A breathtaking hinterland
Renowned all over the world for its historical and environmental heritage, Campania is often chosen as a tourist destination for seaside resorts, but its hinterland and coasts also offer breathtaking trails and walks, suitable for immersing oneself in nature and contemplating its stillness and fullness.
As Hippocrates said...
The experience of a trip to Campania can be greatly enriched by walking along some of its many paths, which wind along the coasts, as well as through valleys and mountains. After all, Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, claimed that walking was the best medicine for humans, more than two thousand years ago. Discovering nature, perceiving it with all one's senses, allows to recalibrate one's earthly experience and reconnect with what surrounds us, freeing the mind from stress.
Some suggestions
When it comes to trails in Campania, one of the first names that spring to mind is that of the Path of the Gods, a panoramic path which, winding between the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento Peninsula, offers glimpses that everyone, at least once in their life, should admire with their own eyes for its beauty, charm and historicity.
Another “must” for nature lovers is the Valle delle Ferriere, set in the heart of the Salerno area. Overflowing with woods, waterfalls and springs, this area is well represented by the so-called Path of the Waters. Starting from the historic centre of the city of Acerno, the route climbs up to the mountain and connects downstream with the Industrial Archeology Path, an example of the ironworks and paper mills that were once active in Acerno.
Staying in the Salerno area, and more precisely in the desolate beauty of the Cilento National Park and Vallo di Diano, it is impossible not to mention the Mediterranean Path. Starting from the 170 metres in height in Monte di Luna, this path crosses three of the most beautiful coasts in Italy: Pozzallo beach, Cala Bianca and Baia degli Infreschi.
Another Salerno area itinerary, which recalls the journey of St. Matthew the Evangelist and the exploits of the last Lombard ruler in the area, Gisulfo II, is the Path of the Prince. From the Salerno Cathedral, this long path leads, through the alleys of the historic centre, to the spectacular Castello Arechi, and from there to the Bastille, the cross of Cava and the incredible chestnut groves that climb up Monte San Liberatore. A suggestive panoramic descent through the famous "frame of the prince" represented by the ruins of the Church of Saranno, before descending again towards Salerno.
Moving on to the island of Capri, and precisely in Anacapri, worth mentioning is also the wonderful Sentiero dei Fortini path, which connects two extraordinary points of interest: the Blue Grotto and the Punta Carena lighthouse. The name of the path is given by the military posts that are located there which were built in 1806 and then enlarged by the French after the Capture of Capri in 1808.
