Restaurant 'Poggiolo del Principe' near Palinuro in Cilento welcomes visitors and guests in a homely atmosphere putting all diners at ease just like travellers once upon a time during the Grand Tour.

Just like then, English is not widely spoken in Cilento but everyone in the territory, from children to the grandparnets, knows how to greet a visitor with a smile and a gesture of authenticity and genuine warmth.

The restaurant has a single spacious dining area, but it is also possible to eat outside during the warmer months.

The dishes are characteristic of the gastronomic traditions of Cilento (see video below).

They are prepared and elaborated with the philosophy of the Mediterranean Diet which is based on fresh pasta, bread, vegetables, a little red meat and a moderate consumption of of wine.

Hotel Borgo Antico is a relaxing family resort accommodation near Palinuro in the Cilento National Park in the province of Salerno.

This is the zone of Italy which gave us the Mediterrean Diet made famous by Ancel Keys and the in-house Poggiolo del Principe Restaurant serves guests some of the most typical and authentic dishes made from from local traditions.

The name 'borgo antico' is a reference to the medieval village of San Severino di Centola which overlooks the complex from the mountain above.

The hotel is just five minutes or 7-8 kilomters from the beach of Capo Palinuro (image below), while the railway station of Centola is just 500 metres away. Here are precise directions as to how to reach Hotel Borgo Antico.

If you are looking for a cooking lesson program based on the Mediterranean Diet made famous by Ancel Keys then contact Hotel Borgo Antico located in the small hamlet of San Severino about 7 kilomters from Palinuro in the Cilento National Park.

On request small groups, typically of 10 people, can be catered for in a series of lessons and background classes dedicated to approaches to the local gastronomic tradition, now recognised by UNESCO as a patrimony to humanity.

Lessons include the preparation of such classic dishes as zeppole or handmade pasta.

One particular idea is the collecting wild herbs and other ingredients from the National Park and villages to be then dried or prepared for making of local dishes, or even cosmetics such as soap and creams.

The lessons take place in the restaurant of the hotel, Ristorante "Poggiolo del Principe".

Get in touch to find out more or request more information.

If you are looking for a cooking lesson program based on the Mediterranean Diet made famous by Ancel Keys then contact Hotel Borgo Antico located in the small hamlet of San Severino about 7 kilometers from Palinuro in the Cilento National Park.

On request small groups, typically of 10 people, can be catered for in a series of lessons and background classes dedicated to approaches to the local gastronomic tradition.

Lessons include the preparation of such classic dishes as zeppole or handmade pata

One particular idea is the collecting wild herbs and other ingredients from the national park and villages to be then dried or prepared for making of local dishes or even cosmetics such as soap and creams.

The lessons take place in the restaurant of the hotel, Ristorante "Poggiolo del Principe".

Get in touch to find out more or request more information

The National Park of Cilento south of the Amafli Coast from Salerno is worth a visit, or rather an exploration.

The word Cilento derives from the names of the rivers Sele and Alentum but the area today is strictly a flat(tish) strip of land squeezed between the River Sele and the mountainous fortifications between Agropoli, Sapri and the Diano interior.

The erosion of the chalk landscape over the centuries has left the territory rich in caves, cliffs and gorges. Gorgeous these days, but a harsh place to live when transport was by donkey or foot.

Lorenzo Giustiniani in the late 1700's wrote of the town of Castinatelli:

"one of those wretched pitiable little lots that are seen scattered throughout Cilento inhabited by woebegone, grief stricken and dismal souls attached only to the intense labor of the land". We hope he got out there alive.

The 5 short routes are featured below are itinerary suggestions for discovering the National Park of Cilento.

1. MINGARDO & DEL BUSSENTO

PALINURO: promontory, natural arch, boat excursions to the marine grotto (SS447r), MARINA DI CAMEROTA: the calanghe, boat excursions to the prehistorich grottoes and punta infreschi (SS562, SAN SEVERINO di CENTOLA: abandoned medieval town (SS562d, SAPRI: City of 300 giovani e forti (SS18), MARATEA: Acquafredda, the Christ, historical centre (SS18)