logo
Enjoy The Amalfi Coast Without The Crowds In Cilento

Enjoy The Amalfi Coast Without The Crowds In Cilento

Forbes18-07-2025
Ancient Greek Temples at Paestum Archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Site getty
Roughly 90 minutes south of Naples and the Amalfi coast, is the less visited but equally beautiful Cilento region, a UNESCO World heritage site with sea, sand and ancient Greek temples. Between the Archaeological Park of Paestum and the pine forest-lined beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, The Savoy Hotel & Spa is one of the few hotels in the area, thanks to its location in a protected national park where no other hotels can be built.
Pool at The Savoy Hotel & Spa, Cilento, Italy Savoy hotel
Just 30 minutes from Salerno airport, the family-owned hotel is a member of Preferred Hotels, the world's largest independent hotel brand, which guarantees a luxury hospitality experience. And because the area is not as well known, it's much less expensive than the Amalfi coast. The hotel was founded in the 1980s by Giuseppe Pagano and the business is now run by the second generation. Next door to the Savoy is the four-star Esplanade Boutique Hotel, also owned by the Pagano family.
A suite at Savoy Hotel & Spa, Cilento, Italy www.aquilamattia.it
Inspired by the area's close ties to ancient Greece, the Savoy hotel's design features a white-washed exterior accented by contemporary columns and a series of lush gardens. The Savoy has such a grand, expansive lobby that you'll feel like you're entering a much larger hotel. Instead, it is actually boutique hotel size, with only 44 rooms, suites and villas. The design palette in the guest rooms has a cool, retro Italian seaside feel with red, green to blue, with wooden furniture and marble. Accommodation ranges in size from Classic Rooms with Italian marble baths and forest views to Terrace Rooms with outdoor space and seating areas and Suites, which offer large baths and covered verandas.
Savoy hotel, white terrace for breakfast Gabriele Rivoli
The Cilento area is the birthplace of the original Mediterranean Diet, with an emphasis on plant-based foods, healthy fats and seafood. Prominent cardiologist Ancel Keys studied the population's eating habits here in the 1950s and 1960s to understand the secrets of their longevity. The results of these studies generated a global revolution, leading the doctor to describe this way of eating as the "Mediterranean Diet." And this is the focus of everything served at the hotel which has an impressive kitchen garden and beehives. The Pagano family's award-winning San Salvatore 1988 farm and winery nearby also supplies the hotel with products including Buffalo mozzarella, yogurt, olive oil and wine.
Tre Olivi Restaurant at the Savoy Hotel, Cilento Savoy Hotel & Spa
The hotel's dining options include Bistrot Olivella with a farm-table menu of traditional Cilento dishes. For lunch or dinner, Beach Club 93 Restaurant is bliss. Located a short stroll from the hotel on the beach, the hotel's Mediterranean restaurant serves fresh and raw seafood as well as pizza prepared by the in-house pizza chef. For a really special meal, Michelin- starred Ristorante Tre Olivi is the hotel's gastronomic Mediterranean restaurant. A tribute to the Mediterranean diet and the olive tree, Tre Olivi has been under the helm of German-born Chef Oliver Glowig since 2024. Chef Glowig has lived in Italy for a while with stints at the Grand Hotel Quisisana in Capri with Gualtiero Marchesi and both Capri Palace Hotel & Spa and Hotel Aldrovandi Villa Borghese in Rome. The restaurant offers a fully immersive farm to table experience from the furniture made from olive trees to the scents and tastes of the menu. There is an a la carte menu plus two tasting menus (starting at €160) to choose from served with wines from their own vineyard. Chef Glowig's creations have intriguing, tasty food combinations. Highlights from a recent menu included anchovies with buffalo ricotta; pasta and potatoes with blue lobster and chicken scented with fig leaves and smoked eel.
