A town inside a quarry rich in history, traditions and folklore. Cava de 'Tirreni is an Italian town in the province of Salerno. A place full of charm that is worth visiting. In this town Bellin fact, it is possible to do itineraries to discover its ancient roots, but also naturalistic itineraries in the green of the valley. It was the destination of scholars and travelers of the late nineteenth century who made it famous in their stories. So we offer you some curiosities about this place, which you can go and visit if you are within walking distance of the Coast Amalfi.
Cava de 'Tirreni and its foundation
It is said that the ancient quarry was inhabited by nomadic Etruscan tribe of the Tyrrhenians. To testify it are the archaeological finds that are kept in the Museum of the Benedictine Abbey and in the Civic Antiquarium. And then during the Roman age, as evidenced by the remains dating back to that period found, it was the place chosen for the holiday of the Roman nobility. Then inhabited by the Lombards, as evidenced by the ancient towers built for the game of doves and for many toponyms, it had its greatest splendor during the medieval period. Around 1011 the Benedictine Abbey of the Santissima was founded, while around the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the Borgo Scacciaventi, with its arcades and historic arcaded buildings. the toponym of Cava is due to Pope Boniface IX who signed his own bull at the end of the fourteenth century, elevating “le terre de la Cava” to the dignity of a city. After the unification of Italy a referendum changed the name to Cava de 'Tirreni.
The interest of travelers on the Grand Tour for the city
Like so many city Cava de 'Tirreni was also a travel destination in Southern Italy. Especially of great artists who chose it as the ideal place. This is evidenced by many canvases by Neapolitan painters of the nineteenth century who appreciated the landscape, the panoramas rich in greenery and marine backgrounds. Among them Gigante, Morelli, Palizzi, Van Pitloo, Poussin. Favorite destination too for Grand Tour travelers. To visit it during the nineteenth century, among others, Goethe and Kniep, Bourgeois, Michallon, Lady Blessington, Muller, Walter Scott.
What to see: Cava de 'Tirreni between art and monuments
In the historic center of Cava de 'Tirreni stands the Cathedral and the Castle of San Auditore. And then Borgo Scacciaventi with its buildings in Baroque style and characteristic for its arcades of the '400 and the Abbey of the Holy Trinity. One of the most important ancient Benedictine monasteries of Europe of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, inside there is an archival and library nucleus, and there are preserved paintings, frescoes, mosaics, sarcophagi and sculptures.
Il Sanctuary of San Francesco and Sant'Antonio has very ancient origins. Destroyed by the 1980 earthquake and then rebuilt. In it, especially in the convent, during the Christmas period you can admire a nativity scene made up of historical statuettes, some very old. Then Monte Castello which can be reached on foot and is the hill overlooking the whole city. Finally the Sanctuary of the Avvocatella, dedicated to the Madonna dell'Avvocata between Cava and Dragonea of Vietri sul Mare. It is partly excavated in the rock.
