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Only wonderful places
Around Marea Retreat, there are so many places to discover! History, culture and nature define these wonderful places that are unique and priceless.
Paestum
Paestum, also known as Pesto, is an ancient city of Magna Graecia called Poseidonia by the Greeks in honor of Poseidon, but devoted to Athena and Hera. After its conquest by the Lucanians, it was called Paistom, and then took on the name Paestum under the Romans. The extent of the settlement is still clearly recognizable today, enclosed by its Greek walls, then modified both in Lucanian and then Roman times. Miraculously well preserved, so much so that they are considered unique examples of Magna-Greek architecture, are the three Doric-order temples built in Paestum's two urban sanctuary areas. Between 2003 and 2013, the area of the Temples of Paestum was the subject of a series of restoration works that allowed, in addition to the recovery of the buildings, to shed light on the techniques and materials used in their construction.
Velia/Elea
Velia/Elea is an important archaeological site in Cilento, founded around 540 B.C. by Phocean settlers. In Greek times, it was called Elea, while the Romans renamed it Velia, as Pliny wrote in the Naturalis Historia. The city, formerly a colony of Marseilles, remained a tenacious stronghold of Hellenism, so much so that the Greek language was still used there into the imperial age. It was also famous for the Eleatic school of philosophy. Today, excavations of the ancient city can be seen. Begun by Amedeo Maiuri in 1921, they were continued in the 1950s and 1960s. The remains of the city gates (Porta Rosa and Porta Marina), a thermal building, the acropolis, the agora and the sanctuary of Poseidon Asphaleios, among others, can be observed.
Cervati Mountain
Trekking lovers cannot miss climbing this mountain: the Cervati mountain (in the municipal territory of Sanza) is the highest in Campania at 1899 meters. The geological nature of the massif shows the characteristic morphology of a karstic environment, with sinkholes, very fresh springs and temporary watercourses. The massif shows its sheer cliffs, etched by deep avalanche chutes and numerous towers and spires, spectacular and characteristic, right on the Piaggine side. At the foot of the massif are mixed forests and beech woods that from time to time become clearings, rich in vegetation and very green (or very white in winter). From the summit, you can see the Vallo di Diano and the massif of Mount Motola (1700 m), or Mount Sacro and the sea. On the summit of Cervati, there is a chapel and a cave dedicated to Our Lady of the Snow.
Caves of Pertosa-Auletta
The Caves of Pertosa-Auletta are the only speleological site in Europe where it is possible to sail on an underground river, heading deep into the heart of the mountain. The Negro River rises from the depths and offers you a fascinating and unusual boat trip, surrounded by a magical silence, interrupted only by the roar of the underground waterfall. The caves extend for about three thousand meters into the massif of the Alburni Mountains, in a path rich in concretions, where stalactites and stalagmites adorn each space with different shapes, colors and sizes, arousing amazement and emotion.
WWF Oasis of Morigerati
For lovers of undemanding walks: The Bussento River, the heart of the Morigerati Oasis, extends for about 7 km. It originates from the Bussento caves, of which it crosses an underground section, offering one of the most important karstic phenomena in Italy. The river also flows through the town of Morigerati, again via an underground route. The ideal route to fully enjoy these natural wonders begins in Morigerati itself, with a mule track paved in stone and carved partly into the rock. Passing through the canyon carved by the river, you can enjoy the breathtaking sceneries offered along the gorge, consisting largely of clear, fresh water that forms spectacular rapids and waterfalls. A lovely walk on gentle ups and downs, alongside a delightful river, shaded by a charming grove, among mills and wooden bridges. A truly enchanting place to spend a relaxing day in the area equipped with cottages, tables and barbecues.
The “Capelli di Venere” (Hair of Venus) waterfall
At the end of the Rio Casaletto Valley is the Capello Oasis, with a spring of the same name and the "Capelli di Venere" Waterfall. Its particular name comes from the plant that grows there as lush as ever, the maidenhair. In this waterfall, the waters are rich in dissolved carbonate and leak out, dripping onto the surface and depositing the carbonate. The resulting travertine appears as a whitish layer that encrusts plants and the ground surface. The "Capelli di Venere" Waterfall, in particular, is characterized by the active formation of microdermal travertine, formed by encrustation on bryophytes that generate branching microtubule structures. The oasis is of considerable geological and hydrogeological interest and has been listed as a priority habitat in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive (Aloia et al., 2012). The Old Mill, located in the area, has been renovated and is a center for monitoring Geodiversity and Biodiversity.