Camerota

Camerota is a charming village located in the heart of the Cilento National Park, in the province of Salerno. Characterized by a quiet and relaxed atmosphere, the village offers an authentic Cilento experience, far from the busy tourist routes. Camerota’s historic center is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets and stone houses, enriched by churches, squares, and panoramic views of the sea and surrounding hills. This little jewel of the Cilento retains a valuable historical and cultural heritage, including the Medieval Castle. Its proximity to the coast and beaches of Marina di Camerota makes this village an ideal base for exploring the natural beauty of the region, including crystal clear sea and natural parks. Camerota is, moreover, a place where local food and wine traditions are still very much alive, and visitors can savor the authentic flavors of Cilento cuisine.

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Camerota

Alessandro Aldieri/flickr

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Ammirando Camerota

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Camerota

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Cala Bianca, Marina di Camerota

Atlante Fotografico dei Paesaggi Costieri/flickr

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Tra i vicoli di Camerota

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Vicolo San Nicola, Camerota

francesco fogazzi

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Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie, Camerota

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I bambini si divertono a Camerota

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Archi a Camerota

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Portoni a Camerota

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Il Castello di Camerota

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Marina di Camerota di sera

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Vicoli di Camerota

MONUDET

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Per le strade di Camerota

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Torre a Camerota

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The origins of Camerota: between history and mythology

Palinuro, Kamaraton and the legend of Camerota

One of the hypotheses about the origins of Camerota is based on a legend involving Palinurus,the helmsman of Aeneas, and the beautiful Kamaraton. According to the myth, Palinurus fell madly in love with Kamaraton, but his love was not reciprocated. Millennia ago, the maiden- was pursued by Palinurus and found death at the bottom of the sea. As punishment for causing the girl's death, Venus turned Kamaraton into a rock. This rock became the high ground on which Camerota stands today.

Camerota and the link with ancient Greece

History, however, offers another hypothesis about Camerota's origins. It is believed that the town was founded in the 6th century by the Phocians, an ancient Greek population, and that its name derives from the Greek word "Kamaroton," a term for an arched construction. Of these constructions, traces and evidence can still be found in the territory of Camerota.

The castle of Camerota: a place of history and battles

The assaults and the rulers of Camerota.

Within the town, life took place around an imposing castle, which witnessed assaults and invasions by Normans, Arabs, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons. Throughout its history, Camerota was ruled by several noble families, including the Sanseverino, Di Sangro, and Marchese.

Defensive architecture: walls, gates and watchtowers

The castle was surrounded by walls that protected the inhabitants from invasion. Even today, there is a tradition of calling the inner part of the walls "ind'alli mura" and the outer part "for'alli mura".

In 1552, Camerota suffered a devastating invasion by the Turks, led by Commander Bessà. Following these events, numerous watchtowers were built to defend the village.

Camerota uprising and the gruesome ritual

During Masaniello's revolt in 1647, the citizens of Camerota rose up against Paolo Marchese, who had restored the abominable jus primae noctis. As a sign of rebellion, they killed him and scattered his remains in the fields around the town. Some Cameroot localities are named after the body parts found, such as Capocanto (the uvula) and Piedipaolo (the foot).

Camerota and its gates: a gateway to history

Access to the castle was through three main gates: Porta di Suso, Porta di Santa Maria and Porta di San Nicola. In 1662, the three parishes of Santa Maria delle Grazie, San Daniele and San Nicola were dedicated to these gates.

The territory

Camerota, with its two Parks, is an area of exceptional natural, scenic and cultural value, both nationally and internationally. Surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and centuries-old olive trees, it is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, offering a unique marine environment in Italy with crystal clear waters ideal for exploring by swimming.

This precious heritage of biodiversity is protected by the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park upstream and the Infreschi Marine Protected Area, established in 2009. The area includes 70 km² of National Park and 2,000 hectares of marine park, with 36 hectares of integral reserve and three areas of varying degrees of environmental protection.

Camerota's areas are classified as Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and Special Protection Areas (SPA), due to the presence of particularly rare flora and fauna in need of protection.

