Bellosguardo

The town is located on a hill at 559 m above sea level; its territory, extending over an area of almost 17 square kilometres, is completely incorporated into the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano and is part of the Alburni Mountain Community. Nothing specific is known about the origins of Bellosguardo, it is thought to have been populated in ancient times, with scattered settlements, and that served as an outpost during Fasanella's alliance with Paestum, long before the Christian era. In the area some tombs of the IV - III century were found, together with Italiote coins, fragments of vases made in oriental and ambre ceramics and that suggests that the territory was inhabited since the 8th century BC. It is known with certainty that the valley, from the end of the fifth century BC, was an area of passage for trade between Poseidonia, the valley of the Tanagro and the Greek colonies on the Ionian Sea. This road started from the Lausa valley and it continued up to the bridge of Castel S. Lorenzo, where it forked: one of the two branches led to Bellosguardo, itcontinued along Monte Pruno, on which the city of Lucana of ancient Roscigno stood and followed to Atena Lucana, connecting to the Via Popilia or Ania or Capua-Regium. It was through these arteries that trade in goods took place between Paestum and the Greek colonies on the Ionian Sea. Bellosguardo was consolidated in the Middle Ages with the Lombards, later distinguishing itself as an Angevin barony. In 1695 the village became the property of Giacomo Pignatelli, who later sold it to the Caracciolo family. It had greater historical importance during the Risorgimento, when many citizens of this country joined the Garibaldino army, animated by a strong patriotic spirit. Particularly varied is the local cuisine that still preserves the ancient and genuine simplicity.

The town is located on a hill at 559 m above sea level; its territory, extending over an area of almost 17 square kilometres, is completely incorporated into the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano and is part of the Alburni Mountain Community. Nothing specific is known about the origins of Bellosguardo, it is thought to have been populated in ancient times, with scattered settlements, and that served as an outpost during Fasanella's alliance with Paestum, long before the Christian era. In the area some tombs of the IV - III century were found, together with Italiote coins, fragments of vases made in oriental and ambre ceramics and that suggests that the territory was inhabited since the 8th century BC. It is known with certainty that the valley, from the end of the fifth century BC, was an area of passage for trade between Poseidonia, the valley of the Tanagro and the Greek colonies on the Ionian Sea. This road started from the Lausa valley and it continued up to the bridge of Castel S. Lorenzo, where it forked: one of the two branches led to Bellosguardo, itcontinued along Monte Pruno, on which the city of Lucana of ancient Roscigno stood and followed to Atena Lucana, connecting to the Via Popilia or Ania or Capua-Regium. It was through these arteries that trade in goods took place between Paestum and the Greek colonies on the Ionian Sea. Bellosguardo was consolidated in the Middle Ages with the Lombards, later distinguishing itself as an Angevin barony. In 1695 the village became the property of Giacomo Pignatelli, who later sold it to the Caracciolo family. It had greater historical importance during the Risorgimento, when many citizens of this country joined the Garibaldino army, animated by a strong patriotic spirit. Particularly varied is the local cuisine that still preserves the ancient and genuine simplicity.