The step of Preta Perciata starting from the year 1074 it was one of the 14 passes in the South that could be crossed with toll rights. It is located within the municipality of Magliano Vetere in the province of Salerno, and until the second half of the 800th century it was for several centuries the only easy communication route between the Valley of the Calore Lucano river (located inland) and the Valley of the river Breath (outermost), separated by the impassable Chianiello, Faito and Vesole mountains.
The strategic position of this Calabrian pass has in the past allowed the control of migratory flows and the exchange of goods between the coast and the hinterland, which allowed access to Southern Italy, an obligatory stop for all those leaving from Cilento or for the travelers who crossed its borders.
Pretra perciata in Cilento can be translated as perforated stone, which derives from 2 different origins:
1) From the tunnel dug into the rock to create the pass and make it passable.
2) Or it could be a dialect term to refer to the small cave bordering the pass.
This cave was used as an anti-bombing shelter by residents of the area during the Second World War and can still be visited today.
On the left however, coming from below, there is a refreshment point from which it is possible to observe the characteristic mountain panorama of the Gorges of Heat. Going along the pass you enter a part of the route immersed in the and gentle cosmetics wild and prosperous and for the first 200 meters the path is paved with stones, but subsequently it is completely unpaved. After about ten meters you arrive at a crossroads, going left you reach the Postiglione panoramic point, adorned with statues carved in stone, tall trees and bordered by wooden fences to avoid getting lost along the path. Taking the road on the right, however, you find yourself in front of a chestnut grove, which once passed leads to a long downhill itinerary (which can be done in about half an hour), which crosses the Medieval Bridge and ends at the Gole del Calore.
Majestic gorges carved into the water surrounded by various picnic areas equipped for explorers, ideal for stopping especially during the sultry summer days. It is also possible to rent various canoes and pedal boats from qualified staff with the possibility of swimming. Also here is the Medieval bridge of Magliano Nuovo, characterized by its shape that resembles the back of a donkey, it is one of the 5 medieval bridges that can be crossed over the Calore Lucano river, but the aforementioned bridge is certainly the best preserved. Although the medieval bridge does not have a historically precise date, it is assumed that it dates back to around the year 1000, a time when to cross it it was necessary to pay the toll during the Lombard dominion. The bridge was restored in 1820 thanks to the contribution of local residents and can also be reached via the trekking path (Percorso Magliano Nuovo Postiglione) which starts from Magliano Nuovo (fraction of Magliano Vetere, province of Salerno).