Beach Club 93 at Savoy Hotel & Spa, Cilento, Italy Savoy
If you're keen to stay right at the beach, the hotel's Beach Club 93 offers three private beachfront villas, each with a spacious terrace with private pool. And for hotel guests, the beach club is a short stroll from the main hotel or you can take the complimentary shuttle service. The private beach club features a saltwater pool with hydromassage, shaded sun loungers, private gazebos and a beachside bar serving cocktails and meals. The beach itself is wide, sandy and uncrowded. Wellness
The spa at the Savoy Hotel, Cilento, Italy www.aquilamattia.it
Hotel Savoy's beautifully designed spa, a haven below the hotel, has three pools of varying temperatures, a salt cave, an ice room, a Turkish hammam and a sauna. Treatments focus on holistic renewal: massages are enhanced by a signature blend of olive oil and the aroma of white mulberry, so distinctive to Cilento. The Ancient site of Paestum
Second Temple of Hera in Paestum, Italy. getty
Following an expedition to Paestum in 1787, the German philosopher Johann Wolfgang Goethe said 'those well-preserved ruins can only be understood after seeing them with your own eyes.' And later, Friedrich Nietzsche said 'it's as if a god here had built his house with enormous blocks of stone.'
Everyone has heard of Pompeii, the world's best example of a preserved Roman city. Pompeii is about an hour away from Cilento and certainly should be visited but if you're staying in Cilento, an incredible Unesco World Heritage archaeological site is right on the doorstep. Although lesser known than Pompeii, the site of Paestum is even older. Paestum was founded by Greek colonists around the 6th century BCE and known as Poseidonia, later coming under Roman rule.
The ruins of Roman amphitheater at Paestum, Italy getty
There are Roman remains from a later city at Paestum but the main reason to visit is to see three fully intact Greek temples, among the best preserved in the world, the oldest of which dates to 550 BC. There's a lot to take in so it makes sense to go with a guide like Silvia Braggio who's been giving tours of the entire area since the 1990s. The three Greek temples in the Doric order, one dedicated to Athena, and two to Hera (wife of Zeus), were built 50 years apart dating from 550 to 450 BCE. It's possible to walk inside both of the Hera temples without any restrictions.
Detail, the Diver's Tomb. in the museum at Paestum, Italy getty
Surrounded by lovely countryside and located near the coast, Paestum also features the National Archaeological Museum, which houses funerary items, pots, etc found in the town, in the nearby necropolises and at the sanctuary dedicated to Hera. Do not miss the museum's thrilling highlight, the Greek 'Tomb of the Diver,' a colorful, painted tomb from 480 BC. Unlike most Greek tombs of the period, which were quite plain, the Tomb of the Diver is decorated with colorful frescoes on the interior walls and lid. There are several scenes of Greek life and an image at one end of an unknown man diving into water is thought to suggest the soul's passage from life into the afterlife. This tomb is the only known example of Greek painting from a tomb of this era. Getting there
British Airways has just introduced a seasonal route of three direct flights per week from London Gatwick to Salerno from May (Mon, Thu and Sat) until October. There are also daily flights from London to Naples International Airport (about 90 minutes from Cilento) all year round.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NEWS OF THE WEEK: Venus Williams confirms engagement
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Venus Williams confirms engagement