Village of Camerota
Municipality of Camerota
Province of Salerno
Campania Region

Inhabitants: 6,882 Camerootans
Center altitude: 322 mslm

Unesco site:
Cilento and Vallo di Diana National Park, Paestum, Velia and Certosa di Padula

Awards
Blue Flag
5 Sails Legambiente
Green Flag
Cyclable Municipality

The Municipality
St. Vincent Square, 1 - Tel. 0974 935178

Blue Flag

Camper parking area

Sea village

Village with castle

Village with towers

Area-Marina-Protetta-degli-Infreschi-e-della-Masseta

Infreschi and Masseta Marine Protected Area

Campania, San Giovanni a Piro - Camerota - Salerno

Cave and the Riparo del Poggio

Via Lentiscella - Marina di Camerota - Camerota - Salerno

Palazzo-Santa-Maria-Casa-della-Cultura-e-delle-Arti-MUTRAC

St. Mary’s Palace – House of Culture and the Arts – MUTRAC

Via degli Emigranti, 7 - Camerota - Salerno

Chapel of San Gennaro

Via Armando Diaz - Camerota - Salerno

Chapel of St. Anthony

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Rock Chapel of St. Vitus

Loc. San Vito - Camerota - Salerno

Keyhole Cave

Spiaggia Lentiscella, Marina di Camerota - Camerota - Salerno

Church of Santa Maria ad Martyres

Via Lucania, 55/29 - fraz. Lentiscosa - Camerota - Salerno

Noglio Cave

Costa di Camerota - Camerota - Salerno

Infreschi Museum

Via Porto - Marina di Camerota - Camerota - Salerno

Marina di Camerota

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Cove Cave

Via Lentiscella, 3 - Camerota - Salerno

Lentiscosa

84050 - Camerota - Salerno

The village of Camerota, in the heart of the Cilento National Park, offers a rich heritage of typical recipes and unique local products, the result of centuries of handed-down traditions. In this article, we will unearth some of the most representative specialties of this fascinating area.

Traditional dishes

Lagane and chickpeas
Lagane and chickpeas are a typical fresh pasta dish made by kneading remilled durum wheat semolina and water, then combined with chickpeas. Lagane are reminiscent of large noodles, but are made in a wider format, about 2-3 cm.

Cavatelli cusitani
Cavatelli cusitani are another fresh pasta dish made of flour and water. They have an elongated shape and a hollow on the inside, usually accompanied by tomato sauce with meat sauce. In Licusati, a hamlet of Camerota, a cavatello festival is held every year.

Alici mbuttunate
Alici mbuttunate are fried anchovies stuffed with a filling of eggs, stale bread, parsley, garlic and grated cheese.

Christmas Zeppole or Scauratielli
Scauratielli, or Christmas Zeppole, are ancient Cilento sweets of Greek origin that are prepared during the Christmas season. They are fried doughnuts topped with honey and cinnamon, made in the shape of the Greek letters Alpha (α) and Omega (ω), symbolizing the closing and reopening of a new cyclical time.

Slow Food presidia and local products

Maracucciata
The maracuoccio is a small Slow Food Presidium legume, similar to a pea but square in shape and a color that can vary from dark green to brownish. The taste, in general, is somewhat bitter. Today, in Lentiscosa (a hamlet of Camerota) some families continue to produce it according to tradition, with manual cultivation and without the use of fertilizers or other chemicals.

Maracucciata is a polenta made by cooking a flour composed of half maracuoccio and half wheat, chickpeas, spelt, field beans and chickling peas. All of this is enriched with extra virgin olive oil, bread croutons, onion, garlic and chili pepper.

Menaica Anchovies
Menaica Anchovies (Slow Food Presidium) are fished using an ancient technique, once widespread on all Mediterranean coasts and now surviving in a few places such as Marina di Camerota and Marina di Pisciotta. Anchovies are fished between April and July on calm sea days, using artisanal nets called menaica. The particular shape of the nets allows only the largest anchovies to be caught, which are extracted and processed by hand.

Salted Menaica Anchovies are distinguished by their light flesh tending to pink and their intense and delicate aroma.

