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Cilento Coast

The Cilento stretch of coastline may lack the sophistication of the Amalfi Coast, but it too has a string of craggy, sun-bleached towns, among them popular Agropoli, gleaming white Palinuro, charming Castellabate and the evocative ruined temples of Paestum. The Cilento can even afford to have a slight air of superiority when it comes to its beaches: a combination of secluded coves and long stretches of golden sand with fewer overpriced ice creams and sunbeds. Yet Campania's southern bookend is about more than its waterside appeal. It's here that you'll find the ancient Greek temples of Paestum and a large coastal tract of the Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni, also a Unesco World Heritage site.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Cilento Coast.

  • Archaeological Site

    Paestum's Temples

    Very different to Pompeii, Paestum’s ruins are smaller, older, more Greek and – crucially – a lot less overrun. Consequently, it is possible to steal some reflective moments here as the sun slants across the giant Doric columns of this once great city of Magna Graecia (the Greek colony that once covered much of southern Italy). Take the train to Paestum station. Buy your tickets in the museum, just east of the site, before entering from the main entrance at the northern end.

  • Museum

    Museo di Paestum

    Facing the east side of the ruins, the Museo di Paestum houses a collection of much-weathered metopes (bas-relief friezes). Among these are originals from the Tempio di Argiva Hera (Temple of Argive Hera), 9km north of Paestum, of which virtually nothing else remains. The most famous of the museum's numerous frescoes is the 5th-century-BC Tomba del tuffatore (Tomb of the Diver), thought to represent the passage from life to death with its frescoed depiction of a diver in mid-air.

  • Archaeological Site

    Tempio di Nettuno

    Dating from about 450 BC, the limestone Tempio di Nettuno is the largest and best preserved of Paestum's trio of temples; only parts of its inside walls and roof are missing. The two rows of double-storied columns originally divided the outer colonnade from the cella (inner chamber), where a statue of the temple deity would have been displayed. Despite its commonly used name, many scholars believe that the temple was actually dedicated to the Greek goddess Hera, sister and wife of Zeus.

  • Beach

    Castellabate Beach

    Santa Maria’s golden sandy beach stretches for around 4km, which equals plenty of towel space on the sand, even in midsummer. San Marco’s Blue Flag beach is the natural continuation to the south. Here you'll find the esteemed Spiaggia del Pozzillo, populated with several lidi (beach establishments renting loungers and umbrellas).

  • Archaeological Site

    Basilica

    The so-called basilica (a temple to the goddess Hera) is Paestum’s oldest surviving monument. Dating from the middle of the 6th century BC, it’s a magnificent sight, with nine columns across and 18 along the sides. Ask someone to take your photo next to one of the columns: it’s a good way to appreciate the scale.

  • Beach

    Spiaggia Palinuro

    The town’s main beach stretches for around 4km north of the centre. There is another more sheltered curve of sand abutting Palinuro’s postcard-pretty harbour in the south, replete with colourful fishing boats, several bars and a rocky headland standing sentinel. You can hire kayaks and arrange boat trips here.

  • Beach

    Spiaggia Grande di Acciaroli

    Another Cilento stunner, Acciaroli’s main beach has sand, space, a Blue Flag rating and easy access to the historic town at its southern end. Water and sand are kept ruthlessly clean. If you couldn't hack the Amalfi’s rocky, crowded ‘beaches’, this will be a gulp of fresh air.

  • Archaeological Site

    Tempio di Cerere

    Tempio di Cerere (6th century BC) was originally dedicated to Athena and served as a Christian church in medieval times.

  • Farm

    Tenuta Vannulo

    The first organic producer of bufala (water-buffalo) milk, Tenuta Vannulo is a 10-minute drive from Paestum. It makes its mozzarella exclusively from buffalo milk, unlike most producers who combine it with cows' milk. Farm tours (also in English; cash payment only) are available and should be booked two to three days in advance. Visits proceed through the cheese-processing area, stable, agricultural museum and culminate in that all-important mozzarella tasting.