Cilento  is one of my favorite areas in the South. A precise description of Cilento is elusive. For the purposes of this blog, Cilento encompasses the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline south of Salerno to Maratea and the inner boundaries of the Valla di Diano National Park, which is adjacent to the Province of Potenza. Cilento features cultural sites, beautiful beaches, quality food products and, of course, wineries. It is an area explored less by Americans than Europeans and a favorite of Italians; a less crowded alternative to the Amalfi Coast.

Paestum

No, these are not photos taken in Greece. Paestum, located in the northern part of Cilento, is the site of three ancient Doric Greek temples that are considered the best preserved Greek temples in the world: Hera, circa 530 BC and the oldest; Ceres (or Athena), photo above, circa 500 BC; and Neptune (or Apollo or Hera II) circa 450 BC and the best preserved of the

three. Included at the site are the remains of a Roman forum and amphitheater and ancient dwellings.

   Cheese

Within a mile of the Paestum is Barlotti Caseificio, a producer of cheeses, including Mozzarella di Bufala, and cured meats. The farm has over 200 milk producing water buffalo. During a tour Barlotti staff will demonstrate how Mozzarella di Bufala is produced, and visitors are invited to taste freshly made,

mouth-watering cheese. I assure you that you will never taste better mozzarella! Also during the tour, staff will introduce you to the buffalo; the milk-producing ones, the calves, and the “lucky one” – the male that acts as a stud while the other males are put to other use. Barlotti has a small restaurant that features its products with Cilento based wines — a relaxing way to end a tour.

Figs

Santomiele, located in Prignano Cilento in the Vallo di Diano National Park, is a must visit for fig lovers. There are over 600 fig varieties in Italy but the fig variety indigenous to Prignano Cilento, fico dottato bianco, stands apart from the other varieties due to its high sugar content and tiny seeds. Santomiele produces a variety of fig products, two of my favorites are fig leaves stuffed with fig, almond, raisin, orange peel and rum; and fig molasses which paired with vanilla

gelato is as good as a dessert can taste.  After a tour of the small production area, visitors are treated to a tasting of six different fig products.

Wine and Olive Oil

I combine wine and olive oil because just about every one of the seven Cilento based wineries that I have visited produce both wine and olive oil. Some wineries produced olive oil commercially before doing so with their wine.  All seven of the wineries abide by sustainable viticulture; six of the seven are organic or in the process of obtaining organic certification. The two DOC wines are Cilento Aglianico and Cilento Fiano.  In subsequent articles I will highlight each of the wineries, drawing out unique characteristics.