Orria: a treasure of culture, nature and art to discover and love in the heart of Cilento

Like many small villages in Cilento, Orria has been inhabited for many centuries and traces of its past are still present, starting with its name which, according to tradition, derives from the Latin word horrei, granaries.

The Italo-Greek monks lived in Orria between the 9th and 10th centuries AD and they are responsible for the first nucleus of what has become one of the most important chapels in the village, that of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the statue of the Madonna del Latte is located. The chapel is in the main square, Piazza della Vittoria, together with the Palazzo del Duca, which over time has hosted politicians and great intellectuals such as Benedetto Croce.
The monks were also the builders of the fountains in use until a few decades ago, that of the Monks, that of Valevartieri and the old fountain located in Piano Vetrale. Even though there has been running water in the houses in Orria for several years, it is still possible to see old ladies drawing water as they used to do in the past.
Also worth seeing is the parish of San Felice, the patron saint of the village. The bell tower built on the ruins of an ancient Lombard tower is the oldest in Cilento. The church can be reached with a pleasant walk along Via Umberto I, one of the most beautiful and evocative streets in Orria. The pretty square in front is often the venue for events and patronal festivals.
Finally, on the highest part of the hill, there is the church of Santa Domenica Martire, to whom another patronal festival is dedicated, which is held on the 7th of July.

Arriving in Orria you will certainly want to enjoy the quiet of this place by walking along its silent streets and admiring the views from the lookouts. Take the time to get to know the authenticity of this small but close-knit and welcoming community, which will make you feel at home from the very first moment. Rediscover all the charm of a simple life, where time has another meaning and where you just need to sit down for a few minutes enjoying the warm sun of Cilento to find someone to chat with.

Resuming your journey, then, you will find ceramic tiles that make up the Itinerario della Voce dei Borghi (the Itinerary of the Voice of the Villages), a fascinating digital project created by children, which will allow you to listen to the most authentic voices and stories of Orria.

Also, if you luook up you will be able to admire the work of the master stonecutter who gave shape and identity to the houses and doors of Orria. Craftsmanship is one of the jewels in the crown of these places; in Orria you can try your hand at ceramics, you can find out more about the manufacturing of watches, or enjoy one of the most important collection of vintage cars in southern Italy. In the hamlet of Piano Vetrale, moreover, there is a fascinating Museum of ancient forging art, with dozens of ancient tools to discover.
It's worth remembering that Orria is located within one of the most beautiful national parks in Italy. Cilento is a happy land of rare beauty, so you can have fun exploring it on foot or by bike, reaching the nearby villages or just walking in the greenery. There are different levels of difficulty, from the quarter of Casino Lebano you can skirt the Fiumara walking along the wild landscape, but there are many other activities to do.
To recover your energy after a nice walk, in Orria there are small food and wine shops where you can taste the most genuine flavors of the local tradition.

Fly by zip line❯

A visit to Orria absolutely cannot fail to include a stop in the nearby hamlet of Piano Vetrale, the town of murales.

In 1662 this tiny town was the birthplace of an important painter, Paolo De Matteis, who after about four centuries inspired the transformation of the village. The idea of ​​making Piano Vetrale a real open-air museum developed thanx to the young founders of a club dedicated to the painter, at the end of the 70s, and ended up involving the entire community.

From then until today the facades of the buildings have been filled with colors thanks to an infinite series of magnificent murales created by Italian and foreign artists. Walking along the streets to admire them all is a unique experience, but one of the most evocative sections of this route is the one called Fiaba in Borgo. It consists of few porticos where the murales are dedicated to fairy tale characters, creating a sort of immersive experience that is truly unmissable at any age.

Cilento is a land rich in food and wine traditions and excellent quality local products. Let's get to know the best delicacies to taste.

Around Orria, vines are grown, which produce excellent wine, and olive trees as well, which produce Cilento olive oil, one of the most important gastronomic products of the region, both for quality and tradition. In Orria, there is also a small oil mill still in activity, where you can learn more, or even participate in the production of the oil.
You absolutely must try the delicious white figs, too, which in Orria are also found in the "fico 'mbaccato" variant, that is, dried and then stuffed with walnuts and herbs. The white fig is so important here that it even has its own festival, called Ficoscia, celebrated every year in the last week of August.
Also, walking around the village, it will be easy to come across other delicacies. For example, taste the melanzane m’bottonate (stuffed eggplants), the pizza d’erbe (pizza with erbs), the boiled (and than fried and topped with honey) dough, small sweet donuts called scauratielli or some excellent home-made pasta. 

Orria can be reached by car from both Naples and Salerno.

Taking the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway you'll reach Battipaglia, from which you can take the Cilentana state road 18 that connects Palinuro and Agropoli, two well-known towns in Cilento.

From the Omignano Scalo exit, then, just take the beautiful road that cuts through the Mediterranean scrub typical of the Cilento Park and climbs up the side of the hill. In a few minutes, after passing the hamlet of Contrada Casino Lebano, you'll reach the center of Orria.

If you prefer to travel by train, the closest station is Omignano-Salento where regional trains arrive from Naples or Salerno, in an hour and a half or fifty minutes respectively. At this point there are eleven kilometers to travel by taxi to book. Alternatively, there is also the Vallo Scalo/Castelnuovo station, served by high-speed trains, which is about eighteen minutes by car from Orria.