Gentle Flowers Trekking and Cilento Flavours
Guided hike and cavatelli show cooking in San Mauro Cilento
About Gentle Flowers Trekking
A trek that ends at the table
The Gentle Flowers Trekking and Cilento Flavours is a free experiential workshop launched in 2026 in San Mauro Cilento, a small village of just over eight hundred residents in the province of Salerno, Campania. The concept is simple yet effective: uniting the two souls of the Cilento region—nature trails and home-style cooking. Held over four Sundays between May and June, the format is consistent: start early in the morning from the village and return for a meal, concluding the day with fresh, handmade pasta.
The Sentiero dei Fiori Gentili
The heart of the experience is the Sentiero dei Fiori Gentili (Gentle Flowers Trail), a five-hour route led by an AIGAE environmental hiking guide, who shares insights into the botanical and scenic wonders of this corner of ancient Cilento. The trail winds through authentic landscapes, passing small hamlets, Mediterranean scrub, and terraced hillsides with sweeping sea views.
- Meeting point at 8:30 AM in Piazza Serra, in the Casalsoprano district, the town's main hub, at an altitude of 561 metres.
- Approximately 9 kilometres in length, heading towards Monte della Stella, the iconic mountain of Cilento reaching nearly 1,131 metres.
- Hilly paths, panoramic viewpoints, and a focus on local biodiversity and history.
- Activity designed for adults: comfortable clothing and hiking shoes are recommended.
Cavatelli show cooking
At the end of the hike, participants gather at Alfea restaurant for a show cooking session dedicated to cavatelli cilentani, the fresh, handmade pasta that defines this part of Campania. This is more than a demonstration: guests are invited to get hands-on and learn to shape the pasta before the final tasting that concludes the day. It is the perfect embodiment of the event's title: the gentle flowers of the trail and the traditional flavours are part of the same narrative.
Velinia Hub, a community project
The initiative is part of the Velinia Hub project, promoted by the Union of Velini Municipalities—which includes Casal Velino, Pollica, and San Mauro Cilento—in partnership with the Projenia cooperative. Velinia Hub offers workshops throughout the year, ranging from screen printing and beekeeping to yoga, organic gardening, and summer camps for children. The trekking event has quickly become its most popular activity: the first session was completely sold out, proving how much the public appreciates this blend of natural heritage, local culture, and gastronomy.
San Mauro Cilento, within the National Park
The Municipality of San Mauro Cilento lies entirely within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, stretching from the 32-metre elevation of the Mezzatorre marina to the 1,131-metre peak of Monte della Stella. It is a vertical landscape of hilly districts like Casalsoprano and Casalsottano, olive groves, chestnut forests, and glimpses of the Tyrrhenian Sea—the ideal setting for an excursion that is as much cultural and gastronomic as it is athletic. Walking here means traversing one of the best-preserved rural landscapes in Campania.
How to participate
Participation is completely free, but registration is mandatory. Spots are limited for safety and quality reasons, and a minimum of eight participants is required to run each session. Bookings can be made via the online form on the Velinia Hub website; for information, contact the Alfea restaurant or email the Union of Velini Municipalities.
Gentle Flowers Trekking — edition 2026
Four Sundays between nature and flavours
The Gentle Flowers Trekking and Cilento Flavours debuted in 2026 with four Sunday outings in San Mauro Cilento, in the province of Salerno. The format remained identical for all dates: meeting at 8:30 AM in Piazza Serra, in Casalsoprano, a five-hour hike along the Sentiero dei Fiori Gentili with an AIGAE environmental hiking guide, followed by a cavatelli cilentani show cooking session at the Alfea restaurant with a tasting.
The first appointment, on Sunday, May 17, was completely sold out, prompting the organisers to immediately launch the second meeting on May 31. The two June dates completed the cycle: the June 14 session featured a nine-kilometre route towards Monte della Stella and was accompanied, at 10:00 AM, by a screen printing workshop led by Caterina Volpe at the Alfea restaurant.
The initiative, free of charge and requiring mandatory registration, was promoted by the Municipality of San Mauro Cilento in collaboration with the Union of Velini Municipalities and Velinia Hub, with the stated goal of enhancing the territory through the active involvement of citizens and visitors.
Programme Gentle Flowers Trekking 2026
The 2026 calendar
Four appointments, same daily programme. Meeting and departure at 8:30 AM in Piazza Serra, Casalsoprano district of San Mauro Cilento.
- Sunday, May 17, 2026 — first session, sold out.
- Sunday, May 31, 2026 — second meeting.
- Sunday, June 14, 2026 — hike of approx. 9 km towards Monte della Stella; at 10:00 AM, at Alfea restaurant, screen printing workshop with Caterina Volpe.
- Sunday, June 28, 2026 — final appointment.
Typical day
- 8:30 AM — meeting in Piazza Serra and departure of the hike.
- Approx. 5 hours of walking on the Sentiero dei Fiori Gentili with an AIGAE environmental hiking guide, through Mediterranean scrub, villages, and sea views.
- Upon return, cavatelli cilentani show cooking at Alfea restaurant, with participant involvement and final tasting.
Highlights Gentle Flowers Trekking 2026
- Five hours of hiking on the Sentiero dei Fiori Gentili with an AIGAE environmental guide.
- 9 km route towards Monte della Stella, in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park.
- Cavatelli cilentani show cooking at Alfea restaurant, with final tasting.
- Screen printing workshop with Caterina Volpe on June 14, at 10:00 AM.
- Completely free experience, promoted by Velinia Hub and the Union of Velini Municipalities.
- First session sold out: booking highly recommended.
Prices Gentle Flowers Trekking 2026
Practical information — Gentle Flowers Trekking
Where and when
Meeting point at 8:30 AM in Piazza Serra, Casalsoprano district, 84070 San Mauro Cilento (SA). Sessions are held on Sundays between May and June.
How to get there
- By car: From the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway, take the Battipaglia exit, then follow the SS18 towards Vallo della Lucania and local provincial roads to San Mauro Cilento. The Casalsoprano district is in the hills, at an altitude of about 560 metres.
- By train: The nearest stations on the Tyrrhenian line are Ascea and Vallo della Lucania-Castelnuovo; from there, you must continue by car.
Costs and booking
Free event. Registration is mandatory via the online form available at veliniahub.it. Spots are limited, and a minimum of eight participants is required to activate the hike. Information and bookings: Alfea restaurant, tel. +39 366 182 4745, or email [email protected].
Tips
- Activity suitable for adults: the hike lasts approximately five hours.
- Wear hiking shoes and comfortable clothing; bringing water and a hat is recommended.
- Arrive a few minutes before the departure time for registration.
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Where does it take place — Gentle Flowers Trekking
Piazza Serra (Casalsoprano)
Piazza Serra, frazione Casalsoprano, 84070 San Mauro Cilento