Cilento, Protected area in Province of Salerno, Italy
Cilento is a mountain area and coastal zone in the Province of Salerno in Campania, stretching over 100 kilometers (60 miles) along the Tyrrhenian Sea. The landscape alternates between forested slopes, Mediterranean scrubland, and small coves where fishing villages with white houses cling to the shoreline.
Greek settlers founded colonies along the coast in the 6th century before Christ, creating important centers like Velia and Paestum. During the Middle Ages, the area became part of Norman territories and later the Kingdom of Naples.
Coastal villages still preserve their traditions of fishing with small boats that anchor in natural harbors every morning. In the hills, inhabitants tend ancient olive groves and produce oil following centuries-old methods.
The A3 motorway runs through the northern parts of the region, while smaller roads connect coastal villages and mountain areas. Agropoli serves as a starting point for exploration, with access to ferries and regional connections to the interior.
In Acciaroli, an unusual number of people live past 100 years, drawing researchers from different countries. The village of Pioppi hosts a small museum dedicated to the studies of nutritionist Ancel Keys on Mediterranean diet.
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