Yahoo

time16 hours ago

  • Yahoo

NEWS OF THE WEEK: Venus Williams confirms engagement

The tennis champion was first linked to actor-producer Andrea Preti in July 2024 when they were spotted on vacation together in the Amalfi Coast, Italy. In February, Venus also sparked engagement rumours when she was photographed wearing a diamond ring on her left hand. The athlete-entrepreneur revealed she was engaged to Denmark-born Andrea during an interview, following a singles tennis match as part of the Mubadala DC Citi Open in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

From Aristocracy to Authenticity: Cook with a Real Duchess at Butera 28 Apartments in Palermo
From Aristocracy to Authenticity: Cook with a Real Duchess at Butera 28 Apartments in Palermo

Associated Press

timea day ago

  • Associated Press

From Aristocracy to Authenticity: Cook with a Real Duchess at Butera 28 Apartments in Palermo

'Cooking together is a way of preserving our history. Every dish tells a story, not just of Sicily, but of our family's place in it.'— Duchess Nicoletta Lanza Tomasi PALERMO, ITALY, July 27, 2025 / / -- In an age of curated experiences and instant itineraries, Butera 28 Apartments offers something deeply personal and genuinely Sicilian: cooking with a real Duchess inside a historic palazzo. Tucked within the storied walls of Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, Butera 28 Apartments invites guests to share in the traditions of Italian nobility - beginning in the kitchen. Duchess Nicoletta Lanza Tomasi opens her private kitchen to residents for hands-on cooking classes rooted in family heritage and local ingredients. From Market to Table The experience begins with a walk through one of Palermo's vibrant street markets, Il Capo. Alongside the Duchess herself, guests learn to choose the freshest seasonal produce, seafood, and local specialities - from fragrant wild fennel to sun-ripened tomatoes and salted ricotta. Back at the palazzo's 18th-century kitchen, participants learn to prepare a selection of traditional dishes, including trapanese pesto, swordfish rolls, biancomangiare, pistachio pesto, or handmade panelle. The classes are relaxed, engaging, and rich with family stories. 'Cooking together is a way of preserving our history,' says the Duchess. 'Every dish tells a story, not just of Sicily, but of our family's place in it.' The meal culminates with a shared lunch or dinner in the palazzo's grand dining room, complete with wine pairings and views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. These classes offer a full-circle culinary immersion - both intimate and indulgent. After lunch, the experience concludes with a private tour of the historic Palazzo, offering a glimpse into the legacy of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the celebrated author of The Leopard (Il Gattopardo). A Cultural Feast Butera 28 Apartments is more than just a place to stay. It is part of one of Palermo's most historic and culturally significant buildings. The Palazzo Lanza Tomasi is the last home of Prince Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the author of the internationally acclaimed novel Il Gattopardo (The Leopard). Published posthumously in 1958 and later adapted into a film starring Burt Lancaster and Claudia Cardinale, The Leopard tells the story of an aristocratic family's decline during the Risorgimento. It remains a touchstone of modern Italian literature. In 2025, the novel found renewed relevance through a Netflix original series based on the book, drawing international attention to Lampedusa's life and legacy. Visitors to Butera 28 Apartments have the rare opportunity to see Lampedusa's original manuscript on display within the palazzo's private museum - an intimate experience for literature lovers and scholars alike. The museum, curated by the Duke and Duchess of Palma, also houses first editions, family portraits, and artefacts that bring the era of The Leopard vividly to life. Living Heritage for Today's Traveller According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, interest in literary tourism has grown by 39% since 2021, and heritage-based travel now ranks among the top five motivations for visiting Sicily. Meanwhile, food-focused travel remains one of the region's strongest draws, with over 70% of international visitors citing gastronomy as a key reason for their trip. Palermo itself is also experiencing a renaissance. With over 300 days of sunshine annually and average winter temperatures above 15°C, the city has become one of Europe's top emerging destinations for remote workers and digital nomads. A 2025 study by the Mediterranean Institute for Urban Innovation found that long-stay visitor numbers in Palermo grew by 81% between 2021 and 2024 - driven by an influx of creatives, freelancers, and entrepreneurs seeking connection, culture, and quality of life. Butera 28 Apartments masterfully combines all of these experiences. Guests are not just observers - they participate in the rhythms of Sicilian life, from market to table, and from story to setting. Whether you're a seasoned cook, a literary enthusiast, or a cultural traveller in search of meaning, A Day Cooking with the Duchess offers a rare and unforgettable experience. It is personal, profound, and grounded in the lived legacy of a noble Sicilian family. Book your stay and culinary experience at to discover the soul of Palermo from inside its most historic walls. Duchess Nicoletta Lanza Tomasi Palazzo Lanza Tomasi +39 348 000 7673 [email protected] Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.
I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.

