Places
Hike·Moderate·Scenic·Hidden gem
Monte Gelbison (Sacro Monte di Novi Velia)
Campania
Monte Gelbison — "mountain of the idol" — is the sacred peak of the Cilento. Old mule paths from Novi Velia or Vallo della Lucania wind up through chestnut and then vast silver-trunked beech to the medieval Santuario della Madonna di Novi on the very top, with the whole national park, the Calore valley and the Tyrrhenian laid out below.
Duration
5–6 hours
Distance
13 km
Elevation
+900 m
Best season
May – October
Parking · Free
Free parking above Novi Velia at the start of the sanctuary mule track.
Water
Spring below the summit; the ridge is dry.
Highlights
- Medieval summit sanctuary at 1,700 m
- Cathedral-like Cilento beech forest
- View over the whole national park to the sea
With your dog
Off-leash tolerated on the ridge above the tree line; leashed near the sanctuary.
