Laureana Cilento – Hotels and Local History

Laureana Cilento combines historic buildings with trails through chestnut groves and an agricultural landscape in which olive growing plays a central role. During your stay, you can focus on history, nature trails or local food traditions. Laureana Cilento combines historic buildings with trails through chestnut groves and an agricultural landscape in which olive growing plays a central role. During your stay, you can focus on history, nature trails or local food traditions. The Selva di San Francesco is a 15-hectare coppiced chestnut woodland.

Local history in palaces, churches and chapels

The Palazzo Feudale, also known as Castellum Lauri, was built in the 9th century by Count Guido to confront the Saracens, who had conquered the castle of Agropoli in 878. One original tower of the complex still stands; the foundations of the second tower, which has since collapsed, remain.

Other buildings offer additional points of reference across different periods. The Palazzo Del Mercato was built around 1200. The Cappella Gentilizia SS. Annunziata dates from 1348. The Chiesa di San Martino has a very old original structure and is mentioned in the 1489 census. The Chiesa Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Paradiso was built in 1520. Until the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Paradiso was built, the Convento di San Michele served as Laureana’s parish church.

The Santuario dell’Acquasanta

The Santuario dell’Acquasanta is located near the springs of the stream of the same name. Its presbytery contains a marble fountain dating from 1652 and a fresco from 1647. The fresco depicts the Madonna and Child, as well as Saint Joseph and Saint Lucy. The fountain is identified by its material and date, while the fresco features a clearly described religious scene.

The Festa della Madonna dell’Acquasanta is celebrated on the Tuesday after Pentecost. If the festival is a deciding factor in your trip, check the date for the year you plan to visit.

Chestnut woodland and two different trails

The Sentiero naturalistico San Francesco is a short nature trail through a chestnut woodland with oaks, downy oaks and alders. It connects the village of Laureana with the Convento di San Francesco. The Sentiero Archi–Matonti starts in the hamlet of Archi and passes numerous farms offering typical products. The trails have different focuses: the first highlights the woodland and its connection to the convent, while the second starts in Archi and passes farms along the way.

Olives and the fig-drying tradition

Olive growing is the most widespread agricultural activity in Laureana Cilento. In addition, some people continue to preserve the traditional Passolara method of drying figs. The two subjects complement each other: olives represent the area’s broad agricultural focus, while Passolara is a specific traditional method of processing figs.

Discover more destinations: Casa Vitagliano, San Biase, Ispani, Caprioli, Cuccaro Vetere, Battaglia Di Casaletto Spartano, Pellezzano, Ortodonico Cilento.

Return to the main travel overview: Salerno.