Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The longer four-hour tours (€25) take place between June and October, when the water
deep within the cave complex has dried up. Hard hats and a certain level of fitness and
mobility are required. Visits should be booked a day in advance.
To get here by car take the SS18 from Paestum towards Salerno and follow the signs.
Grotte dell'Angelo
( 0975 39 70 37;
www.grottedellangelo.sa.it
; Pertosa; guided visits adult/reduced €13/10; 9am-7pm
Apr & May, 10am-7pm Jun-Aug, 10am-6pm Sep, reduced hours rest of year; )
At the park's east-
ern edge, this cave system is younger than the Grotta di Castelcivita, dating back a mere
35 million years to the Neolithic period. Used by the Greeks and Romans as places of
worship, the caves burrow through the mountains for 2500m, with long underground pas-
sages and lofty grottoes filled with a mouthful of stalagmites and stalactites.
By car, take the A3 southbound from Salerno, exit at Petina and follow the SS19 for
9km.
CAVE
Certosa di San Lorenzo
( 0975 77 74 45; Padula; adult/reduced €4/2; 9am-7pm Wed-Mon)
One of southern Europe's
largest monasteries, the Certosa di San Lorenzo covers 250,000 sq metres. Begun in the
14th century and modified over time, it was abandoned in the 19th century, then suffered
further degradation as a children's holiday home and later a concentration camp. Numero-
logists can swoon at the following: 320 rooms and halls, 2500m of corridors, galleries and
hallways, 300 columns, 500 doors, 550 windows, 13 courtyards, 100 fireplaces, 52 stair-
ways and 41 fountains - it's
huge.
As you will unlikely have time to see everything here, be sure to visit the highlights, in-
cluding the vast central courtyard, the magnificent wood-panelled library, sumptuously
frescoed chapels and the kitchen with its grandiose fireplace, vibrant maiolica tiles and
famous tale: apparently this is where the legendary 1000-egg omelette was made in 1534
for Charles V. Unfortunately, the historic frying pan is not on view - just how big was it,
one wonders?
Within the monastery you can also peruse the modest collection of ancient artefacts at
the
Museo Archeologico Provinciale della Lucania Occidentale
(
MONASTERY
0975 7 71 17;
8am-1.15pm &
.
2-3pm Tue-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun)
