Planning a trip to Cilento
Getting There
For such a remote area, the Cilento is well connected by public transportation, with its major towns connected by train, its major harbors by ferry, and its smaller villages by bus. During the summer, Metrò del Mare (tel. 199-600700; www.metrodelmare.net) offers a boat service that connects Agropoli, Acciaroli, Palinuro, and Camerota with Pozzuoli, Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno. In 2011, the schedule was reduced to a once-a-day service in July and August, but we're told that by 2012, a fuller service should resume.
Direct trains link Naples and Salerno to Agropoli/Castellabate, Pisciotta/Palinuro, and Vallo della Lucania. Contact Trenitalia (tel. 892021 in Italy; www.trenitalia.it) for fares and information.
Each of the towns and villages in the park are also served by bus from Naples, Pompeii, Salerno, and Paestum: CSTP, Piazza Matteo Luciani 33, Salerno (tel. 089-252228 or 800-016659 toll-free within Italy; www.cstp.it), runs several lines from Napoli, Pompeii, Paestum, and Salerno to Vallo della Lucania, Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabate, Acciaroli, and Pollica. Curcio Viaggi (tel. 089-254080; www.curcioviaggi.it) offers lines from Rome and Salerno to Sicignano degli Alburni, Scario, and Polla. SCAT (tel. 0974-838415) connects Salerno and Paestum with Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabate, and villages along the coast in between. Lamanna (tel. 0975-520426) offers service from Salerno to Polla. Autolinee Giuliano Bus (tel. 0974-836185; www.giulianobus.com) covers Naples and Salerno to Roccadaspide, Agropoli, Vallo della Lucania, and Pioppi. Finally, SITA (tel. 089-405145; www.sitabus.it) has lines from Salerno to Pertosa and Polla.
By car, take autostrada A3 to the exit marked SERRE, turning onto SS 19 toward Serre. Turn right on SS 488 following signs for ROCCA D'ASPIDE into the park.
Visitor Information
The park's Visitor Center (tel. 0974-719911; www.cilentoediano.it) is on Piazza Santa Caterina 8, 84078 Vallo della Lucania, the gateway to the park.
You'll find pharmacies in each of the major towns and villages in the area, including at Via Roma 6 (tel. 0974-4974), in Vallo della Lucania, and at Corso Garibaldi 43 (tel. 0974-823054), in Agropoli. The hospital (tel. 0974-827511) is on Contrada Marrota in Agropoli. For an ambulance, dial tel. 118. Dial tel. 113 or 112 for the police, tel. 115 in case of fire, and tel. 116 for ACI road assistance. You'll find banks with ATMs in all major towns and villages in the park.
Getting Around
In spite of good public transportation inside the park, only a car will provide the necessary flexibility for extensive exploration of the interior, particularly in the off season, when connections are less frequent and ferry service is suspended. In addition to the major car-rental companies, you can rent a car through Alba Rent Car, Via Alcide de Gasperi, Agropoli (tel. 0974-828099); and Smec, Peppino Manente Comunale 35, Castellabate (tel. 0974-961565). For a taxi in the Castellabate area, call tel. 339-4820303.
