The ring formed path goes up into the hills behind Pisciotta showing you a sometimes rough nature. Narrow muletracks, steep slopes and going down on rocks that are jutting out and the prevailing nature are the fascinating features of this excursion. Francesco D’Amato who is the town councillor for culture has e great experience in trekking and he will tell you about it.
The explanation of the way up to Castelluccio
The departure and arrival point is the Piazza “R. Pinto” in the medieval hamlet of Pisciotta. Walking about 200 metres towards Palinuro you then go up towards a place called “Riùla”. We walk under olive groves typical of this place, “olive trees, olive trees, always olive trees, just like sheep in droves”” said the poet Ungaretti in his book “Viaggio per il mezzogiorno” (Voyage in South Italy). This is true because the olive groves of the quality called “Pisciottana” are interrupted only by the colourful orchards surrounding the village which is attached to the hill descending to the sea (175 m above sealevel). After an about 1 km’s walk, there is the first attractive spot. An old water-mill, out of use. This old mill was once of great importance and you arrive crossing the torrent “Fiore” on a beautiful stone bridge called “a schiena d’asino” (the humpbacked bridge). This is a real architect’s masterpiece.
We go on leaving left hand the mill wandering up the rocky path inhaling intensely the fragrances of the Mediterranean vegetation, just like myrtle, mastic tree, cyst-roses, carobs, laurel and genista. Walking for another kilometre, there is a complete change of the scenery: No more murmuring of the torrent because we are on the opposite side of the hill. Here the sun doesn’t arrive so much and the vegetation becomes thicker. Poplar trees, holm-oaks, alders and farther up chestnuts form arches above our heads and the steady climbing will not tire you. Walking this way is really pleasant because we see various kinds of birds. There are numerous falcons, blackbirds and crows etc., but we pay attention mainly to the spring colours: There is the yellow of the genistas and the white and pink of the cyst-roses, the shining leaves of the high poplar trees and the dark green of the thick mastic trees vegetation. It’s just a wonderful view. After the first hour’s walk we arrive at about 450 m above sealevel at a place called “Rungi” and this time the scenery changes for the third time. Unexpectedly, the path under the shadowy chestnuts opens out to a large level street lined with rural houses and vast vineyards.
Now we have striking views from this height and walking on a levelled road for about 15 minutes we can relax for a moment, too. We then are at a place called “Piano del campo”. A signal indicates the beginning of the slope ending on top of the hill called “Castelluccio”. We walk on without particular effort (in fact, we go up from 175 m above sealevel to 701 m above sealevel in about two and a half hours , about 7 km). Now there is one kind of plant prevailing: it is the strawberry tree. In wintertime this tree is carrying delicious fruits, good for jam and generally these trees are not very high. But here these trees reach the height of 12 metres and form real forests. In spring we can find in the underbrush fields of strawberries and, therefore, the time to cover the distance increases, but we don’t mind.
To tell the truth, it is really difficult to think of a period of the year without any fruits. Mother nature is very generous with respectful and thorough visitors: blackberries, strawberries, chestnuts, nuts, cherries, apricots, figs etc. After another hour’s walk, finally we arrive at the foot of the longed- for hill, with the area for tourist facilities “Castelluccio”.
Here we will enjoy our lunch, but then will proceed stimulated to arrive after some hundreds of metres at the top. This viewpoint is now the apotheosis of all we have seen before going up. From here you can admire all of the Cilento territory. There is a wonderful panoramic view from Mount Stella (1131 m) to Mount Bulgheria (1226 m), then looking at Mount Gelbison (1701 m) and Mount Cervati (1998 m). Watching across the sea, your view goes from Cape Palinuro to Punta Licosa. We can see all the small villages inside the Cilento as well as the wide valleys of the rivers Lambro and Mingardo. It will take you about 10 minutes to catch with your eyes the whole scenery in front of you!
We nearly don’t notice the ruins of the ancient very important Greek town Elea (300 B.C.), home of Parmenides and Zeno and cradle of Western Philosophy.
We feel ready now for our abundant lunch. After a good rest and the wealth of the Cilento’s products, we get up and walk to the north. This will be the third hour of our walk and the street seems just right to help our digestion and to get the rhythm of the gait. Within an hour we descend from701 m above sealevel to 633 m above sealevel and are on a plateau. In fact the topographical name “le serre” indicates that we are walking along the ridge of a panoramic and luxuriant hill. We are walking beneath very high chestnut trees now and the street which before is wide and sunny, is getting narrower and is immersed in a thick vegetation. This ancient path once haunt for bandits and used by peasants as well is the most fascinating and most charming of the whole itinerary.
Without nearly realizing that we have arrived at the start of the slope, unexpectedly at left hand there is a ray of light. We have reached the panoramic spot “Acqua della castagna” (water of the chestnut). Deep in the thick strawberry tree vegetation that has substituted the chestnut wood at a height of 600m, we find a big rock ledge, just like a springboard, overhanging the ridge which steeply descends to the valley. Looking down, there is a dramatic view on Pisciotta and the immense sea in front of it. This is really breathtaking! It’s not easy to let go, but then we will descend rapidly and so we return to the anthropical habitat (450 m above sealevel), entering the ancient olive groves and the orchards and we are always ready to taste the sweet typical fruits. It’s striking the fourth hour of our excursion and we arrive near to the viewpoint of S; Bernardino, crossing of the hamlets of Pisciotta and Rodio and a place already frequented by Greek Basilian monks who built a small cenobio (800 a.C.)
A narrow street, however, not in good conditions, leads steeply down to Pisciotta, lined by the characteristical stone drywalls. Now we are at the resort called “Valle” and are near to our arrival. The last part is “Tuvolo” street, a long flight of smooth limestone stairs and arriving at the end, we are in the same piazza from where we started. In this part of the village there is abundance of centuries old olive trees, real monuments reaching sometimes the impressive height of 15 metres! Our excursion is finished but we are sure that the emotions you experienced will stay with you for long. “Turn to behold the pass” said the highest poet, and this will be reason for pride and the omen for a next return. The “Castelluccio” itinerary is ultimately in summary what the Cilento offers: Nature, archaeology, architecture, peasant traditions, typical products, sea and mountains and above all much, much clean air.