Montesano sulla Marcellana: Culture, History and Nature

Montesano sulla Marcellana lies at an altitude of about 850 metres in the landscape of the Appennino della Maddalena. Churches and museums tell the story of the town, while forests, springs and mountain trails offer different perspectives on the surrounding area. You can therefore plan your trip according to whether you are mainly interested in culture, nature or a mixture of both.

Churches, a monastery and the pilgrimage to Cadossa

The Chiesa di Sant’Anna stands at about 850 metres above sea level and dominates the main square. It was built between 1954 and 1959 at the behest of the Italian-Venezuelan entrepreneur Filippo Gagliardi and has three naves. Another historic site is the Chiesa ed ex Convento Cappuccini: the complex was founded in 1590 and was completed in 1596, ready to welcome its first religious community. The cloister features masonry round arches, while the corridors have barrel vaults.

South of Montesano sulla Marcellana, the Abbazia di Cadossa lies in surroundings encircled by water and vegetation. A new building was erected at the abbey in 1578. Cadossa is also the destination of an annual pilgrimage, held on the first Sunday in August and attended by residents of Teggiano and Montesano. A specific construction date and a tradition that continues to this day thus stand side by side—two different ways of approaching the town’s history.

Museums exploring everyday life and photography

The MuMont – Museo Montesano focuses on the history, culture and traditions of the region. The ethnographic museum explores its themes through everyday objects, traditional clothing, craft tools, artefacts and documents. The collection thus offers insight into different aspects of life and work, rather than telling history through individual dates alone.

The MUDIF – Museo Didattico della Fotografia is dedicated to the history and art of photography. Its photographs span the period from the pioneering era to the present day, using this historical arc to explore changes in the medium. Anyone interested in images and their development will find a different cultural focus here than at the ethnographic MuMont.

Landscape, springs and trails

The Cerreta-Cognole state forest in Montesano sulla Marcellana helps protect endangered flora and fauna. The municipality is also one of those included in the Riserva Naturale Regionale Foce Sele Tanagro. The Sorgenti Santo Stefano are among the oligomineral springs of Montesano. The Terme di Santo Stefano are described as an oasis of wellbeing surrounded by nature. If you are considering visiting, check in advance whether the facility is currently accessible.

Montesano offers mountain-trail excursions for trekking and walks. Foresta Cerreta Cognole has a network of cycling routes, walking trails and nature trails. It is recognised as a teaching farm and offers immersive educational programmes on biodiversity, ecological sustainability, food and sport in nature. The options therefore differ not only in subject matter, but also in whether you prefer to explore on foot, by bicycle or as part of an educational programme.

Foresta Cerreta Cognole is easy to reach by car thanks to its proximity to the Strada Statale 19 “delle Calabrie” and the Autostrada A2 del Mediterraneo. Check route conditions before setting off. The precise focus of your trip—cultural sites, photography, mountain trails or nature—can help you choose a holiday rental in Montesano sulla Marcellana that suits your stay.

A product example from Montesano

Campolongo S.p.A. in Montesano sulla Marcellana includes, among other products, Caciocavallo Silano DOP and handmade treccia cheese. This concrete example adds a local business and its products to the cultural and landscape themes.

Discover more destinations: Amalfi, Sicilì, Cologna, Contursi, Orria, Oliveto Citra, Ostigliano, Moio Della Civitella-Pellare.

Return to the main travel overview: Salerno.