The abandoned village of San Giovanni at Punta Tresino in Castellabate
Want to see a beautiful 1,000-year-old abandoned village with a fantastic view very close to the Bellezza in Cilento guest houses?
A short distance from the Bellezza in Cilento facilities there is the village of San Giovanni a Punta Tresino, which, in 977 was part of the possessions of the abbey of Cava and the bishops of Capaccio, was one of the most developed centers in the area, established in times before the founding of the village of Castellabate. In the 12th century, most of the inhabitants of Tresino decided to move to the safer Sant’Angelo hill (today’s Castellabate), where the Castle of the Abbot was erected, founded by Costabile Gentilcore, a native of Tresino itself, to avoid the increasingly frequent raids of the Saracens who had chosen as their stronghold the neighboring Agropoli.
The village of Tresino suffered very serious damage during the period of the War of the Vespers, in the 13th century. The village was rebuilt and was inhabited until the mid-20th century by breeders and farmers who took advantage of the favorable climate and the presence of aquifers in the area. The area was gradually abandoned in favor of the nearby towns of Castellabate and Agropoli, which underwent greater urban development.
If you choose to book in one villas, cottages or apartments of Bellezza in Cilento, you can visit this beautiful village, and in particular:
- The Church of San Giovanni: built by Ligorio of Atrani in 957 in Tresino. The Christian building attached to the remains of the monastery, in its last eighteenth-century appearance, has been deconsecrated.
- The Angevin Tower of Tresino (ruins): built in 1277 near Punta Tresino.
- The Aragonese Tower of the Zappini (ruins): located near punta Pagliarola.
- The Belvedere Sant’Angelo: a panoramic area where it is possible to observe the landscapes of the Gulf of Castellabate, the town of Agropoli and the Amalfi coast.
- The Spring of San Giovanni: the spring that flows from the mountain into an ornate watering hole for animals.
- The Tresino Sea is an integral part of the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area and is the area of highest biological protection, the one with the most delimitations (zone A). There are numerous natural coves in the Tresino area, the most renowned being that of “Saùco.” Several sea caves, such as those of Punta Pagliarola, are located in its depths, destinations for diving excursions.
Several Roman amphorae and anchors have been found in the waters and are preserved in the Agropoli Municipal Museum. There were probably Roman villas on the heights with boat landings.
