Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the shell is a fairly faceless grid of shop-lined streets, the kernel, the historic city centre, is
a fascinating tangle of narrow cobbled streets with ancient churches, venerable residents
and a castle with superb views.
The town has been inhabited since Neolithic times, with subsequent inhabitants includ-
ing the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Saracens. In 915 AD the town fell in-
to the jurisdiction of the bishops and was subsequently ruled by feudal lords. Agropoli
was a target of raids from North Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the popula-
tion dwindled to just a few hundred. Today the residents number closer to 20,000, making
it the largest (and the most vibrant) town along the Cilento coast.
Sights & Activities
To reach the
centro storico
of Agropoli, head for the Piazza Veneto Victoria, the
pedestrian-only part of the modern town where cafes and gelaterie are interspersed with
plenty of shopping choice. Head up Corso Garibaldi and take the wide Ennio Balbo Sc-
aloni steps until you reach the fortified medieval
borgo
. Follow the signs to the castle.
The town is famed for its pristine, golden, sandy beaches.
CASTLE
Il Castello
( 10am-8pm)
Built by the Byzantines in the 5th century, the castle was further
strengthened during the Algevin period, the time of the Vespro war bloodbath. The castle
continued to be modified and only part of the original defensive wall remains. It's an en-
joyable walk here through the historic centre, and you can stroll along the ramparts and
enjoy magnificent views of the coastline and town below.
Not just a tourist sight, the castle is utilised by the locals, with a permanent art gallery
showcasing contemporary local artists and a small open-air auditorium where concerts
take place during the summer months.
Cilento Sub Diving Center
( 338 2374603;
www.cilentosub.com
; Via San Francesco 30; single dives from €25;
)
Indulge in your favourite watery pursuit here. Courses include snorkelling for begin-
ners, open- water junior dives (from 12 years) and wreck diving; the latter includes the
harrowing (for some) viewing of hulks of ships, tanks and planes that were famously des-
troyed in the region during WWII.
DIVING
