Laureana Cilento

Laureana has Langobard origins; it developed around Lauri castle, built up in the 9th century by count Guido. It is thought it was the capital city of Cilento because it was, in 1489, the most populated village. Besides, a great number of aristocrats dwelt here.
Nevertheless it has been the most important strategic point of the barony of Cilento for five century, due to its dominant position on the Gulf of Salerno: from Laureana the land between Agropoli and Capaccio could easily be monitored and, besides, it was the crossroads between the Alento Valley and the harbours.

Laureana is rich in architectural heritage.
The Feudal Palace (Castellum Lauri) is property of the Del Mercato. It was built during 9th century to defence population from Saracens who had already conquered the Castle of Agropoli (in depth). The original structure was the North-West side of the building; in the courtyard you can see the drawbridge (in use until about 1840). The castle had two turrets but only the west one still stands; they both were in Langobards style, i.e. square-shaped. 

The Cagnano Palace takes its name from the family that built it up in 1832. The Cagnano were land agents of the Sanfelice; they gave glory to the castle at the end of the 1800’s adopting a high standard of living. Today the Palace is the seat of the Comunità Montana Alento Montestella.

The Del Mercato Palace, adjacent to Cagnano Palace it dates back to the 1200’s; it came from the fusion of four houses. Gian Cola del Mercato, jurist and historian, was born in this palace in 1618.

Palazzetto Cafarelli in the town centre is in Neoclassical style; it was built around 1500 as a property of one branch of the Cagnano.
Prince Palace, opposite the Feudal Palace, was built on order of the Sanfelice. In the past it was the municipal building.

Church of Santa Maria del Paradiso was erected in 1520 near the Feudal Palace. On the architrave it has been found the most ancient sign of the Laureana’s crest: a laurel.
The church is entirely made of stone; in 1583 there was ten family altars used for the burials: those who didn’t have a private altar were entombed in San Cono’s chapel.
In 17th century the church was renovated and, according to the style of that period, it was enriched with marbles and sumptuous sacred furniture. Again in 1790 it had to be renovated by the parish priest Don Pietro Arciello, after Napoleonic Wars.

The Noble Chapel of Santissima Annunziata was a property of the Del Mercato, in fact it was built up in 1348 next to the family palace.
Inside are still kept the headstones of the family heirs: the most ancient is that of Bartolomeo Del Mercato dating back to 1502.
The altar dedicated to Archangel Michael was ordered by Gian Cola Del Mercato.
Among the objet d’art there are a painting of Gabriel, a gothic stone font (it dates back to the construction of the church) and also a bas-relief of the Renaissance that portrays Annunciation and a wood Virgin of the 14th century.
Many indulgences have been granted to the chapel by different Popes during centuries.

The Convent of San Michele has been the principal church of Laureana until the building of the Church of Santa Maria del Paradiso (Saint Mary of Heaven). It was a property of the Christian Doctrine Fathers who have contributed to the literacy and the teaching of the Christian doctrine.
During the 1800’s a law abolished convents and religious orders and the convent of San Michele declined until it became a ruin.
Only after World War II it was renovated and it was reactivated as an education centre, until the 1960’s. Today the convent is a municipal property in renovation.
The Shrine of Acquasanta is near the train station of Torchiara and near the spring of the Acquasanta, an affluent of the Testene. According to Gian Cola del Mercato, as he wrote in his book “Commentari agli Statuti del Cilento” ( “Commentarii to the Statutes of Cilento”, 1677), the religious practice began in this place because the water spring was said to had miraculous properties.
According to the legend, the spring had started to flow in the place where three virgins from Agropoli, accused of listening to the preaching of Saint Paul in Laureana, were stoned to death.
The shrine structure is a complex of rooms: nave, chancel, sacristy and the pastor’s house.
The chancel, besides the marble water well of 1652, from which the miraculous water is drawn, is characterized by the frescoed wall of the 1647 portraying the Virgin and Child and, at her sides, Saint Josef and Saint Lucy. The Virgin’s eyes have been depicted using the technique of Trompe l’oeil that creates the optical illusion She is gazing at you from wherever, in the chancel, you are looking at the painting. Maybe a metaphor for the protection Our Lady gives to devout people, wherever they are.

During the 1700’s the Church was enriched with a canopy above the fresco, the cupola, the coffering of the ceiling and a ceramic floor (subsequently covered with the present flooring).
The coffered ceiling is decorated with a representation of the Whitsun (US Pentecost).
The building structure and the documents written by Gian Cola del Mercato strengthen the hypothesis of a pre-existing shrine in the 7th -8th century.
At the dawn of Christian religion, the baptisteries were built near or even on a spring, in order, for the baptismal font, to have always spring water.
The cult of Our Lady of Acquasanta ( Acqua= water; santa= holy) is very popular not only in Laureana but all over Cilento. Celebrations take place on the first Tuesday after the Whitsun. To reach the shrine from the highway Agropoli-Vallo della Lucania : exit Agropoli sud, go on for about 4 km and turn left at the fork to Laureana, then please follow the signposts.

The Convent of Saint Francis is near frazione San Martino, on the road leading to Rocca Cilento- a municipality of Laureana until 1871 when, through unknown happenings, it became a territory of Lustra.
It seems it was founded in 1417 by Saint Bernardino from Siena with the help of such noble families as the Capano and the Del Mercato (whose crests have been found carved in many points of the convent).
The ownership of the convent have passed from one faction of the Order of The Friars Minor to the opposite one. Then in 1640 the convent became a novitiate house, until 1727.
Between 1590 and 1673 the structure was enlarged; this is the period of its maximum splendor . There were a lot of chapels inside the convent’s complex but, during last century, many of them had to be destroyed after the closing of the central nave.
Near the convent, on the road leading to Laureana, two important fairs took place: the fair of Saint Francis and the Fair of the Palm Sunday; both the fairs take still place today, but they’re not at all like the old days.
The convent is in renovation.

The Church of San Martino, built up in frazione San Martino is a very ancient structure: the census makes already mention of it in 1489. Originally built in a plain style, it has been enlarged around 1730 and enriched with the choir, the frescoed ceiling and the positioning of a wood statue of Saint Martin. The bell tower, on the left side of the church, was demolished during 1930’s renovation: in this occasion it was projected to rebuild it, on the right side, but the lack of money stopped the renovation works that finished only recently.

The territory of Laureana is a hiking destination: the trails once were mule tracks used for trading. Today, thanks to the effort of the Comunità Montana Alento-Monte Stella, the trails are restored and equipped for picnic.
There are many itineraries, interesting from historical and cultural viewpoint, and many nature trails.

Since the trails could not be sometimes easy to locate, we suggest you to turn to the Pro-loco, to the Comunità Montana or to the town hall.
Some trails lead through the residential area, so you can taste such typical food as extra virgin olive oil, the white fig of Cilento,, wine, liqueurs, cold cuts and cheese.

In frazione Matonti you can visit the church of Saint Blaise and the Church of Our Lady of Carmel, and also the Natural History Museum of Cilento, where are exhibited many plant species.