Local Information:
The village of Santa Maria di Castellabate is situated on the beautiful and unspoilt Cilento Coastline which in turn lies in the Parco Nazionale del Cilento a natural parkland reserve which stretches along the coast and inland to the hill of Vallo di Diano. Offering a wonderful combination of wide sandy bays, rocky coves, verdant hillside and natural flora and fauna. The many sandy beaches in and around Santa Maria di Castellabate were recently awarded the 'bandiera blu' for their clean seas. The village of Santa Maria runs parallel to the coast and offers a variety of shops, bars and gelaterias, whilst the area boasts a wide selection of good restaurants offering genuine local cuisine.
Santa Maria di Castellabate:
The position of the apartment means that it is not necessary to have a car since the central piazza and pedestrian village are just on short stroll away whilst the sea is on your doorstep. The neighbouring village of San Marco with its picturesque port can be reached in a short bus/ car drive or by walking along the beach from Santa Maria. The medieval village of Castellabate now under the patronage of the UNESCO can also be reached in a short bus/car drive and offers stunning views of the coast whilst one can explore its hidden alleyways and marvel at its historic architecture. It is still an inhabited medieval village which has conserved many of its original features and boasts such personalities of Napoleon Bonaparte and Leon Cavallo as past guests.
There are numerous restaurants in the area serving traditional dishes with home-grown produce and local wine.
There is a local Saturday market and various festivals.
Excursion Possibilities:
The area offers a variety of choice for excursions to the better known tourist attractions- the historic sites of Pompeii and Paestum, the dramatic cliff-like Amalfi coast with the picturesque towns of Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Sorrento and the Island of Capri all easily accessible as day excursions. The caves of Pertosa and Castelcivita and Palinuro also offer a fascinating outing, not to mention the local area where stone farmhouses hidden amongst the olive groves and entire villages stand as relics to times gone by.
Other Activities:
hiking, excursions, boat trips
