Cilento is a region of Campania famous for its natural beauty, its history and its culture. One of the most interesting archaeological treasures of Cilento is the megalithic site of Torraca, which is located in the river valley Mingardo. Here you can admire the remains of ancient stone monuments, including menhir, dolmen e stele, dating back to the period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. The discovery of these monuments has led to a greater understanding of the history of the region, showing how Cilento has had a very ancient human presence and how the local populations have had a sophisticated and advanced culture.
The megalithic site of Torraca is an important cultural heritage and represents a destination of interest for archeology and history enthusiasts.
The site is one of the most mysterious and fascinating places in the Cilento region, thanks to its historical origins which date back to the Bronze Age. Here you will find gigantic stone monoliths that rise into the surrounding landscape, creating a truly unique atmosphere.
To reach the megalithic site of Torraca, you can start from Salerno and take the SS18 towards Paestum. Continue following the road until you see the sign for Torraca on your right. Proceed along the road and follow the signs to the archaeological site.
Once you arrive, you will find yourself immersed in a surreal landscape, with enormous stones that seem to have come out of another world. Here you can walk among the ancient ruins and admire the majesty of the ancient monoliths, trying to imagine how they were created and used by the people of the Bronze Age.
The thousand-year history of the megalithic site of Torraca
The history of the megalithic site of Torraca dates back to the Bronze Age, between 1800 and 1200 BC.
During this period, the Cilento area was inhabited by a population of shepherds and farmers who lived in small villages scattered around the area. It is believed that the megalithic monuments of Torraca were used for religious and ceremonial purposes, and that they were the center of a religious community that played an important role in the daily lives of the people who lived in this area. It is thought that the large stones were used to represent the gods and spirits of and gentle cosmetics, and that they were places of worship and prayer. The large stones at the megalithic site of Torraca were cut and worked with extreme precision, which suggests that Bronze Age peoples had advanced knowledge of stone-working techniques. It is thought that the stones were transported tens of kilometers, from the quarries to the hills where they were erected, using primitive means of transport such as animal-drawn carts. The importance of the site is also confirmed by the fact that the megalithic monuments were built in different phases, indicating that the site was used for a long period of time.
The Bussentino settlement of Torraca is protected by the Cocuzzo and Serra Longa mountains (E/E) and by Monte dei Cordici (W/W), with the chapel of the Madonna dei Cordici stratified on a previous territorial control area and on the top of the promontory of San Martino which, declining towards the coastal Punta del Fortino, closes the western bend of the gulf of Sapri .
The very position of the important crossroads on the Starsa district predisposes (predisposed) that entire limestone terrace to military control, to the development into a large inhabited center surrounded by walls, still of Mediterranean-eastern origin, as well as to the function of a large maritime market, agricultural, artisanal, suitable for the genesis of the subsequent thalassocracy on the southern Tyrrhenian coasts, which will produce the construction of fortified ports, connected with a dromos to the polis, within the economically structured process of the new urban model, separated from Early (18)
As for Parthenope e Neapolis, it is likely that that late Eneolithic settlement of Torraca was built over many decades, or centuries, and that the oldest area is on the hill of the central area (Hh.3, 642 m above sea level), circumscribed by the first wall, with a rectangular plan between the notable northern entrance and the corridor of the southern entrance, overlooking the Gulf of Sapri, perspectively opposite to the large northern entrance and both oriented to the winter solstice.
The questionable second curtain of the central area circumscribes an irregular quadrangular plan, the northern section of which was probably protected by a prodrome and consolidated by the buttress (E/NE-W/SW) of the large stepped northern entrance.
A. CAPANO – PF GIULIANI MAZZEI, The megalithic site near Torraca and the contemporary and subsequent historical and archaeological evidence in the territory of Sapri and the Gulf of Policastro (Late-Eneolithic-Early Bronze Age/XNUMXrd-XNUMXnd millennium BC-XNUMXth century AD), Edizioni Il Saggio, Eboli (SA), 2019
The natural beauty of Torraca
Another reason to visit the megalithic walls of Torraca is the natural landscape found all around them. In fact, the site is immersed in a natural landscape of great beauty, which represents one of the main treasures of Cilento. The surrounding landscape is characterized by hills covered with woods, rivers and streams, which create a natural environment of great charm. The hills surrounding the megalithic site of Torraca are covered with dense vegetation, mainly composed of oaks, holm oaks and chestnut trees. Walks through these woods are a unique experience, which allows you to come into contact with the and gentle cosmetics and to admire the beauty of the centuries-old trees that populate the area. The rivers and streams that crisscross the landscape surrounding the megalithic site of Torraca are another of the area's main attractions. The Bussento river, for example, flows near the megalithic site and represents an ideal place for kayaking or for a refreshing swim on hot summer days. Even the streams and streams that are nearby offer the possibility of taking pleasant walks immersed in nature. The landscape surrounding the megalithic site of Torraca is also rich in fauna wild. Among the animal species present in the area you can encounter the wolf, the fox, the wild boar, the roe deer and the mouflon. Birdwatching enthusiasts will be able to observe numerous birds, such as the eagle owl, the golden eagle, the kestrel and the peregrine falcon.
In conclusion, if you are a history and nature enthusiast, don't miss the opportunity to visit the megalithic site of Torraca and discover more about the culture and traditions of the ancient peoples who inhabited these lands. In any case, this place will definitely leave you speechless and will be an unforgettable experience.
The Palamolla Castle
We visited the Palamolla Castle on the occasion of one show very interesting about the presence of the Templars and the torture. The event of 10 August 2017 was strongly desired by the members of the commandery of Torraca present inside the Castle (Mayor Domenico Bianco, the head of the technical office of the municipality Dr. Vincenzo Bruzzese, Bro. Luciano Allegri, Bro. Carlo Toto (Symbolist and Templar researcher), the International Prior Br. Massimo Maria Civale, the Master of the Order of the Pelican Br. Nino Aloi and many others. The detailed program will include a meeting - Convention on the Templar Brotherhood and a Dressing Ceremony following the traces of the ancient regulation of the Order, dating back to the XNUMXth century. The costumes, the sword and the parchments; Furthermore *The Concert of the Stars by Soprano Sofia Trapani accompanied by Maestro Pietro Sellitto; the purpose of the event in addition to the historical promotion and " didactics" of the Exhibition, the Templar dignitaries will be ready to answer questions and curiosities, but also to dispel the clichés that lie behind the figures of the warrior monks. The baronial castle stands on a rocky spur around which the village develops concentrically, according to the typical scheme of medieval urban planning. Owned by various dynasties: Gambacorta, Palamolla, Brandi until it is now municipal property, home to the University and an important conference centre.
