Free walking tours in Agropoli and what to see

Must-sees

Agropoli is in the north of the Cilento, in the province of Salerno, and combines beaches with an old town perched on a promontory. You climb a stone stairway, the Salita degli Scaloni, to a 17th-century gate. Inside are narrow lanes, stone houses and viewpoints over the sea from which, in good weather, you can see the Sorrento peninsula and Capri.

At the top of the promontory is the castle, a medieval fortress altered over the centuries that now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. Below spreads the modern town, with the harbour and the seafront. To the south, Trentova bay has a wide beach and a nature reserve with trails. The Greek temples of Paestum are about eleven kilometres away.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Agropoli. What is on offer are paid guided walks of the old town and the castle. Boat trips along the Cilento coast leave from the harbour, with coves and caves that can only be seen from the sea. For a day out, there are also trips to the Pertosa caves inland, where part of the visit is made by boat along an underground river.

How long to spend

A few hours are enough for the old town and the castle. If you come in summer, add beach time at Trentova or in the centre and a boat trip along the coast. With three or four days you can use Agropoli as a base to see Paestum, Castellabate and the Pertosa caves, and explore the villages of the Cilento National Park.

Where to stay

If you want to do everything on foot, stay in the modern centre, near the seafront and the harbour, where there are hotels, apartments and B&Bs. There are few places to stay inside the old town, but they are full of charm. The Trentova area has quieter hotels and holiday homes by the beach. Paestum, a few minutes away, is another option if you travel by car.