San Pietro Al Tanagro: Mill Park, Churches and Mountain Trails

Between the Mill Park and wooded mountain slopes

San Pietro Al Tanagro combines nature experiences, sacred architectural heritage and local traditions within a small area. The Parco dei Mulini extends across around ten hectares in a small valley between wooded mountain slopes, cut through by a stream. In winter, the Setone forms rocky waterfalls there. The park also contains the Percorso Vita, a trail equipped with exercise equipment and suitable for different age groups.

One of the two watermills in the Parco dei Mulini is located in Località Setone; it has been restored. Both mills probably date from the period between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. In Località Difesa, a nature trail also runs along the Setone stream, passing natural waterfalls and the remains of old mills. The Fontana di Canali dates from 1850 and has a basin and historic inscriptions.

Churches with a long local history

The original Chiesa Madre di San Pietro Apostolo already existed at the beginning of the 12th century; San Pietro developed around it. The larger building of the Chiesa Madre di San Pietro Apostolo was completely rebuilt between 1815 and 1824. At the entrance, a pair of medieval lions flanks the church. The lions come from the nearby town of San Marzano, which has disappeared.

The Cappella di San Giuseppe dates from 1726 and has a marble altar created in 1891. The Chiesa e Convento di Santa Maria del Piano comprises a 17th-century monastery and a church that already existed in the 15th century. Santa Maria del Piano is a monastery of the Franciscan Order; this is indicated by the Franciscan coat of arms carved into the vault of the entrance portal, depicting the crossed arms of Francis and Jesus. The Cappella di San Giovanni is the church of the old Borgo La Torre, built in the 18th century, and was referred to in a document from the mid-19th century as “San Giovanni nella Torre”.

Monte del Crocifisso and walking routes

The Santuario del SS Crocifisso was built in 1899 on Monte Ausiliatrice at an altitude of around 750 metres. Since then, the mountain has been known as Monte del Crocifisso. The summit of Monte del Crocifisso can only be reached on foot via a rough path through steep, precipitous mountain terrain.

Festivals and religious traditions

The Feast of San Giuseppe in San Pietro al Tanagro is marked by bonfires lit in the individual districts on the eve and a mass held on the morning of 19 March, where onion bulbs are sold. The Feast of the SS Crocifisso is associated with pilgrimages on the first Sunday in May and the third Sunday in September.

Other places

Pontecagnano, Laureana Cilento, Santa Lucia, Serra, Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, Casalsottano, Poderia, Ariano.

To the higher-level travel overview: Salerno.