I AM hanging upside down and soaring through the air at 75mph – but it’s the scenery that’s really taken my breath away.
I’m at Cilento in Volo, a zip-line experience in the picturesque town of Trentinara, in south-western Italy.
Sitting a little south of the Amalfi Coast, this area is stunning.
Cilento in Volo, a zip-line experience in the picturesque town of Trentinara, in south-western Italy[/caption]
Sun man Dean takes in the sights on the zip-line[/caption]
Just a 20-minute drive away is Paestum, a fascinating archaeological park and a must-see[/caption]
And I should know. After all, I have just taken it all in from a bird’s eye viewpoint reaching thrilling heights of 985ft amid the coastal mountains, rolling hills and forests of Cilento National Park.
And it’s now easier than ever to reach this region, in the province of Salerno, with British Airways having recently added a new BA Euroflyer (Gatwick short-haul) route to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport.
Luckily, this slice of Italian paradise is not overpopulated with tourists like its widely known neighbours, Positano, Ravello and Sorrento.
So when I’m back on solid ground, I’m able to take in the sights of charming Trentinara away from the crowds.
Also known as the “town of love”, thanks to an ancient legend about doomed lovers, Trentinara has plenty to offer along its historic stone streets and winding alleyways (that are particularly appealing at sunset).
Among them, you’ll find the warmly welcoming Paolino 848 — a wine bar and restaurant serving platters of antipasto, cheese with truffle honey (a revelation), filled focaccia and hearty meatballs.
I leave contentedly stuffed.
Trentinara’s hill-top position means its panoramic piazza offers unbeatable views over the Cilento Coast and the Gulf of Salerno.
Just a 20-minute drive away is Paestum, a fascinating archaeological park and a must-see.
Here, in what was once a major ancient city founded by Greek colonists before it was captured by the Romans, stand three of the world’s best-preserved ancient Greek temples.
I position myself alongside the columns of one of them, the magnificent Tempio di Nettuno, for a true sense of scale — and it dwarfs me.
The columns somewhat remind me of those in the lobby of the Savoy Hotel & Spa Paestum, not far from here, where I am staying.
Nestled among pine groves, just steps from the Tyrrhenian Sea, it’s the perfect base for exploring.
It even has its own Beach Club 93, with plush cabanas, loungers, a pool, bar, restaurant and a private, sandy beach.
This 7,500sq ft sanctuary offers three temperature-controlled pools, a salt cave, ice room, Turkish bath and a number of treatment options. Within seconds in this space, I’m totally at ease
Sipping a cocktail here at sunset, gazing out across the sea, I’ve never felt more content. Apart from when I’m in the hotel’s Holos Spa.
You’ll hear dolphins
This 7,500sq ft sanctuary offers three temperature-controlled pools, a salt cave (if you dip your head under the water you’ll hear dolphins), ice room, Turkish bath and a number of treatment options. Within seconds in this space, I’m totally at ease.
The picturesque town of Santa Maria di Castellabate, is worth seeing too[/caption]
For dinner, there’s a relaxed eatery, Bistrot Olivella, as well as a stunning Michelin-starred restaurant, Tre Olivi, which focuses on delicious ingredients from the hotel’s impressive kitchen garden — my dining experience is unforgettable.
If you’d rather head out for food, the nearby La Dispensa di San Salvatore offers farm-to-table dining featuring the freshest fare from the San Salvatore farm. In the kitchen, Italian nonnas, make seasonal, sustainable dishes as their own mothers and grandmothers once did.
Nonna Lucia walks out to the sunny dining terrace where I’m sat and it’s here, at the end of a group table, that she makes and shapes the fresh pasta that I’ll soon be savouring (along with bowls of fresh salads, helpings of the finest buffalo mozzarella and wines including San Salvatore’s award-winning Vetere rosé).
This is Italian food made with passion, freshness and authenticity.
No visit to Cilento is complete without a trip to the enchanting hilltop town of Castellabate.
Alleyways and cobbled streets weave through its ancient walls and its famed terrace offers panoramic views across the coastline and nearby villages.
Nonna Lucia at La Dispensa di San Salvatore[/caption]
It’s from the nearby postcard-pretty fishing port, San Marco di Castellabate, that I take a boat trip along that coastline — calm turquoise waters, alluring beaches and haze-kissed mountains. San Marco’s picturesque sister town, Santa Maria di Castellabate, is worth seeing too.
I can safely say this extraordinary region of southern Italy has wowed me on all fronts from every angle. Even upside down.
GO: SALERNO
GETTING/STAYING THERE: British Airways Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B at the 5* Savoy Hotel & Spa, Paestum, from £979pp including flights from Gatwick on selected dates in September and October, one checked bag pp.
GETTING AROUND: British Airways Holidays offers seven nights’ car hire from £319 (based on September/ October dates). See britishairways.com/holidays.
