Giffoni Valle Piana

Perched amid the gentle undulations of the Picentini Mountains and kissed by the light of the Gulf of Salerno, Giffoni Valle Piana is a village that guards a millennia-old past and a vibrant present, becoming a symbol of cultural and identity regeneration. Its history is rooted in Roman times, when the Piceni, defeated and deported in 268 B.C., founded the city of Picentia. After the city's destruction by the Romans, the survivors dispersed to the surrounding hills, giving rise to small villages, including the embryo of today's Giffoni Valle Piana.

During the Middle Ages, the village experienced its zenith as the State of Giffoni, at the center of military strategies and trade routes between Salerno and Sannio. Evidence of this is the stronghold of Terravecchia, with its Longobard castle that dominated the transit routes, and the striking Piazza Mercato, the beating heart of the medieval village. Here are the baronial palace and a monumental fountain designed by Vanvitelli, examples of fine civic architecture.

An extraordinary archaeological and spiritual heritage

The Roman past resurfaces in the Temple of Hercules, in the Campo district, dating back to the first century AD and built on a necropolis, while the Church of Santa Maria a Vico, built on an ancient pagan temple, is a rare example of central-plan architecture, similar to the Pantheon. In the center of the capital, the Church of SS. Annunziata stands out, preserving the precious relic of the Holy Thorn, from the crown of Christ, donated by the Kings of France to Cardinal Leonardo De' Rossi of Giffoni.

Another masterpiece is the Monumental Complex of St. Francis, built in the 14th century at the foot of Terravecchia Hill, which preserves Giottesque-style frescoes. Here the spiritual history of the village is intertwined with culture, in a setting that still hosts multipurpose facilities, events and cultural activities.

The Citadel of Cinema and the Giffoni Experience.

Making Giffoni's name famous in the world is the Giffoni Film Festival, renamed "Giffoni Experience," the most important children's film event internationally. Every year, the Citadel of Cinema welcomes thousands of young jurors from every corner of the world, enlivening the Multimedia Valley, the beating heart of the borough's cultural innovation.

Nature, hiking and traditions

Giffoni Valle Piana is also a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Mount Accellica, the Scalandrone Cave and the Ittiolo Mine offer striking scenery amid beech forests, broadleaf trees and Mediterranean scrub. The springs of the Picentino River allowed the development of a hydroelectric power plant back in the 20th century, making the village a forerunner in energy sustainability.

Prominent among the historic hamlets are Catelde, with the Church of St. Martin mentioned as early as 1010, and Carbonara, home to an ancient convent of the Servants of Mary, active since the year 1000. In every corner you can breathe a deep connection between territory, spirituality and memory.

Taste and traditions: the home of the PGI Hazelnut.

The gastronomic symbol of the village is the famous "Tonda di Giffoni," an IGP-labeled hazelnut, appreciated internationally for its perfect shape, aromatic taste and culinary versatility. A product of excellence, it is the protagonist of local cuisine, both in typical desserts such as Christmas calzoncelli and in innovative savory dishes. Its harvest, starting in mid-August, is an agricultural ritual that involves entire families and transmits ancient knowledge.

Giffoni is also a land of PDO olive oil from the Colline Salernitane, annurche apples and chestnuts, ingredients at the base of a simple, genuine cuisine that is deeply linked to the cycle of the seasons.

A village to live in all year round

Giffoni Valle Piana is a place where the past and the present coexist harmoniously. It is ideal for those seeking an authentic destination, rich in cultural stimuli and immersed in generous nature. Whether you come to follow the film festival, to discover the flavors of a sincere cuisine or to get lost in the alleys of Terravecchia under a starry sky, this village will always surprise with its deep and welcoming soul.