Walking & Trekking
The Cilento Coast and its myths: trekking by the sea until
Punta Licosa and Tresino.
- National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano -
According to Strabo Punta Licosa owes its name to the siren
Leukosia, in fact he writes: "Those who sail the Gulf,
from Posidonia, will see the island of Leucosia, st a short
distance from the mainland, whose name comes from one of
the sirens fallen here after they, as it is said, fell into
the abyss of the sea. In front of the island is the promontory
opposite to Sirenusse, which forms the Gulf of Posidonia." (From:
Geography, Book VI, 1.1). Legend tells that Leukosia was
one of the three sirens that Odysseus met on his journey,
in Homer's Odyssey. Here Leukosia committed suicide after
failing with Ulysses, who managed to avoid being lured to
death by her bewitching chant, and was transformed into a
rock. Today the current Licosa is a promontory characterized
by a natural park covered by Mediterranean bush. Punta Licosa
is a Protected Natural Sea Reserve.
Magic is the stretch of the Cilento Coast between Punta Licosa
and Ogliastro, here a narrow trekking path leads along the
coast, with shaded areas, and connects the two villages passing
through charming places like Punta della Scala and Torre
di Mezzo, but the most popular trekking route is the one
starting from San Marco di Castellabate to Punta Licosa.
During this route there are spectacular views over the bay
of Castellabate and Punta Tresino, and we can see the Amalfi
Coast and even the island of Capri in the horizon.
Discover Punta Licosa walking from San Marco di Castellabate:
This walking route is very easy, lasting approximately 2
hours and a drop only 40 m. Ideal route for those approaching
trekking for the first time and who love the sea. We start
from the port of San Marco di Castellabate and follow the
signs to Punta Licosa. The first part of this path is shaded
and passes by some touristic facilities surrounded by greenery.
The trail passes through woods and Mediterranean vegetation,
including pine trees, myrtle, mastic trees and carob trees,
as well as along enchanting bays and beaches. With a little
luck you can catch sight of magpies, blackbirds and gulls.
The climax of the walk is, finally, the sight of the mythical
island of Licosa.
Towards Punta Tresino: The coastal stretch between Agropoli
and Santa Maria di Castellabate is a place where time seems
to be still. For this part of the journey we start from 'zona
Lago', north of Santa Maria di Castellabate direction Agropoli,
reachable in about 45 min from the south on foot through
the beach of Santa Maria. The direction to follow is San
Giovanni, along via Cozzo Piano Cupo, and always uphill.
After approx. 40 min of walk, and even before arriving at
the abandoned village of San Giovanni (228 m), we arrive
at a spring where you can cool a few minutes, and from where
you can admire a splendid view of Santa Maria di Castellabate,
Punta Licosa, the village of Castellabate on the hilltop,
and Mount Stella. In San Giovanni we can see the square with
the impressive staircase and the ruins of the church. Continuing
towards north, the view opens up more and more on the Bay
of Trentova and Agropoli, on Paestum and the Plain of the
Sele River, on the Amalfi Coast and Capri. The trekking route
continues northly, always in the direction Pastena Contrada,
until we reach Punta Tresino and its coastal tower, from
which you can see Punta Licosa in the South, and even more
closer, Agropoli in the North.
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