Palinuro, Centola and Marina di Camerota (south coast)
Centola is the comune that includes Palinuro, and it has the largest group of our Cilento villas. Boats leave Palinuro harbour for the Blue Grotto and other caves around the cape, and the Arco Naturale beach sits under a rock arch at the river mouth. Marina di Camerota, next along, has coves such as Cala Bianca reached by boat or footpath. Naples airport is around two hours and a quarter away.
Best for: Families and swimmers who want sandy bays and boat trips to sea caves
Not for you if: You want space on the beach in August, when Palinuro is one of the busiest resorts on this coast.
Pisciotta, Ascea Marina and Casal Velino (middle coast)
Pisciotta is a steep hill village above olive terraces, and its fishermen still catch anchovies with the old menaica nets. Ascea Marina and Marina di Casal Velino share a long sandy shore, and the ruins of Velia, the Greek city of Elea, are just behind Ascea. Ceraso is a few minutes inland. Trains on the Naples to Sapri line stop at Ascea and at Pisciotta-Palinuro. Naples airport is about two hours away.
Best for: Couples and families who want history, a long beach and a train station
Not for you if: You need lively evenings: these are small places that go quiet after dinner.
Paestum, Giungano and Cicerale (northern gateway)
Paestum has three Greek temples standing in open fields, with a museum of painted tombs across the road. The plain around it is buffalo country, and several farms sell mozzarella made that morning. Giungano is a small hill village a few minutes above the site, and Cicerale, a little further inland, is known for its chickpeas. Naples airport is around an hour and a quarter away, and Salerno about 45 minutes.
Best for: Sightseers who want Greek temples and the shortest drive from Naples
Not for you if: You want to walk to a cove: the beach here is a long, flat strip backed by pine woods.
Castellabate and Montecorice (north-west coast)
Castellabate is a medieval village on a hill, with a castle and views down to Santa Maria di Castellabate and its sandy, shallow beaches. Punta Licosa, a short way south, is a protected headland with rocky swimming spots. Montecorice includes the seaside hamlets of Agnone and Capitello. Paestum is around 40 minutes north, and Naples airport about an hour and a half.
Best for: Families who want shallow water and a proper village to walk round
Not for you if: You want a big choice of houses, as we have only a handful here.
Vibonati and the Gulf of Policastro (far south)
Vibonati sits on a hillside above Villammare, a seaside strip with a pebbly beach looking across the gulf. Sapri, the next town, has a seafront promenade, supermarkets and a main-line station with direct trains to Naples and Rome. Maratea, over the border in Basilicata, is around half an hour south along a cliff road. Mountain villages and gorges are close inland.
Best for: Visitors who want calm water and easy day trips to Maratea
Not for you if: You plan to fly in and out of Naples on short notice: this is the far end of Campania, about two and a half hours away.
Tortorella and Rofrano (inland hills)
Tortorella is a small village on a ridge above Sapri, about 20 minutes from the sea at Villammare. Rofrano is higher and more remote, in chestnut and beech woods on the slopes below Monte Cervati, the highest peak in the park. Expect a bar, a bakery and not much else in either. Naples airport is about two and a half hours away.
Best for: Walkers and anyone who wants cool evenings and no crowds
Not for you if: You want the beach every day, as the drive down takes 20 minutes to an hour on bendy roads.
