Padula and the Certosa di Padula
Padula sits on the border of the Cilento National Park in Campania, and features Italy's second largest Certosa, or Charterhouse, after the Charterhouse of Parma.
Padula, Italy
Padula was an interesting and powerful place in Southern Italy. The town sits high on the hill, while the Certosa is on the flatlands of the Vallo di Diano, a natural crossroads for early civilizations.
Parco Nazionale del Cilento
The National park of the Cilento and Valley of Diano includes a huge swath of Campania, from the Mediterranean to the interior Vallo di Diano. Padula sits on its eastern edge, and like many larger villages here, can be called "the gateway to the Cilento." A drive through the valley in sprintime can be spectacular and full of wildflower color. Zoom out from the map above to see the layout of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano.
Paestum
The Greco-Roman city of Paestum is located in the north of the Cilento near the coast. Also part of the world heritage site that includes the Certosa di Padula, it's worth a visit if you're in the area.