Cindy Sheahan quit her job, got divorced, and began traveling abroad for a bigger, fuller life. She's visited more than 50 countries, but one city stole her heart: Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Sheahan told Business Insider she's happier, healthier, and saving more money in Italy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cindy Sheahan, 64, who retired from real estate in 2017 and left Colorado to travel abroad. In 2025, Sheahan settled in Palermo, Italy. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2017, I was at a crossroads. A lot of people I knew were dying, and I started thinking: You really don't know how many days you get or what's promised to you. I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back. Once I stepped out the door and visited places I had only dreamed of and ate food I had only read about, it was ridiculous to think I was going to go back to my "normal life." I wasn't getting any younger. I figured I could always work again if I wanted to. But right now? I wanted to climb a waterfall in Cambodia and ride a motorbike in Vietnam. So I quit my job, retired, and divorced my husband. We had 30 years together and raised our amazing kids. But I didn't want just to walk the dog, play pickleball, and tend a garden. I wanted a bigger life. I thought living abroad would be temporary, but I was wrong After the divorce, I moved into a small apartment in Colorado with a monthly rent of $1,700. I still have it and rent it out to traveling nurses abroad. In the beginning, I thought I'd travel the majority of the year, come back to the States, and live a "normal" life there for one month a year. For some time, I did that. I've visited nearly 50 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Madagascar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the more popular spots, like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. After being a mom to four kids, it's amazing to travel alone. Eating, sleeping, and reading when you want to is nice. You can go back to the same restaurant twice or visit a museum. You have no one to apologize to or explain yourself to. I remember sitting on a bench in front of Picasso's famous painting Guernica in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Who knew I could sit and look at it for half an hour without anyone saying: "Oh my God, can we go? Are you done?" It was a sense of freedom that was incredible. The US was no longer for me After seven years of full-time backpack and hostel traveling, I was ready to set up a home base. I wanted to put my toothbrush on my own sink and put my clothes on a hanger somewhere. I knew I didn't want to live in the US anymore. Not only did I feel empowered abroad, but I also felt that the US no longer aligned with my values. I wasn't into the US's overconsumption. With the divisive political climate and the ridiculous gun culture, there was no way in hell I'd live there after experiencing a more peaceful life in so many other countries. Palermo, Italy, has my heart In 2022, moved to Portugal on a retirement residency visa. After about 11 months, I realized I could apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry, and the process would be faster in Italy than in the US. That was a game changer. For some time, I explored different parts of Italy, trying to determine where I wanted to live. I lived in a small medieval village in Umbria, and visited Bologna, Milan, Torino, Rome, and Florence. Then I went to Palermo, a city on the island of Sicily, and it hit me: I had found my soul city. Palermo is a feast for the senses. There's laughter, joy, noise — it's completely lovely. I moved to the city in October 2024. I didn't want to live in the suburbs — though living in the outer areas will always be less expensive and, in some ways, more authentic. So, I chose to live in the city center. I live in an area where I can walk for about 15 minutes and be at a cathedral, the gardens, or in the neighborhoods where all the restaurants, markets, and festivals happen. Palermo has a vast and active expat community. I feel safe in my neighborhood. I have a good friend who lives by the local train station, about a 30-minute walk from my apartment. I walk back from her house all the time late at midnight, and there's no stress — I'm not walking with my keys in my hand. My apartment is about 1,100 square feet, and I pay around $800 monthly plus a $100 condominium fee. It came completely furnished and is gorgeous. I have three sets of French doors that open onto three separate balconies. The floors are terrazzo with border patterns, and there are medallions on the 12-foot-high ceiling. My bathroom is spacious, which is hard to find in Italy, where showers are often the size of a phone booth. The apartment building dates back to the early 1930s. Although it is old, compared to some other buildings in Italy, it feels relatively new. Life is more affordable in Italy I couldn't afford my lifestyle if I moved back to the US. I receive $1,500 a month in Social Security. It's not enough to cover rent in Denver, but abroad, it easily covers my housing and much more. Daily expenses are affordable in Palermo. I love that I can go to the grocery store and not break the bank. You can buy tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and everything else for a song. Healthcare is also much more affordable in Italy. In 2024, while traveling in Tunisia, I broke my foot. When I returned to Italy, I had two sets of X-rays and two appointments with an orthopedic specialist, and the total cost was less than $150. At the time, I wasn't even on the national healthcare system. Now that I'm an Italian citizen, I'm fully covered, which means there's no charge for general care. If I need to see a specialist, like a dermatologist, I might pay around $40. I am happier in Italy than I'd ever be in the US Living in Italy, I make a new discovery every day. That sense of wonder and joy has become a regular part of my life. I feel like I outgrew a lot of people and places in the US. Don't get me wrong, I desperately miss my friends and family, especially my kids. But they're all able to travel, and they'd much rather visit me somewhere fun than grab a drink at a bar in Denver. My quality of life has improved in Italy. I walk almost everywhere, so my blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are in better condition. I eat better, I've made new friends, I've cut down on expenses, and most importantly, I'm happy. Read the original article on Business Insider

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store