Laurino
Discovering Laurino, a Cilento village
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about a beautiful municipality in the province of Salerno, Laurino. This characteristic Cilento village stands on a hill at 531 meters above sea level, dominating the entire surrounding landscape. At the foot of the hill flows the Calore Lucano river, which, in addition to being one of the most important rivers in Campania, is also home to a very particular fauna, such as the otter.
An ancient and glorious history
The first historical document mentioning the castle of Laurino dates back to 932 AD. In the twelfth century, the population of the village exceeded 3,500 inhabitants, distributed in the capital and the surrounding villages. However, due to emigration, today we count fewer than 1,900 inhabitants. The name Laurino derives from the "laura" created with the settlement of numerous Greek monks of Basilian observance, who lived as hermits in the numerous caves of the area.
Laurino is a village rich in history and evidence of its passage through the centuries. There are two splendid medieval donkey-back bridges, the ruins of the Lombard castle, the frescoes, and the wonderful woodcarvings of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Monuments and places of interest
If you decide to visit Laurino, you cannot miss the numerous monuments such as the church of Saint Anthony of Padua and the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, which offer a unique experience for enthusiasts of religious art. In addition, the church of Santa Elena Consalvo and the church of the Annunciation offer a glimpse into the religious life and culture of the area. In the historic center, there are also numerous noble palaces with their splendid portals in local stone and numerous noble chapels, including the beautiful chapel of San Nicola.
One of the most suggestive places is the Seggio, a hall open to the square in front of the palace, where the jurisdiction over the state of Laurino was exercised until 1806. If you are passionate about history, you cannot miss the Ducal Palace of Spinelli and the remains of the Lombard castle.
Society and demographic evolution
The municipality of Laurino has about 1302 inhabitants and belongs to seismic zone 2, the one with medium seismicity. The history of Laurino and that of its people are closely linked to agriculture, breeding, and pastoralism, which still represent the main economic activities of the village today. The municipality has always been characterized by strong emigration, which has led to a reduction in population compared to the past.
Infrastructure and transport
Laurino does not have direct access to major road arteries but relies on an internal network of connections that includes the Regional Road 488 of Roccadaspide and the Provincial Road 11/c that connects Laurino to the Ponte Rotto junction.
Conclusions
Laurino is a municipality that offers many opportunities for those who want to discover new places, visit historical monuments, admire the natural beauties, or appreciate the culinary culture of Campania. I hope that this summary has made you better acquainted with this beautiful Cilento village and that it has intrigued you enough to make you want to visit it. Hello friends and have a good trip!
