From Campania to Calabria
Longer trips from Cedromare and stops along the way
Sea views above Maratea, the columns of ancient temples in Paestum, Sapri’s waterfront beside the bay. There are places along the coast worth travelling further from Santa Maria del Cedro to see. The most distant are best visited with a few extra days in Campania.
Across the Cedromare guide
North towards Maratea
Maratea has views that make you want to stay a little longer. Below Cristo Redentore, the coast spreads out before you; in the old town, the details of the houses catch your eye, and by the harbour, the boats. Allow a whole day for the hilltop, the Borgo and lunch by the water.
Further north, Sapri opens onto the Gulf of Policastro. The waterfront invites a walk, followed by a seat overlooking the water. It makes a good stop on a journey through southern Campania.
South through towns and thermal spas
Guardia Piemontese preserves the memory of its inhabitants’ Occitan roots. Paola draws visitors to the sanctuary of Saint Francis, while old Amantea spreads across a hill above the coast. On the way south, the landscape keeps tempting you to leave the main road.
Terme Luigiane and Terme Caronte are options for a day at a thermal spa. Before setting off, contact the venue to choose from its current options, then leave the rest of the day for relaxing and an unhurried meal.
More holiday stops along the way
Travelling via Naples gives you the chance to begin with a few days in Campania. In Pompeii, you walk the streets of an ancient town; on Vesuvius, you face a volcanic landscape; in Paestum, temple columns stand in open ground. Palinuro and Marina di Camerota invite you to stop by the sea before you even reach Calabria.
It is worth making Campania a separate part of your holiday. Afterwards, you can settle into Cedromare, relax on the beach in Santa Maria del Cedro and choose shorter trips around the area.
Places in our guide
Choose your next stop
Maratea. The coast from above
On Monte San Biagio, beside Cristo Redentore and the basilica, the panorama immediately draws your eye towards the sea. The historic Borgo lies below, with the harbour down by the water. Allow a whole day to get to know Maratea and this part of Basilicata.
For Monte San Biagio, the municipality directs visitors via the Madonna degli Ulivi car park. A shuttle bus (navetta) covers the final stretch; check its availability and timetable before setting off.
In the Borgo, take your time among the houses and wander around Palazzo De Lieto. Then you can head down to Porto di Maratea, sit by the water and end the day looking out at the boats.
Sapri on the Gulf of Policastro
Sapri lies on the Gulf of Policastro in southern Campania. The town faces the water, so even on a short stop your eye keeps returning to the wide view of the bay.
Stop by the bay
From the waterfront, head into the centre towards Piazza del Plebiscito and the Church of the Immacolata. Here, the open seafront gives way to the details of the town, and you can always return to the water at the end of your walk.
Sapri fits well into a journey north. Lunch and a stroll by the bay offer a break from driving and a chance to see a little of Campania’s coast.
Guardia Piemontese, Acquappesa and Terme Luigiane
Guardia Piemontese has kept its connection with Occitan culture, language and traditions. Behind the town’s name lies the story of people who brought their customs to southern Italy. It is worth learning about as you walk.
Occitan Calabria and thermal spas
Terme Luigiane is near Acquappesa. If you feel like relaxing at a thermal spa, check what is currently available and arrange your visit directly with the venue.
You can spend longer in Guardia Piemontese or devote most of the day to the thermal spa. After sightseeing or bathing, leave time for a meal without rushing on to the next town.
Paola. The sanctuary and a walk around town
Santuario di San Francesco di Paola reflects an important part of Calabria’s religious history. The extensive complex invites an unhurried visit. Check which parts are accessible before you arrive.
After the sanctuary, there is still the town itself to explore. Porta San Francesco, Fontana dei Sette Canali and the streets of the old centre offer a chance to keep walking. Allow extra time for the journey and this part of Paola.
It is pleasant to spend a whole day in Paola. After visiting the sanctuary, you can stay for lunch and explore the town’s lanes without checking the schedule for your next trip.
Amantea. The old town above the coast
Amantea’s old houses occupy a hill above the seaside part of town. From below, the buildings catch your eye as a whole. Once you enter the lanes, your attention shifts to façades, steps and small squares.
A walk with ever wider views
Each turn reveals another stretch of coast. Pause where the view opens out, then return among the houses and look at the details. In Amantea, the walk through the old centre is a pleasant part of the day in itself.
If you are travelling to Santa Maria del Cedro from Lamezia Terme, you can stop here for a walk and a meal. That way, you begin getting to know Calabria before reaching the house.
