Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni Park

Hours: Open year-round (outdoor park, no set opening hours)

Admission: Free (protected national park; some visitor centres or guided activities may charge)

Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni is a large national park in the Campania region of southern Italy, covering coastal and mountainous terrain. It protects a mix of natural landscapes and significant archaeological and cultural sites.

The park includes Mediterranean coastline, the Alburni mountain group, and the inland Vallo di Diano plateau, offering diverse habitats from sea to mountain. Major highlights within the park are the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and the monumental Certosa di Padula, all included in a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

The park was created in 1991 to conserve ecological, historical, and cultural values and to manage tourism and local activities. It contains traditional towns, archaeological ruins spanning Greek and Roman periods, and extensive natural areas used for hiking, wildlife observation, and rural tourism.

Geographically the park sits in central-southern Campania, in the province of Salerno, stretching from the Tyrrhenian coast inland toward the Apennine foothills.

• Protection and UNESCO: The park was established as a national park in 1991 and includes multiple UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites inscribed under the “Archaeological Sites of Paestum and Velia and the Certosa of Padula” listing.

What to See#

• Paestum: An ancient Greek city with well-preserved Doric temples and city layout dating mainly to the 6th and 5th centuries BCE.
• Velia (Elea): A coastal Greek colony known in antiquity as Elea, with Hellenistic and classical ruins including city walls and archaeological remains from the 6th century BCE onward.
• Certosa di Padula: A large Baroque Carthusian monastery (Certosa di Padula) founded in the 14th century and expanded in later centuries, notable for its cloisters and monumental complex.

The Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni National Park covers a large area in southern Campania and is best reached by car. From Salerno or the A3/E45 motorway follow signs for the SS18 (coastal) or SS166/SS488 inland roads toward Agropoli, Vallo della Lucania and other park towns; driving times vary by which sector you’re visiting. Rail travel to Salerno, Agropoli‑Castellabate or Battipaglia is possible, and regional SITA/EAV buses connect those towns with smaller villages and trailheads inside the park; walking distances from bus stops to trails vary by site.

• The park is very large and public transport is sparse - if you want to reach inland trails and mountain entrances (Alburni and Vallo di Diano areas) rent a car or arrange local transfers rather than relying on buses.
• Visit in late spring (May-June) or September to enjoy milder weather and fewer Italian holiday crowds; August can be very busy on the coast and hottest in the hills.
• Don't limit yourself to the coastline - plan an itinerary that includes interior hamlets, archaeological sites and mountain trails (they are less visited and give a fuller sense of the park).