The National Park of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni offers a journey through the sea and mountains, UNESCO sites, geological sites, biodiversity and historic villages.
A region best experienced at a leisurely pace, thanks to a network of greenways, walking trails and cycle routes set amidst landscapes of extraordinary beauty.
From the blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the peaks of Mount Cervati, the highest peak in Campania, the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park is a mosaic of landscapes that encompasses some of the Mediterranean’s most extraordinary natural and cultural treasures. Covering over 180,000 hectares, it is Italy’s second-largest national park and a destination where the sea, mountains, villages, archaeology and traditions coexist in perfect harmony.
Since 1998, the Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its unique wealth of heritage, which includes the archaeological sites of Paestum and Elea-Velia, the monumental Certosa di San Lorenzo in Padula and numerous historic villages that bear witness to centuries of Mediterranean civilisation. In addition, it has been recognised as a UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO Global Geopark, testifying to the exceptional biodiversity and geological significance of a landscape shaped over millennia.
The Gelbison, Cervati and Alburni mountains are home to forests, springs and spectacular karst systems, whilst along the coast the famous Cilento Flysch forms cliffs, marine terraces and rocky outcrops with striking stratifications. Caves, canyons, sinkholes and geological sites tell the story of millions of years of the Earth’s evolution, making the Park a prime destination for geotourism.
The incredible variety of habitats is home to one of the richest biodiversities in the Mediterranean basin. Among the various rare botanical species, the Palinuro primrose, the symbol of Cilento, is particularly noteworthy.
But Cilento is also a land where culture and landscape intertwine with traditions. This is the birthplace of the Mediterranean Diet, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, an expression of a way of life that combines diet, agriculture, conviviality and respect for the land.
The Park is also one of Italy’s most fascinating destinations for slow tourism. A dense network of greenways, footpaths, trails and cycle routes winds through woods, valleys, medieval villages and coastal vistas, allowing visitors to experience the area at a sustainable pace. Among these, La Via Silente stands out; part of the network of major greenways in Southern Italy, it is a circular route that takes cyclists into the heart of Cilento, passing through small villages, centuries-old olive groves, castles, archaeological sites and offering glimpses of the sea. Hiking, canyoning, caving, rafting, climbing, kayaking, horse riding and activities in the Marine Protected Areas round off the outdoor offering of a region where nature, history, geology and sustainable transport come together in an authentic experience to be enjoyed in every season.
Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni, the Lucanian Apennines, Val d’Agri Lagonegrese, Pollino and Aspromonte: these are the four National Parks that have chosen to collaborate in order to present themselves as a single, major ‘nature destination’, extending beyond national borders.
South Italy Greenways is a journey through the living beauty of protected areas that preserve vast natural and cultural landscapes, with shared roots that run deep into the history and very identity of the Mediterranean.
South Italy Greenways is at the heart of an extraordinary and unprecedented direct communication campaign: an epic cycling roadshow that crosses the whole of Europe, from North Cape to Reggio Calabria, following the EuroVelo 7 route.
From August to October 2026, Simona Pergola and Simona Ridolfi will be in the saddle, accompanied by reporter Francesco Vigliotti, to promote the green routes of the major parks in the South through public events and activities along the way.