Lamezia Terme and Terme Caronte
Lamezia Terme is worth exploring beyond SUF airport. In Nicastro, you will find Corso Numistrano, the Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Paolo and old buildings at the foot of the castle hill. If you would also like to see the castle ruins, check whether entry is possible.
Plan a separate visit to Terme Caronte. The thermal spa is outside the centre; choose from the operator’s current services and confirm a date before arriving.
The Ministry of Culture announced the reopening of Museo Archeologico Lametino for 24 October 2026. Confirm the current visiting hours before you go.
A walk around Lamezia Terme fits well at the beginning or end of a holiday. Before a flight, allow plenty of time to reach SUF and check in.
Start your Italian holiday in Naples
Naples can be the start of your Italian holiday before you continue to Cedromare. It is worth doing more than passing through from the airport: stay a while to see the city at street level and get to know this part of Campania.
Spaccanapoli and San Gregorio Armeno take you into the closely packed streets of the old centre. Piazza del Plebiscito and Palazzo Reale show the city’s more monumental side. After walking, it is pleasant to sit down for a meal and simply watch life on the street.
Allow a longer visit for Museo Archeologico Nazionale; check tickets and which interiors are open in advance. Pompeii and Vesuvius each deserve a separate day in Campania.
Pompeii. Walking the streets of an ancient town
In Pompeii, history takes the shape of streets and houses. From the trading areas to the forum, an ancient town survives, with recognisable traces of everyday life.
Between the houses and the forum
The official map and list of open areas will help you choose a route through the site. Leave time for details instead of trying to cover every street. A guide can help you connect the buildings you see with the lives of the people who once lived there.
Pompeii is best visited during a separate stay in Campania, before or after Cedromare. After a day like that, mornings on the beach in Santa Maria del Cedro will make a pleasant change.
Vesuvius and views towards the bay
On Vesuvius, the volcano itself holds your attention. The Gran Cono trail leads towards the crater, while the rocks and ground underfoot remind you how differently this landscape was formed from the built-up streets of nearby Naples.
The route towards the crater
As you climb, turn towards the bay from time to time; the view depends on the conditions. Arrange your entry time, tickets and transport according to the park’s current rules.
Set aside a separate day in Campania for the volcano. Naples and Pompeii can fill the rest of this part of your trip, before you head to Santa Maria del Cedro for a rest by the sea.
Paestum and Velia. Ancient Campania
The temple columns of Paestum stand in open ground, catching your eye even from a distance. At Velia, the remains of another ancient town invite you to spend more time with Campania’s history.
Columns in the open landscape
If your stay is short, choose one park. If you enjoy archaeology, allow separate visits for Paestum and Velia, with time for the monuments and the stories in the museums. That makes it easier to notice details you might miss on a hurried walk through.
Both places fit well into a journey through Campania. Further south lies Santa Maria del Cedro, where you can swap exploring ancient towns for a few days by the beach.
Cilento, Palinuro and Marina di Camerota
In Palinuro, the rocky headland draws the eye, while around Marina di Camerota beaches alternate with coves and rocks. This part of Cilento invites you to spend a few days by the sea before reaching Calabria.
A few more days by the sea
One town is enough as a base for exploring the nearby coast. After a day on the beach, you could take a walk or a boat trip. Check the route and availability with the organiser, taking sea conditions into account.
Palinuro and Marina di Camerota could form a separate part of your holiday in Campania. Afterwards, the road continues to Santa Maria del Cedro, bringing more views of the Italian coast along the way.
Certosa di Padula. A stop among the cloisters
At Certosa di San Lorenzo in Padula, your eye follows the cloisters towards the monumental staircase. The monastery’s scale is clearest in its courtyards, where you can take in the proportions of the whole building.
Beneath the monastery’s arcades
The repeated arches create a rhythm that changes as you walk. Take your time through the complex, following the route currently open to visitors, and pause to look at the architectural details.
Padula fits well into a journey through inland Campania. A stop for sightseeing and lunch offers a break from the road before you continue towards Santa Maria del Cedro.
Places on the map
Check where the places described are located and choose your next outing.
Pollino, Sirino and Sila
A longer trip can also take you into the mountains. In the higher parts of Pollino, you can choose between the Malvento viewpoint and a full summit hike. Sirino with Lago Laudemio and the forests of Sila are further, separate destinations. Each needs time for the journey and the visit, so it is worth choosing one destination for the day.