98km (59 miles) SE of Salerno

Little known to foreign tourists, the Carthusian Monastery of St. Lorenzo -- one of the largest in the world -- is prized for its architectural splendor and rich collection of artistic treasures. Off the beaten path in Salerno's hinterlands, this grandiose 16th-century monastery nestles in the slopes of the hill near the little town of Padula. It is an easy day trip from Salerno, Naples, or Paestum.