fiogf49gjkf0d CERTOSA OF S. LORENZO
THE *PRIORY* CERTOSA OF S. LORENZO, AT PADULA, IN
THE PROVINCE OF SALERNO, WAS FOUNDED IN 1306 BY
TOMMASO SANSEVERINO, COUNT OF MARSICO.
THE HUGE BUILDING, THE PLAN OF WHICH REPRODUCES
THE GRIDIRON ON WHICH ST. LAWRENCE WAS MARTYRED
*THE TWO ARMS THAT FLANK THE HALL REPRESENT THE
HANDLES, THE FRIARS QUARTERS AROUND THE GREAT
CLOISTER CORRESPOND TO THE GRIDIRON SHACKLES AND
THE ELLIPTICAL STAIRCASE WITH TWO FLIGHTS
INSERTED IN AN OCTAGONAL TOWER, IN THE
NORTH-WESTERN AREA OF THE COMPLEX, PERHAPS
REPRESENTS THE CUP FOR THE GREASE*, HAS A
MAINLY BAROQUE APPEARANCE, THE RESULT OF
EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY REBUILDING.
THE COMPLEX, ONE OF THE MOST GRANDIOSE IN
SOUTHERN ITALY BOTH FOR ITS SIZE *51,500 SQ. M.*
AND FOR THE EXTREMELY RICH ARTISTIC PATRIMONY IT
CONTAINS, IS BASICALLY DIVIDED INTO TWO AREAS
THE DOMUS INFERIOR, WITH ITS SPACE USED FOR THE
SERVANTS AND SUSTENANCE ACTIVITIES, AND THE
DOMUS ALTA, CALLED THE MOUNTAIN, WHERE THE
FRIARS LIVED.
BETWEEN THE TWO AREAS THERE IS AN INTERMEDIATE
QUARTER WITH THE STATE ROOMS, LIKE THE GUESTS
HOSTEL, THOSE USED FOR ADMINISTRATION *THE
PROSECUTORS CLOISTER* AND THOSE SET ASIDE FOR
COMMUNITY LIFE, THE REFECTORY, THE KITCHENS AND
THE CHURCH, INSIDE WHICH THE ALTARS DECORATED
WITH INLAID MOTHER-OF-PEARL ARE NOTEWORTHY, THE
EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY MAJOLICA FLOOR, AND THE
SIXTEENTH-CENTURY CARVED CHOIR. THE PARK IS ALSO
EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL AND FASCINATING, WHERE
VISITORS CAN STROLL RIGHT AROUND THE PRIORY. THE
PRIORY CAN BE VISITED FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH, FROM
09 00 TO 16 30, AND FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER, FROM
09 00 TO 18 30. THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF
WESTERN LUCANIA IS HOUSED IN THE COMPLEX
PERTOSA CAVERN
THE PERTOSA CAVERN IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE
*2560 M. OF EXPLORED TUNNELS* AND FAMOUS IN ITALY
AND IS ONE OF THE GREATEST NATURALISTIC
ATTRACTIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF SALERNO.
LOCATED IN IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO THE VILLAGE OF
THE SAME NAME, THE GROTTO IS ALSO CALLED THE
CAVERN OF THE ANGELO OR OF S. MICHELE, BECAUSE IT
WAS CONSECRATED TO THIS SAINT.
INHABITED SINCE THE NEOLITHIC AGE - IN 1897 THE
REMAINS OF TWO LAKE DWELLINGS WERE FOUND THERE -
AND IN THE ENEOLITHIC, IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY IT
WAS USED AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP. THE GORGE, THAT
OPENS OUT TO ABOUT 70 M. HIGH, AT THE FOOT OF
MOUNT INTAGLIATA, IS IN FACT AN ANCIENT
SUBTERRANEAN RIVER COURSE AND IS STILL PARTLY
FILLED WITH WATER TODAY.
THE FIRST CAVERN CAN BE REACHED ON BOARD A RAFT,
HERE THE ATMOSPHERE IS RENDERED FASCINATING BY A
SPECTACULAR WATERFALL THAT ORIGINATES ABOUT 300
M. UPHILL. THE GROTTO THEN DIVIDES INTO THREE
BRANCHES THE BRANCH OF THE SPRING, SO-CALLED
BECAUSE OF THE WATER THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED UP TO
THE BRANCH OF PARADISE, THE CENTRAL BRANCH AND
THE MAIN BRANCH, WITH VARIOUS RAMIFICATIONS, SUCH
AS THE BRANCHES OF THE BATS AND THE MARVELS, THE
LATER WITH A WEALTH OF SLENDER AND DELICATE
CONCRETIONS.
AMONG THE CAVES OF THE GREATEST BEAUTY AND
FASCINATION ARE THE HALL OF THE MADONNA, WHERE
MANY STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES, THAT LOOK LIKE
SO MANY CANDLES, SURROUND THE STATUE OF A
MADONNA, THE HALL OF THE THRONE, TAKING ITS NAME
FROM A FORMATION THAT SUGGESTS A ROYAL THRONE,
AND THE GREAT HALL, A VAST CHAMBER DECORATED WITH
STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES.
THE GROTTO FINISHES WITH THE HALL OF SPONGES OR
OF THE VIRGIN, SO-CALLED BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL
LIMPIDITY OF ITS LIMESTONE FORMATIONS.
THE PERTOSA CAVERN, A MARVELLOUS NATURAL WORK OF
SCULPTURE, THAT CHARMS AND MOVES SCHOLARS AND
TOURISTS, CAN BE VISITED EVERY DAY FROM 09 00 TO
19 00.
CILENTO
TO THE SOUTH OF SALERNO, BETWEEN THE RIVERS
ALENTO AND SELE, LIES THE MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF
THE CILENTO, OVER THE CENTURIES CROSSROADS OF
VARIOUS PEOPLES, AMONG THEM THE GREEKS,
LUCANIANS, ROMANS, AND GOTHS.
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