From Middle Ages to Risorgimento

Meeting point:  iMoresani
Lenght of ride:  30 km, 5-6 hours
Riding ability:  medium
Horse knowledge required:  pace, trot and gallop
Departure altitude:  200 m above sea-level

We start out along the road that skirts the hill to the right of the agriturismo and ride 3 km to the small Church of San Giovanni (Saint John). The Church, which dates back to the XIV century, is thought to have been built by Basilian monks.

Then on towards Celso (10 km from the departure point) which is completely immersed in the countryside, along tracks which allow you to fully admire the beauties of the Mediterranean scrubland (broom, bramble, heather, holm-oak, oak and sorb). We enter Celso through the arch of Mazziotti’s Palace (now a national monument) which belonged to a Baron and very illustrious scholar. Celso, an ancient medieval village dating back to 1050, was the scene of the events of the Risorgimento in Cilento which took place in 1828 and 1848.

We leave the village (418 m above sea-level) and ride on towards Pollica past a wood of young chestnut trees and then again through the Mediterranean scrubland that becomes the natural frame to the blue sea and spectacular coastline. We enter Pollica through a Franciscan Monastery founded in 1611 by Prince Capano. Along the streets of the town we can admire the typical stone portals and the 17th Century Palace Tower which dominates the village. We stop here for a picnic lunch.

After lunch, we leave Pollica and continue our journey along narrow paths, past gorges and streams until we reach Pioppi and the sea. We return to the farm in the evening.