Pertosa: Discover Murals, Caves and Museums

Art and Townscape in Pertosa

The Pertosa murals give you direct access to freely accessible outdoor art in the historic center. The works can be seen at several locations throughout the center, allowing you to incorporate them into different impressions of the town. When you explore Pertosa on foot, you will encounter the murals not as a separate collection, but at various points within the historic center.

Pertosa is also home to the Museo Speleo Archeologico “Sparch” on Piazza De Marco. Its specific location makes the square an important point of reference for your visit to the museum. Another cultural highlight can be found in the Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta: on every Lunedì in Albis, Easter Monday, a mass is celebrated in the Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo.

The Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta

The Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta are located in the Monti Alburni massif. Particularly unusual is the opportunity to travel along the underground Negro River: these are the only caves in Italy where such a journey is possible. This makes a visit one of those experiences in which the landscape is perceived not only through paths and spaces, but also through the river.

A flat-bottomed boat is used for the journey along the Negro. The guides slowly pull it through the cave by hand. Reservations are mandatory for visiting the Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta. You should take this requirement into account when planning the timing of your stay if the underground river journey is among your plans.

The Grande Sala in the Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta is 24 meters high. The areas open to tourists have signposted and comfortable paths. This gives you clear orientation within the caves during your visit, while the Grande Sala forms a particularly striking space with its height.

The Museo del Suolo

The Museo del Suolo has 1,500 m² of covered exhibition space. There are also paths connected to the museum’s outdoor area. For your visit, it is important to note that tours are guided and require a reservation. The museum thus combines covered exhibition spaces with an outdoor area connected by its own paths.

Local Flavors

The Sagra del Carciofo Bianco di Pertosa is dedicated to the local White Artichoke. This artichoke is a Slow Food Presidium and is considered a symbol of biodiversity. The festival thus focuses on a specific regional product and complements the cultural and landscape themes you can experience in Pertosa and at the Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta.

More destinations for planning your trip to Italy: Prignano Cilento, Sassano, Arienzo, Marina Di Ascea, Cicerale, Salitto-valle, Macchia and Capizzo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Salerno.