September
- The Sea and Fishermen's Festival is a traditional event that celebrates and evokes the old town, its old-time atmosphere and customs. During the festival, there are theatrical performances that showcase arts, crafts, music and poetry, retracing the life and stories of the past, particularly those of the Strambaie - the women of the alley, little boys and fishermen who animated the village of yesteryear. The convivial atmosphere of the event is enriched by popular music, which accompanies the blue fish festival, a time for tasting and appreciation of the local cuisine, offered directly by the people of the sea. The Sea and Fishermen's Festival is thus a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the past and relive the culture and traditions of this charming seaside village.
- Camerota Live is a running race that is part of the "Cilento di Corsa" circuit and is organized by the Asd "Cilento Run." This sporting event takes place within the city course of Marina di Camerota and involves the entire public, both running enthusiasts and spectators who gather to watch and cheer. The race is an excellent opportunity to promote sports and outdoor life, as well as to encourage moments of meeting and socializing among citizens and visitors. Thanks to its evocative setting, Camerota Live has become an unmissable event for athletes and running enthusiasts who wish to test themselves in such a unique and fascinating setting as Marina di Camerota.
October
- The Inula Prize is a prestigious artistic-literary event held every year in October in the picturesque setting of Marina di Camerota. The competition stems from the idea of sharing the sensations and emotions evoked by the sea in the human mind and soul, offering a space to tell and celebrate the marine universe from a wide variety of perspectives. The goal of the Inula Prize is to enhance the sea as a great container of experiences, feelings and stories that make it the protagonist. Through the participation of artists and writers, the competition offers a unique opportunity to discover and appreciate works inspired by the magic of the sea and its profound influence on human life and culture.
The event represents an important moment of encounter and exchange between art and literature enthusiasts, and helps to promote and spread the culture of the sea and seafaring traditions, enriching the cultural landscape of Marina di Camerota and the Cilento area.
December - January
- Luciammare is an evocative and fascinating event that celebrates the charm of the sea in winter, becoming an unmissable attraction for visitors who wish to experience a unique and magical atmosphere. During this event, the coastline is transformed into an enchanting panorama, with lights reflecting on the water and creating an underwater nativity scene, offering an enchanting spectacle of sea reflections.
The waterfront is transformed into a riviera luminaria, with the shoreline twinkling with a thousand lights, inviting visitors and onlookers to take selfies of the nighttime transparencies of the seabed and enjoy the magical drops of light dispersing in the air. Luciammare is an ideal event for lovers, families and children to be dazzled by the "comets" of marine Christmas.
This special and evocative event makes the winter sea an element of attraction and inspiration, offering participants the opportunity to have a unique experience and immerse themselves in a Christmas atmosphere full of excitement and charm.
March - April
- The Cilento Carnival is an unusual and lively event that takes place in Marina di Camerota outside the traditional Carnival season, attracting the participation of different entities from the Cilento area. During this festival, the streets of the coastal village are transformed into a river of colors, masks and fun, bringing joy and amazement among residents and visitors.
Thousands of people take part in the event, making the Cilento Carnival a unique and widely appreciated event. Participants get caught up in the energy and merriment of the parades, costumes and masks typical of the carnival tradition, celebrating together a time of celebration and sharing.
May
- Corsa del Mito is a running event that takes place in the picturesque scenery of the Cilento coast, along a 15-kilometer route that connects Palinuro to Marina di Camerota. The event celebrates the passion for sports and nature, offering participants the opportunity to experience running surrounded by breathtaking views and unspoiled landscapes.
The Race of Myth is promoted by the organizers with the intention of enhancing the area and stimulating the desire to experience sporting events firsthand. The goal is to create a showcase to promote Cilento, uniting running enthusiasts and nature lovers in an opportunity to share and discover the region's beautiful landscapes.
- The Sagra della Maracucciata is a food and wine event held in the charming village of Lentiscosa, in the Camerota area. The festival celebrates maracuoccio, a local legume that is a Slow Food Presidium and is grown exclusively in the Camerota area, and the culinary excellence made from its flour.
During the event, visitors have the opportunity to taste typical local dishes made with maracuoccio and its derivatives, discovering unique and authentic flavors that represent the essence of the Cilento food and wine tradition.
June
- The Meeting of the Sea is a renowned cultural event held in Marina di Camerota between late May and early June, attracting a large number of visitors from all over southern Italy and beyond. It is an engaging and highly successful festival, where free admission allows the public to participate in the many initiatives and attend performances by artists of national and international caliber.
Over the years, the Meeting of the Sea has hosted some of the best-known singers on the music scene, such as Franco Battiato, Max Gazzè, J-Ax, Fabrizio Moro, Gianluca Grignani and Piero Pelù, offering unmissable performances of great artistic quality.

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Baia degli Infreschi a Marina di Camerota9

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Baia degli Infreschi in Marina di Camerota, boat excursion

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