Cilento Coast

The Cilento coast runs south from the Amalfi's crowds into a national park of about a hundred and eighty thousand hectares, with limestone headlands, small coves and long stretches with little development. Capo Palinuro is cut with sea caves, including the Grotta Azzurra, where light entering underwater turns the interior blue in the morning, and the Grotta del Sangue, coloured by mineral deposits; boats run circuits from the harbour. Ancient Elea, where the philosophers Parmenides and Zeno taught, lies at Velia on the coast, and Paestum's Greek temples stand at the northern edge of the park.

Highlights

• The Palinuro caves - a sea cave circuit including the Grotta Azzurra.
• The undeveloped coves - stretches of coast without resort building.
• Velia - the ruins of Elea, home of Parmenides and Zeno.
• The national park - 180,000 hectares running inland to the mountains.

When to go

June to September for the boats and swimming; the caves need calm water and trips are cancelled in swell. Spring and autumn suit the inland walking.

Good to know

Boat trips depend entirely on sea conditions. Public transport along the coast is poor and a car is effectively needed. August fills the small resorts.

Nearby

Paestum lies north; Maratea is south in Basilicata.

Key facts