Castellabate is a picturesque town in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano in the province of Salerno. It has always kept the Middle Ages features with an architecture made of linked houses that developed around the castle situated on the top of the mountain. This fortress is very important. It was started in 1123: it also gave the name to the town, from the Latin words Castrum Abbatis that is ‘the castle of the abbot' that was then transformed into Castellabate.
The town is not situated on the coast, but Castellabate is famous as a sea town thanks to the hamlets of Santa Maria di Castellabate , San Marco di Castellabate and Ogliastro Marina , as well as Punta Licosa . Castellabate dominates the seaside from the top of the hill: on the hills there are olive trees. The coast is made of rocks and wide golden beaches. The crystalline sea between Punta Tresino and Punta Licosa received the blue flag from FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).
The Pontifical Basilica "Santa Maria de Gulia" in Castellabate built in Romanic style is very interesting. It was built in XII century. Inside there is an interesting painting by Pavanino da Palermo, a great example of painting in Southern Italy in 1400.
Tourism is an important resource in Castellabate and there are many good facilities: hotels , agritourisms , flats, etc. During summer there are two interesting events: an exhibition dedicated to handcraft and a fair dedicated to books.
Monuments and natural beauties of Castellabate...
- Castle, ordered by Abbot Costabile Gentilcore in 1123; it was a great defence against Saracen pirates
- Antiquarium, with Roman amphoras and anchors, found in the sea
- Basilica Pontificia, it is very interesting. It is in Romanic style and was built in the first half of XII century. There is a beautiful polyptich by Pavanino da Palermo, a very important example of XV century painting
- Lago, a lake reclaimed by Benedictine monks, covered by Mediterranean bush and flowers
- San Marco, a nice port rich of Greek and Roman story. There are submerged ruins of a Roman port, a necropolis belonging to the I and II century a.C.
- Punta del Pozzillo
- Castelsandra wood
- San Biagio Chapel
- Santa Maria della Pietà Chapel
- San Giovanni Battista Chapel
- Villa Belmonte
- Villa Matarazzo
- Palazzo Iaquinto
- Palazzo Perrotti
- Ogliastro Marina creek and Punta Licosa isle, the ancient Leucosia, a mermaid that disappeared in the sea. There are the ruins of a maritime Roman villa, partly submerged
Santa Maria Church, of Middle Ages - Tower on the coast of XVI century
- Palazzo Granito of XVII century
Castellabate where it is located...
Photo of Castellabate
Photos of the territory of Castellabate; of the beaches, of the town, of the historical center.