Description of the attraction
Agropoli is a city in the province of Salerno in the Italian region of Campania, located on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, on the so-called Cilentan Riviera. The cape, on which the city is spread, was inhabited by people back in the Neolithic times, but a permanent population engaged in fishing and hunting appeared here only in the Bronze and Iron Ages. To the east of the cape, at the mouth of the Testene River, there is a bay protected from all sides, known in ancient times as Foche and now almost completely silted up. Before and after the founding of neighboring Poseidonia, the Greeks used this bay for trade with the local population. They gave the cape the Greek name - Petra (rocky hill) and built on it the temple of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
During the Roman era, the coastal city of Erkula was founded to the east of the promontory, which rapidly developed and flourished until the 5th century AD, when more frequent invasions of Vandals made life in the city unbearable. The population was forced to leave Erkulu and take refuge in a more protected place. Then, in the 6th century, during the Greco-Gothic wars, the Byzantines established a fortified settlement on the shores of a well-defended bay south of Salerno and named it Acropolis. In the same century, a bishop who had fled from Paestum found refuge in Acropolis, and the city turned not only into a diocese, but also into the main Byzantine center on the Tyrrhenian coast. Until 882, Agropoli remained in the hands of the Byzantines, and then fell under the blows of the Saracens, who turned the city into their fortress. From here, warlike pirates set out on their bloody campaigns and ravaged the surrounding territories. Only in 915 was Agropoli released and returned to the jurisdiction of the bishop for several centuries. In the 16-17th centuries, the city was attacked by Turkish pirates several times, but managed to withstand and in the 19th century began to expand beyond the medieval city walls.
The old part of the city, including the 7th century defensive walls, remained intact and today are popular tourist attractions. Other monuments of history and culture include the Byzantine tombs, the ruins of the medieval monastery of San Francesco, the churches of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, San Marco and San Francesco and the Angevin-Aragonese castle, built on the site of the 6th century Byzantine fortifications. The municipal antique shop has an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts.
In addition, Agropoli is an important seaside resort - its best beaches are located on the territory of the Trentova Bay and stretch for 3 km. To the east of the bay, on a small promontory, rises the 16th century coastal tower of San Francesco. There is another beach to the north of this promontory, leading to the archaeological site of Paestum. Over the years, the beaches of Agropoli have received the prestigious Blue Flag for their cleanliness and well-developed infrastructure.
Reviews
| All reviews 5 Elena 2014-30-07 4:24:35 PM
Review 3 weeks in Agropoli last summer will be remembered all my life. Real Italy !!! The beaches are wonderful, cozy, soulful.
0 Passerby 2013-07-04 19:11:46
Simple Italy During a week in Agropoli, I saw only 10 foreigners. Mostly Neapolitans rest in this city. The city is conveniently located for boat trips to nearby attractions. Every day there are boat trips heading north to the Amalfi Coast, Cap …
