Marina di Ascea: Your Gateway to Relaxation and Adventure on the Campania Coast
The Latin people who lived in what is now Campania looked up at the sky and named the village Ascea, which means “without clouds” in Latin. What must have struck them was the clean air of southern Italy and then Magna Graecia, where the sea breeze blew and wild scrub smelled, and the sky was always a calm blue that faded into the sea. Even now, Ascea is a popular place to visit, especially because the nearby Marina di Ascea in the province of Salerno is so beautiful and has so much to offer tourists.
Marina di Ascea – A Beautiful Seaside Town
Marina di Ascea is the municipality of Campania’s funniest and most carefree inland hamlet. It is also the most beautiful from a landscape point of view and the liveliest, making it perfect for people who want to relax and feel energized at the same time. With 2,500 people and a golden coast that fades into an endless sea of turquoise and blue, the seaside town is the perfect mix of beaches, hills, culture, and leisure.
Unspoiled Landscapes and Ancient History
The landscape is made up of unspoiled and well-kept stretches of rocks and sandy shores. Above the village is the ancient village of Ascea, which is 235 meters above sea level. A beautiful fjord separates it from the nearby town of Pisciotta, which is in the middle of the Cilento National Park and Valley of Diano. After about 4 km of walking towards the blue of the Mediterranean, you’ll find the beauty of the Marina, which has had the Blue Flag for clean water and good beaches for a number of years. The Phocaeans were the first people to see the site. They built the Greek city of Elea there in 540 BC to get away from the Persians.
Historical Treasures of Marina di Ascea
Even now, the excavations of Elea, or Velia, are one of the most valuable parts of the municipality and an important part of Marina di Ascea’s history. The colony was on the ancient trade route between Greece and Etruria and could count on a rich and thriving trade. It was the home of a famous philosophical school before Socrates, which was led by Parmenides. Today, you can see the impressive medieval fortifications in Velia next to the Greek temples, and you can see summer performances in the Parmenide theater auditorium with a great atmosphere. The famous Porta Rosa, which dates back to the 4th century, is one of the oldest, most famous, and best-preserved buildings.
Exploring the Coast and Surroundings
As you move to the more modern area of Marina di Ascea, you’ll find other important landmarks, like the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine, which is reached by a path uphill and a grand staircase. On the left side of the path, there are icons with bas-reliefs of Christ’s death to help the faithful get to the top.
And now, after getting a taste of history and culture, it’s time to dive into the party atmosphere of the coast and explore the strip, its beaches, and its interesting coves. In the middle of a 5-kilometer-long, 70-meter-wide shining ribbon is a promontory where the Telegraph Tower once stood, but now only a few ruins remain. This promontory divides the town’s coast into two parts: on one side, toward Casal Velino, the soft sand sinks gently into the sea, making a shallow seabed that is also good for children; on the other side, toward Pisciotta, there are beautiful corners hidden among If sunbathing or swimming aren’t enough, you can rent a boat and sail along the coast to Baia d’Argento or Baia della Rondinella.
The area around Marina di Ascea is also full of pleasant surprises. The village is in a rich and interesting area with many tourist sites and ancient ruins. The magical excavations of Paestum are 42 km away, Agropoli is 36 km away, and the village of Pisciotta is only 12 km away. The wonderful caves of Capo Palinuro are about 20 kilometers away, and the beautiful Marina di Camerota is about 33 kilometers away.
Enjoying the Sun and Festivities
Marina di Ascea is full of amazing things to see and do, but there is one thing you need to fully enjoy all of them: the sun. The sun is the star of the Campania coast and a permanent resident of the village. Here, the weather is perfect for summer vacations. In fact, the sea has a cooling effect on the highest temperatures, so they rarely go above 30 °C. From June to late October, the water in the Tyrrhenian Sea stays above 20 °C, with peaks of 25–27 °C between July and September. It doesn’t rain much during the hottest months, even though clouds from the nearby Cilento Mountains bring short-lived storms. In the winter, it rains more often and in bigger amounts, with the most rain in December and January.
When the weather is so nice, everyone wants to get together, have a party, and try the local foods. In this way, there are many events held in Marina di Ascea and Ascea all through the year. The Fiera degli Scavi in May, the Rabbit and Bruschetta Festival in August, and the Estate al Borgo, the Festa degli Antichi Sapori, the Madonna di Porto Salvo celebrations, and the Olive Tree Festival all happen in the same month.
Getting to Marina di Ascea
It’s not hard to get to this charming village on the beautiful Campania coast. If you’re driving, take the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway and get off at Eboli or Battipaglia. From there, take the alternative route to state road 18 to get there. You can also move by boat and get off at the Marina di Casal Velino port. If you want to fly, the closest airport to Ascea is in Naples (Capodichino), which is two hours away.