Castellabate Village and the surrounding National Park of Cilento.

Castellabate Village and the surrounding National Park The charming, living, working village of Castellabate is a traditional Italian medieval hill top village, just over an hour further south from the famous Amalfi coast. Castellabate is a maze of ancient streets, alleyways, and local restaurants serving traditional food.

In the village there are various mini markets, a chemist, doctors, cash point, WI-FI points, butchers, bars, hairdressers, beautician, ice-cream shops, pizza places and a newly opened public swimming just outside the village which has been sponsored by a local Italian Olympic swimmer and nearby there are tennis courts and football pitches.

Castellabate has spectacular views over the bay of Santa Maria and San Marco, the surrounding countryside, the Island of Capri and distant views of the Amalfi Coastline. Castellabate and the Cilento National Park have been recognised by UNESCO as world heritage site since 1998.

The area has so much to offer ....... no wonder it was recently chosen by leading film producers for Italy's best selling film of the year 'Benvenuti al Sud' as well as being described as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

You won't need to leave Castellabate to enjoy some of the best restaurants in the area. Eat at IL Castello for a meal you'll never forget. The Belvedere, with it's breath taking spectacular coastal views. IL Calesse, amist wonderful gardens overlooking the bay. IL Caicco on a splendid terrace, At Divinos in the Piazza. AL Borgo, IL Botteghino or Porta LA Chiazza for a snack, Feast at Madonna Della Scala or IL Capriccio both favourites with Italian families.

Taste the sublime, home made, national award winning ice-cream at Bar Ancora in Santa Maria. Or go to La Torretta at San Marco and be dazzled by the array of cakes.

Enjoy the glorious stretches of free beach or rent a sun lounger from one of the beach bar restaurants, where you can choose a snack or a full lunch and your favourite drink.

Take an excursion, go diving, fishing, hire a kayak, windsurfer, boat or pedalo. Get involved in some beach volley ball, football or beach tennis. Or sit in the shade, take it all in and watch the world go by.

Experience the spontaneity of Castellabate & Santa Maria and the buzzy Italian Piazzas, where there's always something to see, do, or get involved in, young or old. Partake in some local Italian night life - Join in, in the passeggiata - Live like the Italians, who love life and live it to the full.

Villa Alberto can also be used as a base for visiting other areas. You could, take a boat trip and see the blue grottos or the famous island of Capri (boats leave from San Marco which is only 10 mins drive from Castellabate, and go direct to Capri in season), visit the natural beauty of Punta Licosa and the island, explore the Cilento National Park, see one of the local buffalo Mozzarella farms and taste the world famous cheese, see the magnificent city of Paestum (concerts & opera staged in summer), the Royal palace at Caserta, the Phoenician ruins at Velia, see Herculaneum and Pompei, Vesuvius, go kayaking in Felitto, visit the famous Amalfi coast (by car or boat directly from San Marco), the gulf of Salerno, Naples, Rome or Caserta. Enjoy the beaches or sit back on your own private terrace at Villa Alberto, sipping a cold drink and watching the sun set.

The Times Newspaper wrote: The famous Amalfi coast near Naples has house prices as dizzying as the views so it pays to head south to Cilento where it is a different story. White sandy beaches and sparkling, clean water. From Castellabate, you can trace the coastline along the Amalfi peninsula – and watch the sun set.