe Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park is an Italian national park founded in 1991...
- Vallo di DianoVallo di DianoThe Vallo di Diano is an italian valley of the south-eastern side of Campania, in the Province of Salerno.-Geography:...
- Velia ("Elea")
- PaestumPaestumPaestum is the classical Roman name of a major Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It is located in the north of Cilento, near the coast about 85 km SE of Naples in the province of Salerno, and belongs to the commune of Capaccio, officially also named...
("Poseidonia") - Pruno CilentoPruno (Cilento)Pruno is a forest area of southern Italy and it is the biggest one in the middle of Cilento. The hamlets with this name are situated in the municipalities of Valle dell'Angelo, Laurino and Piaggine....
- Cilentan languageCilentan languageThe Cilentan language is a dialect spoken in the area of Cilento, located in the southern part of the Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy.-Influences:...
- Gulf of SalernoGulf of SalernoThe Gulf of Salerno is a gulf of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the coast of the province of Salerno in south-western Italy. The northern part of this coast is the touristic Costiera Amalfitana, including towns like Amalfi, Maiori, Positano and the city of Salerno itself.The Gulf of Salerno is separated...
- AgropoliAgropoliAgropoli is a town and comune located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilento coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its population is 21.251.-Pre-medieval period:...
- Vallo della LucaniaVallo della LucaniaVallo della Lucania is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy...
- SapriSapriSapri is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is one of the southernmost towns of the region of Cilento and its population is 7,105.- History :...
- Sala ConsilinaSala ConsilinaSala Consilina is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. With 12,738 inhabitants it is the most populated town of Vallo di Diano.-History:...
- Marina di CamerotaMarina di CamerotaMarina di Camerota is an Italian town, the largest hamlet of Camerota, situated in the province of Salerno, Campania. In 2007 it had a population of 3,500 inhabitants.-Geography:...
- Certosa di PadulaCertosa di PadulaPadula Charterhouse, in Italian Certosa di Padula , is a large Carthusian monastery, or charterhouse, located in the town of Padula, in the Cilento National Park in Southern Italy. It is a World Heritage site.The monastery is the second largest charterhouse in Italy after the one in Parma...
(PadulaPadulaPadula is a comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is the home of the Carthusian monastery Certosa di San Lorenzo, sometimes referred to as the Certosa di Padula.-Geography:...
) - Cape PalinuroCape PalinuroCape Palinuro is located in southeastern Italy, approximately 40 miles southwest of Salerno, in southern part of Cilento region. It is supposedly named after Palinurus, the helmsman of Aeneas' ship in Virgil's Aeneid. -Geography:Northern side of the cape is the location of Palinuro, a touristic...
(PalinuroPalinuroPalinuro is a small town, the most populated civil parish of Centola, Province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Italy. The name of the town is derived from Palinurus, the helmsman of Aeneas, as recorded in the fifth and sixth books of the Aeneid.- Geography :Palinuro lies on the southern...
)
External links
- Cilento Photos
- That's Amore Cilento Country House- Beautiful Apartments on the sea
- Historical and other information regarding National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano
- Holidays in Cilento National Park
- Tourism in the National park of Cilento
- Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park
- Cilento NEWS
- Tourism and holidays in Cilento
- Hotel Reservation in Cilento
- Holidays in Cilento
- Tipps and Tourism in Cilento
- Cilento Social Network