Sea caves and the Natural Arch
Palinuro, a hamlet of Centola on the coast of the Cilento, takes its name from the helmsman of Aeneas, Palinurus, who according to Virgil fell asleep at the helm, fell into the sea and died on this shore. The legend is linked to the headland of Capo Palinuro, a promontory of limestone cliffs rising from the sea, covered with Mediterranean scrub and dotted with caves.
The best way to discover it is a boat tour around the cape, which visits about thirty sea caves: the Grotta Azzurra, with blue reflections like Capri's, the Grotta d'Argento, with silver reflections, the Grotta dei Monaci and the Grotta del Sangue, named after the red algae on its walls. North of the village, the Arco Naturale is a great rock arch at the mouth of the Mingardo river, by a long sandy beach. Also worth seeing is the Spiaggia del Buon Dormire, a little cove reachable only by sea. Palinuro is one of the liveliest resorts in the Cilento in summer.
Tip: boat tours leave from the port in the morning; in August the resort is very crowded, while June and September are perfect.
Where it is
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