A day of family excursion in Campania between the Castelcivita Caves and the Naturalistic Museum of the Alburni of Corleto Manforte, a day in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano.
Full National Park of Cilento e Vallo di Diano, separated by only 20 kilometers away, there are two of the most beautiful, surprising and fascinating attractions of the Cilento hinterland. I'm talking about the Castelcivita caves and the Naturalistic Museum of the Alburni.
It is really worth pointing out these two locations because Cilento brings with it the classic heritage of a seaside resort devoted to albeit beautiful beaches or to ancient villages where you can taste excellent local food. Therefore a full immersion in nature that you cannot fail to appreciate.
Castelcivita caves
In order of "direction of travel", the attraction that comes first are the Castelcivita Caves, located in the homonymous mountain municipality of province of Salerno. The Caves penetrate and descend for several kilometers inside the Alburni chain, making it one of the largest speleological complexes in Southern Italy.
Due to the presence of spectacular calcareous concretions of imaginative shapes, the Caves are often the setting for suggestive theatrical performances such as "Dante's Inferno": a truly appropriate choice. The convenient parking in front allows the traveler to take the nearby entrance, starting the "descent" towards the Underworld!
I have to admit that, accomplices the light particular, the climate, the noise of the droplets of water falling into the pools and the echo of one's own voice, increase that awe towards some forms that suddenly stand out along the way: all the elements of these caves, even those not "native" such as spotlights or the runners concur to touch the deepest suggestions, forcing the mind to attribute that rather than that other form to stalactites and stalagmites.
In fact, the names attributed to the rooms or formations are very eloquent: from the Castle Hall to the Pagoda, from the Hall of the Orrido Temple, from Leap of the Titans up to the Lago Terminale located at the end of the 5 kilometers that can be traveled. All visits clearly presuppose one expert guide which will show you secrets and legends. The environments, being underground, rich in humidity and water, are necessarily muddy and not suitable for “gala outfits”.
The paths are divided into three segments according to the degree of difficulty you want to face: the simple and suggestive tourist one; the longer and more articulated Amateur Speleological one and finally the one Speleological for pure professionals. The restaurant at the entrance to the caves offers tourist menus with tastings of delicious typical products. The Entrance ticket to the Caves costs 10 € for the tourist route and € 25 for the Amateur Speleological Route (lasting 1 hour and 4 hours respectively).
Naturalistic Museum of the Alburni
The Naturalistic Museum of the Alburni is located in the small town of Corleto Monforte, about 20 kilometers above Castelcivita. Corleto is a characteristic and very hospitable village. I didn't know this location at all and it was a real surprise.
The foundation of the Museum in fact houses an incredible taxidermic collection of animals (mammals, birds and invertebrates) some of which, personally, I had only seen in transmissions like SuperQuark! For the less "elderly" today there is Wild but the fact remains that animals such as penguins, some varieties of Andean raptors or shy and reserved mammals such as the lynx, can only be admired live in large metropolitan zoos or in structures like this one.
I have to admit that the collection is really well done and structured in one path divided by classes and genres. Plus the animals are stuffed to perfection, without plastic poses or those terrifying "doll eyes".
A fantastic biodiversity told and preserved in an excellent way, both in display cases and in dioramas. One is pleasantly impressed by the (enormous!) Size of birds such as condors, rather than the height of a penguin. The Museum, housed in an ancient building in the historic center of Corleto Monforte, holds something like beyond 70 species of mammals, Well 1200 bird species and beyond 2500 insects; every single sample is accompanied by a rich explanatory sheet.
I learned that the trend of the Museum is the expansion with a forthcoming acquisition of a rich collection of fish, aiming for a more complete display of biodiversity. The visit card has a cost of only 5 € with the possibility of further reductions for children and teenagers.
In just one day, therefore, you will be able to take a trip to the most unknown (to the most) and surprising corners of Cilento, admiring the evocative bowels of the earth and 4 thousand species of animals in a single shot. The offer of typical restaurants, as well as B & Bs, is truly vast and for all budgets. Also stop and admire the ancient settlements of Corleto Monforte and Castelcivita, as they really deserve.
