Holidays in Marina di Ascea in Cilento

The archaeological area of Velia and the coast

5 km from the sea coast and a Blue Flag beach area | Ascea

The City of Ascea, in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, is an important tourist destination on the Cilento Coast. Ascea together with most of the coastal towns of Cilento, have received for a number of years, “The Blue Flag Award” for pristine crystal waters and “Le tre vele di Legambiente Award” for the quality of life in the area and the local environment. The long, wide beach of Ascea ends at its southern tip with a striking rocky cliff formation. Here you can admire the local flora like the “ Marino Lily”, the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean coast line and discover the “Silver Bay” and “Rondinella Bay” accessible only by sea. The promenade with cycle path and pedestrian area lend themselves to amateur sporting activities.

From the town of Old Ascea you can marvel at the coastal view from “Punta Licosa” to “Cape Palinuro”. Continuing to climb the hill that encompasses all of the small villages that make up the municipial area of Ascea you arrive at the village of Catona. Here you can find the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, one of the Seven Sister Churches that face each other in the valley that leads to the sea from Mount Gelbison.


The City of Parmenides | Elea Velia

In the town of Ascea are the remains of the ancient city of Elea -Velia , home of the philosophers Parmenides and Zeno and the Eleatic School, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site archeological park and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Campania.

The Porta Rosa” can be considered to be the most important monument of Velia: the first example of a round arch built in Italy by a Greek colony, still in perfect condition. At the ruins you can visit the southern district , the Greek and Roman Baths, the Acropolis and the Medieval Castle with the Palatina Basilica.