New Discoveries of Places and Flavors

A hike through nature and flavors in the Vallo di Diano

New Discoveries of Places and Flavors is the spring event that the Pro Loco of Sant'Arsenio dedicates to the mountain overlooking its village, in the heart of the Vallo di Diano, in the province of Salerno, Campania. This is not a village fair or a market; it is a day of walking that combines gentle hiking with the rediscovery of a wild forest product and the rural architecture that dots the slopes above the town.

The meeting point is Piazza Domenico Pica, the heart of Sant'Arsenio, from where the group sets off early in the morning to climb the mountain trails. The route is designed to be suitable for everyone: no special athletic skills are required, just proper shoes and a desire to walk in good company.

Wild garlic, the star of the walk

The true theme of the excursion is wild garlic (Allium ursinum), a wild plant typical of damp forests that carpets the undergrowth in spring with its broad leaves and white umbrella-shaped flowers. During the climb, participants learn to identify it, observe its natural habitat, and discover its properties, which have been appreciated since the time of the Salerno Medical School for their purifying qualities.

Wild garlic grows in the areas of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, and particularly on the mountains connecting Sant'Arsenio to the neighboring towns of Polla, San Pietro al Tanagro, San Rufo, and Corleto Monforte. Over the years, its promotion has become a small badge of identity for the territory.

The caciare, stone architecture of the shepherds

Along the route, you will encounter the caciare, also known as cubburi: circular dry-stone structures with a false-dome roof, which shepherds once used as shelters and as places for processing and storing cheese. They are fragile remnants of a pastoral economy that has almost disappeared today and represent one of the most evocative attractions of the excursion.

Lunch on the mountain

The walk concludes with the most convivial moment of the day: a mountain lunch, held outdoors, featuring a tasting of traditional dishes prepared with wild garlic and local products. This is where the nature hike truly becomes a food and wine experience, and where the event's title finds its fullest meaning: new places to explore and new flavors to taste.

An event by the Pro Loco Sant'Arsenio

The initiative is promoted by the Pro Loco Sant'Arsenio, a non-profit volunteer association that works to promote tourism, traditions, and local gastronomy. Over the years, the event has grown to become one of the most anticipated spring appointments in the Municipality of Sant'Arsenio, with collaborations that in some editions have also involved neighboring towns and local hospitality schools.

Sant'Arsenio and the Vallo di Diano

Sant'Arsenio is a village of a few thousand inhabitants overlooking the Vallo di Diano plain, the wide valley in Salerno enclosed between the Maddalena mountains and the Alburni range. It is an area where the mountain has never been just a landscape, but a workspace: pastures, beech and chestnut forests, and paths trodden for centuries by shepherds and farmers. Walking here in spring means traversing this history with your own steps.

Tips for participants

• Wear hiking shoes or footwear with soles suitable for mountain trails.
• Bring water, a windbreaker, and, if possible, a walking stick.
• Book in advance: spots for the mountain lunch are limited.
• The excursion takes place in a group with guides: it is important to respect the departure times.
• Do not pick wild garlic without guidance: harvesting must be done carefully and with respect for the environment.