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The Paths of Living Well (I Sentieri del Buon Vivere) offer visitors quality tourism which combines in a single territory excellence in food, wine, culture, nature and landscape that can satisfy different interests: in history, the environment and psycho-physical well being. An inland area of the province of Salerno, a portion of pristine territory, dotted with medieval villages, historical palaces, natural parks, karst caves and speleological sites, hot springs, historical museums and archaeological parks, rock carvings, and abandoned villages: The Paths of Living Well is all this. An open air eco-museum.
Environment and nature
The rich landscape and environment represent one of the greatest local assets, thanks to the variety of flora and fauna found in the two parks in this area: the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park and the Monte Picentini Regional park, which includes the Monte Polveracchio nature reserve. The landscape resources, in a land that has been managed for centuries following its natural rhythms, make this an ideal area for environmental tourism and trekking; in this regard, the two cave systems originating from the Alburni mountains, the Castelcivita Caves and the Angelo di Auletta-Pertosa Caves, are of great natural and speleological importance.
The environmental routes combine perfectly with the health itineraries offered by the hot springs of Contursi Terme, where about 15 water springs known for their healing properties have given rise to many resorts providing thermal tourism, much appreciated by all who love to take care of their body and soul.
History and archaeology
The privileged geographical position of the 27 municipalities of this LAG area has fostered cultural exchanges since the prehistoric age, as shown by numerous archaeological finds. The High Sele Valley is a natural passageway between the Low Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, while on the southern side of the Alburni mountains there are passes that have been used since time immemorial to travel between the Sele plain and the Vallo di Diano valley.
In the High Sele Valley, significant archaeological finds were made at Oliveto Citra, which overlooks the valley. The town, together with Cairano, gives its name to the "Oliveto-Cairano" Fossakultur, which can be dated between the 8th and the early 3rd centuries BC, and whose artifacts can be seen at the Archaeological Museum of Alta Valle del Sele. Another site of significant importance is that of Buccino, the ancient Volcei, built in the 4th century BC and overlooking the Tanagro Valley. Its extent can still be seen today by visiting the Urban Archaeological Park and the National Archaeological Museum of Volcei. No less important, on the Alburni mountains side, is the small Antiquarium in Roscigno, which has artifacts found in the Monte Pruno site, an indigenous settlement first occupied in the 6th century BC.
Landscape and culture
The cultural itinerary in the LAG area continues with a visit to Villa d'Ayala in Valva, conceived in its present form in the 18th century, together with the park, to create a residence that would incorporate Norman features and at the same time achieve a symbiosis between art and nature, with its magnificent fusion of fountains, statues and small buildings. In the town of Campagna, the site of an internment camp for Jewish refugees during the Second World War, the Regional Museum has put a very moving permanent display called the "Itinerary of Memory and Peace".
Again on the Alburni Mountains, at Roscigno, one can visit the historical village of Roscigno Vecchia, now completely abandoned because of recurrent landslides since the 19th century. Two very interesting UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in the municipality of Sant'Angelo a Fasanella: the Shrine of San Michele Arcangelo, a 13th-century church built in a cave in honour of the saint, and the rock carving called Antece, most likely dating to the Samnite period.
At Corleto Monforte one can visit the Alburni Natural Museum, where many species of mammals, birds and insects are preserved. Also in this LAG area are the abandoned historical village of Romagnano al Monte, an Antiquarium at Caggiano, four museums of peasant culture, two Museums of Sacred Art, castles and remains of castles in almost all the villages, and countless places of worship of great historical and artistic value.
With its enchanting villages, landscape and rich nature, the LAG area "The Paths of Living Well" offers visitors so much to discover.
