MARINA DI CASAL VELINO

The Hotel Il Tempio lies approximately 800 m from Casal Velino Marina, one of the districts of Casal Velino.

Casal Velino, the main village, is situated on a hill in 150 m altitude, off the beaten track. The historical village with its little alleys has its origins 2500 years ago in three migration periods.

Originally the Greeks were inhabitants of the historical Velia. Because of a malaria epidemic in the former marshes, the population moved towards the hills and founded Novi Velia. After centuries of alluviums and consequent draughts the land was again habitable and open to commerce. So the population moved downwards and founded Casal Velino.

La Marina was the former landing stage for fishing boats from Casal Velino. It lies under a 12th century Saracen tower on the north side of the gulf of Velia. Casal Velino Marina was born around this little haven in the 19th century because of the need to create summer residences near the 7km long beach for the wealthy middle class. These summer residences needed an infrastructure as prerequisite for social life. That's why, in the thirties of the 20th century the piazza (main square), the most important meeting point for social live, and the lungomare (front sea promenade) with bars and shops developped. These were important premises for tourism to develop, which was at the beginning a predominantly Italian tourism.

Today, each Friday on the piazza takes place the weekly market. Visiting the haven you will see fishermen in their traditional wooden boats while repairing their nets and you will breathe the typical Mediterranean atmosphere.

The chapel of St. Matthew is of particular cultural and religious interest. His mortal remains initially lay here, before being transferred to the dome of Salerno in 954. The Vatican considers the chapel a pilgrimage site.