Castellabate holidays

Holidays to Castellabate are set in a UNESCO-approved national park, where a Medieval village overlooks the sea.

Step back in time

Castellabate is a pretty town in Salerno, in the Campania region of south-west Italy. It's part of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, which has the UNESCO World Heritage stamp of approval thanks to its natural beauty and historical sites. Speaking of history, this place has a Medieval village that sits on a hilltop – AKA Borgo Medievale di Castellabate – where you can get lost in a maze of cobblestone alleyways and charming squares. There’s a castle that dates back to the 12th century in the mix, too, so if ancient architecture’s your thing, this place ticks a lot of boxes. Plus, the sweeping views over the Tyrrhenian Sea are the cherry on the cake.

Dust off your hiking boots

Outdoorsy types have struck gold on holidays to Castellabate – it's around 15 minutes’ drive from Punta Licosa, a nature-lover's playground filled with clear waters, rocky coves and a tangle of hiking trails. You can ramble along coastal paths and meander through pine forests, and there are a few different routes to take depending on how long you'd like to walk. When it comes to fuelling up, you can pack a picnic and tuck in with views of the sea, or stop off in the fishing village of San Marco. There’s a sprinkling of restaurants here, rustling up Italian favourites and fresh seafood dishes – what better reward after a few hours on your feet?

Sea, sand and spaghetti

This place has more Blue Flag beaches than you can shake a stick at, and some of them look like they’ve brought a vintage postcard to life – think nostalgic colour-block parasols and balconies topped with striped canopies that overlook the waves. Most of them are a hop, a skip and a jump away from local restaurants and ice-cream parlours, too. Spiaggia del Pozzillo’s a popular spot for families, with shallow waters and soft sand you can build castles with. And if you fancy getting out on the waves, watersports like kayaking, paddle-boarding and snorkelling are all on the cards here, too.