SANTA MARIA DI CASTELLABATE, a fantastic place on earth, fishermans village with 7000 people living all year and still a kept secret for the big tourism.
The town was known, on 18th century, as "Isca delle Chitarre", its originary area and now the old town. The downtown is extended by two squares, Piazza Matarazzo and Piazza Lucia, and the oldest houses are located in front of the little harbour, in a place named "Porte le Gatte".
Santa Maria lies In the central-northern side of Cilento, by Tyrrhenian Sea, and is extended from the zone of Lago to the beach of Pozzillo. The town is far 3 km from Castellabate, 12 from Agropoli, 20 from Acciaroli and 60 from Salerno. The town has a little harbour, the greatest port in the comune is on the nearer hamlet of San Marco.
The town is a part of "Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park", which natural environment is composed of "Maquis", typical of mediterranean countries. It is strongly receptive for tourism, especially on summer, due to the simple links to Agropoli, Salerno and Naples and to the quality of its water; which give it the Blue Flag beach every year from 2003.
Saint Costabile Gentilcore is the most important person of the history of Castellabate. He was the IVth abbot of Cava de' Tirreni, but born in Tresino (part of the today's community of Castellabate). The 10th October 1123 he became abbot and the same year he started to build a castle in this area 278 m above the sea to watch out for attacks of Saracens and other enemies. Hence the name CASTRUM (castle) ABBATIS(abbot), becoming later Castellabate.
Simeone, the following abbot, completed the construction of the castle and during the years he always helped the population; Castellabate became slowly the most important area in Cilento.
In 1553 the lawyer Marino Freccia bought Castellabate. After years he sold the property to Carlo Caracciolo. Then Castellabate was property of the Loffredo family; followed by the Filomarino family, the Earl of Rocca d'Aspide. In 1619 Francesco Matarazzo, son and heir of Alessandro and Tommaso Filomarino della Rocca got permission to sell the castle and further property. Castellabate became property of the Granito family, which got the title of ‘marquis' the 29th November 1745. The 20th July 1767, due to heritage, the property passed to Angelo and then to his son Luigi. As Luigi didn't have children the castle and property passed to his nephew and then to his nephew's son Angelo(21.10.1782 - 29.06.1861).
Angelo married Paolina Pignatelli, princess of Belmonte. Later their son Gioacchino (02.11.1849) became prince of Belmonte (03.04.1887).
Slowly the population of Castellabate regained the control of the sea. People added fishing to farmer activity. At the end of XIXth century fishing was the principal source of economy. At the same time other activities grew in Castellabate, for instance in Santa Maria ship- building and preservation and diffusion of fish on the whole national market. Today, the community of Castellabate has around 7000 inhabitants, and even if the tourism is growing, the culture and the people remain the same.
We offer hotels, private villas, appartments and other accommodation in Santa Maria di Castellabate.
We offer, cooking school,mountain biking,walking tours,diving classes, ceramic courses,language school,daily excursions to Capri, Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Pompeei, Paestum and many other excursions and activities.
Downhill Travel in cooperation with Italian Best Weddings organise your dream wedding in santa Maria di Castellabate. In a Castle, church or on the beach with thousand candles. We make sure your dream come true for the biggest day of your life.
Excursions - The medieval town of Castellabate - Paestum: ancient city"Poseidon"with it's magnificent Greek temples(20 km) - Velia: ancient town "Elea", eleatic school of the "Magna Grecia"(40 km) - The Cilento Coast : Acciaroli (the Hemingway town); The Sea Museum of Pioppi; the grottoes of Palinuro; the picturesque town of Camerota - The grottoes of Castelcivita - Boat trips : visit the Island of Licosa and discover the myth of the mermaid - Pompeii and Herculaneum : ancient cities that were buried from the lava of Vesuvius - The island of Capri - The Amalfi coast
We have special prices for groups, incentives and all other travellers. We also organise together with Italian Best Weddings your dream wedding in the garden or closeby beach, castle or church.
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