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 Regions in Italy : Region Campania : Province Salerno: Casal Velino
Salerno in Campania

Casal Velino (SA)

Region Campania, Italy

The small town, 160 km from Naples, situated on a hill surrounded by a luxuriant vegetation, is one of the best preserved historical boroughs in the Cilento - Vallo di Diano National Park, and has a Marina district, bordering the archeological site of Velia, with a fine beach of golden sand and a tourist port. In the summer a waterfoil service connects Casal Velino to Salerno, Amalfi and Capri, and boat excursions are organized to the Palinuro grottos.

INFO: Altitude: 170 a.s.l -- Population: ca. 4500 inhabitants -- Zip/postal code: 84040, 84050 -- Phone Area Code: 0974 -- Patron Saint: San Biagio (St. Blaise) celebrated on 3 February -- Frazioni & Località: Acquavella, Marina di Casal Velino, Bivio, Vallo Scalo, Verduzio -- How to get there: nearest airport is Naples Capodichino; railstation: Ascea (3 km); by road, motorway A3 Salerno - Reggio Calabria exit Battipaglia or Eboli (50 km), then state road statale 18 direction Sapri, exit Vallo Scalo; by sea, tourist port at Marina di Casal Velino -- Official Website: http://www.comune.casal-velino.sa.it/

HISTORY: The hilly borough of Casal Velino rose according to the tradition in medieval times; the inhabitants of the hamlets of San Matteo ad Duo Flumina, San Giorgio and San Zaccaria, connected to the Greek colony of Elea - Velia, moved to a higher position in the hinterland, both as a defence against pirate raids and to escape malaria, and founded a place called Casalicchio, recorded already in a document of 1063.

The small town developed a flourishing economy based on olives, the white fig, and raising of goats, sheep and cattle. Casalicchio became the communal seat in the 19th century with the name of Casal Velino (Velino derived from nearby Velia). In the last decades most of the population have moved to the Marina, with the rise of a variety of lodging facilities for tourists.

WHAT TO SEE
  • Marina di Casal Velino, an ancient mariner borough, in pre-Roman times a commercial harbour of Elea - Velia, where the 12th century Chapel of San Matteo ad Duo Flumina can be visited
  • At Acquavella the 10th century church of San Michele Arcangelo: the central nave, dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, was renovated in the 19th century and embellished with paintings by Matteo Cilento representing the miracle of the sweating of the Statue of the Virgin Mary, which is carried out in a procession on the 2nd of July every five year.

    • Map of Casal Velino:
    (use the zoom to enlarge and the arrows or your mouse pointer to move around or switch to hybrid, map or satellite view) or OPEN MAP IN LARGER WINDOW

    		 
    Lodging in Casal Velino:

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