Hotel Residence La Darsena
Agropoli - Lungomare San Marco SNC
Beachfront Location
Hotel Residence La Darsena in Agropoli offers direct access to a private beach area and beachfront.Book now
Perched on a promontory, Agropoli is a town on the Gulf of Salerno with truly ancient origins. The name itself, “Agropoli”, comes from the Greek and means “high city”, precisely because of its distinctive position, with the town’s historic centre situated in a mountainous area overlooking the sea. Throughout the city you can see signs of the various rulers that have shaped it, from Greco-Roman times through the Byzantines and Saracens, until Agropoli eventually came under ecclesiastical rule.
From the Byzantine era onwards, there was a need to protect the city from enemy attacks, which is why a fortress called the Acropolis was built in Agropoli. In 882, the Saracens occupied the city after defeating the Byzantines and created a fortified citadel in Agropoli that served as a strategic base from which to raid nearby settlements.
After being under ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the city passed through various hands, including the Normans, Swabians, Angevins and, finally, the Aragonese, until Italian unification. Over the centuries, these different rulers brought about changes to the walled city, often modifying and extending the layout of the castle and walls.
Today, the town of Agropoli, which only began to expand beyond its medieval walls during the nineteenth century, has managed to preserve its historic centre intact along with much of its defensive walls. The town is a much-sought-after tourist destination not only for its historic heritage but also for its location within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, and its crystal-clear waters have been awarded the “Blue Flag” designation. Agropoli’s food and wine tradition is one of the town’s main draws, thanks to its fish dishes, DOC wine, DOP olive oil and DOP white Cilento figs.
At the heart of the ancient hamlet, situated in the highest part of the town, access is only via the Salita degli Scaloni and through a seventeenth-century gateway. The small village winds through flower-lined alleyways, staircases and viewpoints that offer beautiful panoramic views – on clear days you can see Capri and Punta della Campanella.
In the lower part of the town is Agropoli’s marina, which is particularly busy during summer thanks to its mooring berths and various tourist facilities. From this pier, boats depart for excursions to nearby destinations such as Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, Procida and Palinuro.
The entrance gate to Agropoli’s historic centre dates back to the seventeenth century and for years served as the access point to the fortified city. The gateway has a main opening and a secondary round-headed arched opening that was created in the early twentieth century. Between the two openings is a small window that allowed a view of who was approaching from outside.
This gateway was built in local stone and on its upper part sits a marble coat of arms representing a shield topped by a crown – the emblem of the Delli Monti Sanfelice family, Dukes of Laureana and Barons of Agropoli.
Located at the town’s highest point, Agropoli Castle has a triangular layout and three circular towers around its perimeter. The castle walls were surrounded by a large moat which remained intact even after the various renovation works carried out first by the Normans and then by the Sanseverino, feudatories of the Kingdom of Naples, who considerably extended and modified the original layout. During the Napoleonic rule, the Castle became an important point of reference for coastal defence, with units of the French army stationed there.
Within the walls are various buildings and a square that today is used for theatrical performances. Several notable writers and figures visited Agropoli and were captivated by its Castle; these include Giuseppe Ungaretti, who described Agropoli in his volume “Mezzogiorno”, and French writer Marguerite Yourcenar, who fell so in love with this place that she chose to set her story “Anna, soror” right here.
The Palazzo Civico delle Arti in Agropoli, also known as Palazzo Cirota, was built in 1892 by the Cirota family as a summer residence. Over the years, the building changed purpose several times until, in the early 2000s, it became the home of the town’s archaeological museum.
The archaeological museum traces Agropoli’s history from its origins, displaying artefacts dating back to the fourth century BC and covering the major events that have involved the town. Here you can see important Lucanian funerary sets and finds from the necropolis located at San Marco in Agropoli. The museum’s first floor is used as an exhibition space hosting painting and photography exhibitions and various cultural events.
Along Agropoli’s entire coast are several lookout towers that served to defend the territory from possible pirate attacks. The towers were spaced about a mile apart and were built in strategic locations to enable rapid communication in case of enemy approach.
The Torre di San Marco4, circular in shape, is positioned as a link between the Castle and the Paestum tower. The Torre di San Francesco5, which is square in form, sits on a promontory overlooking the sea, next to the remains of the convent of the same name. The tower was built to communicate north to the Castle and south to the tower built at Trentova.
The Church of the Madonna of Constantinople appears to date back to the late sixteenth century and was built following the discovery of a statue of the Madonna in the sea. The religious building stands on a promontory overlooking the marina and features a single nave with an attached bell tower with two bells.
Inside is a beautiful organ, pulpit, altar, marble presbytery and a particularly striking statue of the Madonna – the Virgin holds the Child on her left arm, following the Byzantine iconographic tradition. Each year on 24 July, a celebration is held in honour of the Madonna of Constantinople, long considered the protector of fishermen, during which an evocative procession takes place at sea.
The Mother Church of SS Peter and Paul is thought to date back to 593 and is linked to both St Paul, who is believed to have reached Agropoli, and St Peter, who was a fisherman as were many Agropoli citizens. The building has a single nave with a choir, pulpit and wooden confessional that appear to be original.
During numerous restoration works, columns and Greco-Roman and medieval artefacts were found and are now on display for all visitors to admire.
Considered one of the town’s liveliest areas, the San Marco seafront provides access to San Marco beach, which has repeatedly received the Blue Flag award for the clarity of its waters.
San Marco beach is the most extensive in the town and features sandy shore, several beach clubs and recreational facilities for children. These characteristics make San Marco an ideal beach for families with children. This is a very popular area where you’ll find plenty of accommodation options, hotels, bars and restaurants, and it’s a particularly lively zone in the evenings thanks to the many venues here.
Trentova Bay is a small islet connected to the coast by a narrow strip of land. The origin of its name goes back to a local legend according to which thirty seagull or sea turtle eggs were found under rocks in this bay’s caves. This small bay has crystal-clear waters with a green to turquoise hue and shallow, sandy seabed.
Near Trentova Bay you’ll also find the small San Francesco Bay, named after the San Francesco Monastery. This is a tranquil corner, little-frequented and with a rocky beach ideal for those seeking relaxation.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Agropoli offers a wide range of accommodation options to choose from. For those who love the seaside and lively atmosphere, we recommend the San Marco seafront and the marina area, where you’ll find various hotels, residences and apartments in an area packed with venues, bars and restaurants.
Those interested in the town’s history and wishing to stay in a quieter zone can choose accommodation near the historic centre, which is a truly atmospheric area and yet not far from the seafront.
The hillside areas, further from the historic centre and more isolated, are ideal for those wanting to spend time immersed in nature and in an atmosphere of peace and relaxation.
We offer a selection of hotels at Agropoli to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Agropoli, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Agropoli. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Agropoli are in high demand.
Naples is about 100 km from Agropoli, which can easily be reached by car from Campania’s capital via the SS 18 Tirrena Inferiore or by taking the A3 Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway, exiting at Battipaglia or Eboli and continuing on the SS 18 towards Paestum-Agropoli.
Those wishing to reach the town by train can use the Naples–Salerno–Reggio Calabria line and get off at Agropoli-Castellabate station. Alternatively, you can reach Agropoli by coach via CSTP lines, which connect the town to major Campania cities such as Naples, Paestum and Castellabate.
During the summer season, you can also reach Agropoli via sea connections with the main coastal towns.
What's the weather at Agropoli? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Agropoli for the next few days.
Agropoli sits within the Gulf of Salerno and serves as the gateway to Cilento. The town is 45 km from Salerno, just 11 km from Castellabate and 9 km from Paestum.
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