Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park
Piazza S. Caterina 8-84078 Vallo della Lucania (SA)
The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano (Italian: Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano ) is the second largest national park in Italy and is located in the Campania region and the province of Salerno. It was established in 1991 and covers an area of 181,048 hectares of mostly mountainous terrain of the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Vallo di Diano at the foot of the Apennines. In 1998 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Center of the National Park are the places Marina di Camerota and the smaller Palinuro.
Landscape
The landscape of the Cilento is very varied. To cliffs alternate with sandy beaches on the coast. The interior is hilly traversed by some river valleys, partially wooded, but also covered with olive groves. But there are also largely unvegetated mountain regions. Parts of the Calore Gorge are just as protected as the highest with 1,898 m mountain that Cervati. In two places there are also underwater reserves: Before Santa Maria di Castellabate of the " Parco Marino Subacqueo " and east of Marina di Camerota, the Baia degli Infreschi ( Riserva Naturale Costa degli Infreschi ). Both on the coast and in the river valleys there are many caves.
Flora
The National Park Service estimates that there are about 1,800 wild plants in the park. Approximately 10 % of these are endangered species. The Palinuro Primrose (Primula palinuri ), who was elected to the National Park logo, is an endemic species that occurs only between the Cape Palinuro and Maratea Coast. The sea daffodil is a rare type that occurs in the coastal region.
In the coastal region, pine forests and scrub alternate with olive groves from. Inland, beech, alder, holm oaks and chestnuts grow.
Fauna
The mountainous regions of the National Park offer the golden eagle and its prey, the Rock Partridge and the Corsica - rabbit habitat. Also, some wolves there are in the mountain regions of the National Park. In the deeper forests of the hawk and the wild cat live. Important are deposits of the Alpine goat. In the rivers of the Calore Valley endangered otter and spectacled salamander and salamander live.
Tourism
The National Park region is largely untouched by mass tourism. However, the coastal regions during the high season are often very well attended. In the off- season in spring and autumn tourist experience, but largely empty beaches and places. The National Park region offers many opportunities for active holidaymakers. There are many attractive walks and cyclists get their costs. On the steep cliffs, the conditions are ideal for diving and snorkeling. Also for sailing and surfing the varied coastline is very good. Other options include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, hang - gliding, paragliding and caving and boat tours to the partially accessible only from the sea caves along the coast.
In the area of Paestum today live those famous water buffalo whose milk is processed to the traditional mozzarella di bufala.
Cultural Attractions
There are three main points of interest in the Cilento, each inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO:
- The archaeological site of Paestum with the three well-preserved Greek temples
- The excavations of the Greek philosophers town of Velia
- The Charterhouse of Padula
In addition, many places have attractive historic town centers. Also worth seeing are the - often only preserved as a ruin - medieval coastal defense towers.