Castelcivita

Located on the southern slopes of the Alburni and north-east of the Cilento territory, it stands on a natural spur, with cascading houses, at 587 m above sea level. It is part of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park.

Origin of name: The name Castelcivita is quite recent and dates back to 1863 when, by Royal Decree, the town was renamed by the union of the village of Castelluccia with that of Civita, the latter located upstream from the current town. It is likely that the Angevin tower generated the name of “Castelluccia”, which became a more extensive fortified settlement between the 13th and 15th centuries, developing along the steep slopes of the hill thus designing its definitive conformation.

The first settlements in the Castelcivita area date back to prehistoric times. As evidenced by the archaeological excavations that took place at the Castelcivita Caves, the arrival of the first modern men (Homo sapiens) left important traces, today preserved in the first meters of the cavity. However, it is from later times that this area grew and developed its history.