Perito: Churches, History and Landscape

Perito offers several specific highlights to help plan your trip: churches and their architectural history, ruins in Perito Sottano, signposted trails, and the Festa nel Bosco in August. If you’re looking for a hotel in Perito, you can choose your destination based on your main interest: would you like to see historic churches and architecture, plan a route with views, or time your trip around a food festival? The places and details below offer specific points of reference.

Churches and Historic Traces

The parish church of San Nicola di Bari dates back to the 16th century and is dedicated to Perito’s patron saint. The bell tower right next to it was built using an old tower from the Angevin period. At San Nicola, the church’s construction date and the tower’s older architectural history thus come together.

In the hamlet of Ostigliano stands the mother church of San Giovanni Battista, dating from the mid-16th century. The church had three altars: the high altar, the University’s Rosary altar and the altar of Santa Caterina. Admission to the church is free.

The church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Perito already existed in 1500. This makes it older than San Nicola di Bari and San Giovanni Battista, both dating from the 16th century. At the entrance to Perito is the chapel of Madonna del Monte. It has a single-nave layout, a small altar and no apse.

Local History, Trails and Landscape

In Perito Sottano are the ruins of Perito’s first urban settlement; the ruins of the church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria can also be seen there. From Perito Sottano, the view extends to the Torre di Velia and, when visibility is especially clear, as far as the island of Stromboli.

Perito can be reached via the exit from the SS 18 bypass and along Provincial Road No. 56. Within Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, the Alento River flows through the municipalities of Cicerale and Perito.

On the Sentiero del Soldato, signs point the way to the chapel of Madonna di Loreto; check the trail markers locally. Another route runs from Perito to the Cappella di Santa Maria della Croce di Stio and is part of the Sentieri della Croce. It offers panoramic viewpoints over the Alento Valley and towards Monte Stella. How far you can see depends on the weather and vegetation. The routes therefore also differ in their landmarks: on the Sentiero del Soldato, signs lead to Madonna di Loreto; on the route to Stio, the viewpoints are the main attraction.

Festa nel Bosco

The Festa nel Bosco is a food festival held in a chestnut forest in August. Check the specific event dates before your trip. Its culinary highlights include traditional Cavatielli, handmade by women from Perito. The festival’s dishes are prepared with products from local producers and livestock farmers.

Discover more destinations: Battaglia Di Casaletto Spartano, Montecorvino Pugliano, Magazzeno, Mezzatorre Di San Mauro Cilento, Torraca, Gioi, Atena Lucana, Pertosa

For the main travel overview: Salerno.