Latest news with #Cilento
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Forbes
Enjoy The Amalfi Coast Without The Crowds In Cilento
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 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 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.
Telegraph
28-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Six life lessons from the healthiest town in Italy
On the west coast of Italy, just south of Naples, is the region of Cilento. It's known for its sprawling national park which overlooks the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea, yet its most impressive feature is its residents. A disproportionately high number of them – roughly 300, in fact – are over 100 years old, and in remarkable health, free of heart problems and mental ailments. Professor Salvatore Di Somma, founder of Great Health Science, which runs research programs investigating healthy ageing, has studied Cilento's residents for the past decade, alongside a team of scientists from Italy and the United States. He first visited the region in the late 1970s and, as a young doctor, was immediately enamoured with it. 'I was surprised to see people over the age of 90 still very healthy, with no cardiovascular disease, very active in mind, not even wearing glasses, and with well-functioning health systems,' he says. The researchers, collaborating under the CIAO (Cilento Initiative on Ageing Outcomes) study, believe Cilento should be designated an official ' Blue Zone '. 'It's a special place where people enjoy long and healthy lives with habits similar to residents in official Blue Zones, like Sardinia and Greece,' says Di Somma. 'There is a lot we can learn from them.' After ten years of research, he believes the team has only begun to uncover Cilento's secrets to robust ageing. But if we're not living in a beautiful Italian village by the sea, here's what else we can do. 1. Think of olive oil as medicine For Nicolina – a 101-year-old resident who lives in the mountainous village of Eremiti – her homemade olive oil is medicine. If she has a cold, her family physician will put a drop of it up her nose, and if she's constipated, she'll drink a spoonful of the golden liquid. It's a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and packed with antioxidants which are good for the gut and heart. In fact, Cilento is considered the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet – it's where Ancel Keys, the American physiologist, first discovered it in the 1950s, and made the link between certain dietary patterns and reduced cardiovascular risk. In 2022, Harvard researchers found that eating more than half a tablespoon of olive oil each day – especially in place of butter, margarine or mayonnaise – may boost longevity. They speculated this is due to olive oil's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which aid cardiovascular health and may reduce inflammation in the body. Di Somma and his team compared the health of middle-aged residents in Cilento to their counterparts in Malmo, Sweden. 'In north Europe they have totally different food habits and lifestyles. They use a lot of meat, and they use butter rather than olive oil,' he explains. In the study, they compared the lifestyle, dietary habits, and prevalence of cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative biomarkers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they discovered the residents in Malmo had a higher chance of cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as higher LDL, bad cholesterol levels. The Mediterranean diet played a role in the better health of Cilento's residents, the researchers concluded, although they believed further protective factors were also at play. 2. Beef is off the menu but go big on the anchovies Carnivores, look away now. The residents of Cilento eat a very different diet to the average Westerner, explains Dr David Brenner, the president and chief executive of Sanford Burnham Prebys, a research unit working on the CIAO Study. Beef is rare – in fact, they don't eat much meat at all. Their diet centres around fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and wholegrain breads and cereals. They flavour their meals with rosemary – healthy fats are key – and their preferred animal proteins are fish and seafood, particularly anchovies. Whilst we know red meat is a great source of protein and iron, it has also been linked to increased cancer risk. In 2019, Oxford University found that eating it just once a day could increase bowel cancer risk by a fifth. Meanwhile, although anchovies are more of an acquired taste, research consistently shows that they're good for the heart due to their omega-3 fatty acid content. 3. Cook, sing and pray to keep the brain active As Nicolina proves, many of the elderly residents in Cilento are mentally sharp. She perfectly remembers many of her friends who sadly died years ago and enjoys baking fresh cookies for her regular visitors. Meanwhile a fellow resident, 98-year-old Ida, who lives in the village of Gioi, makes her own fresh pasta and loves to sing. In fact, in 2020, the team studied the loneliness and wisdom of middle-aged and elderly people in Cilento compared with adults in San Diego, using two scientific scales. The UCLA Loneliness Scale uses a four-point rating mechanism to assess how often a person feels disconnected from others, whilst the San Diego Wisdom Scale measures seven traits including emotional regulation, spirituality, and acceptance of different viewpoints. 'We found they [Cilento residents] are in a very healthy cognitive state and this was linked to a very high level of wisdom,' Di Somma explains. He believes this is partly due to their strongly held and practised Christian beliefs. 'They have no Alzheimer's and very low levels of depression because they live by the day and have a close relationship with religion which gives them purpose.' By investing time in their favoured hobbies and interests, they are likely to be happier, more satisfied and mentally active, according to a 2023 study by UCL, which are all important factors in maintaining a healthy brain. 4. Elderly people stay at home (or live independently) In Cilento, there are no retirement homes. 'Everyone lives at home and the older people will see their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren every day,' Dr Brenner says. Their houses have been in their families for over 400 years and there's a 'sense of worth, community and interaction,' he explains. Nicolina lives alone but her son comes to visit her each night and she's continually visited by friends and neighbours. Her son and grandchildren will always offer to help her, but she's fiercely independent and consistently refuses. When asked if she ever feels alone, she answers 'no' without hesitation. The researchers believe this sense of community, independence and intergenerational communication helps to keep the residents younger, sharper and happier. It marks a stark contrast to the UK whose care home population is nearly half a million with many elderly people battling multiple or complex needs which means they can't stay with their families. 5. Garden and walk uphill to stay physically fit The land in Cilento is enviably rich and fertile whilst the villages are hilly, which means many residents simply spend their days gardening and incline walking. Exercise is therefore an integral and natural part of their lives. 'They produce a lot of their own vegetables which means they learn to garden from a young age and keep doing it as they get older. It's part of their tradition,' Dr Brenner explains. The benefits of a daily walk are well established with one 2023 study in GeroScience highlighting its profound impact on cardiovascular health and a reduced risk of hypertension. Meanwhile, 2024 research outlines the benefits of gardening, including improved physical health and related behavioural practices like eating more fruits and vegetables. 6. Forget about material possessions – be content with what you have The residents in Cilento have little need for cars, phones or fancy clothes. ' They live without much in the way of money but have a high-quality life because many of their things are very inexpensive or inherited,' Dr Brenner says. Nicolina is incredibly content spending her afternoons listening to Radio Maria, a Catholic broadcaster, and making food for her many visitors. Dr Brenner says the residents exhibit a good amount of grit, balanced alongside a mindset of 'overcoming adversities with a positive attitude'. They don't have much and they're happier for it. Additionally, in a 2022 study which analysed Cilento's population against key longevity factors, the researchers found that 'those who lived [there] adopted specific lifestyles, such as hard work, love of the land, family, and religion, which allowed them to maintain mental well-being and made them particularly resilient and optimistic'. Beyond lifestyle and diet These daily habits and routines are, of course, only half the picture when it comes to the remarkable health and longevity of Cilento's residents. The researchers are also examining their stem cells, brains, and metabolites, too, through advanced testing run by Professor Catriona Jamieson's team at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. They hope to discover some of the key biological markers of extreme longevity to aid their development of medical strategies for the treatment of age-related conditions. However, what we can learn from Cilento's residents is that surrounding yourself with friends and family, learning to be content with what you have, and opting for a splash of olive oil every now and again may be the key to living happier, healthier and for longer. The CIAO Study is a multi-institution collaboration that includes Sanford Burnham Prebys, an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute in San Diego; the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at University of California San Diego; University La Sapienza in Rome and Great Health Science, a network of public and private research organisations based in Rome, Italy. Launched in 2016, the researchers are keen to identify key factors that promote healthy ageing and extreme longevity.
