The Municipalities of Cilento

Lying deep in the area known as Vallo di Diano, Padula is best known for its Charterhouse dedicated to Saint Lorenzo, one of the most famous Italian buildings of its kind, and second in size only to the of Charterhouse in Parma. Awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO this building was founded in 1306 by Tommaso Sanseverino on the site where a previously existing monastery stood. The structure of the charterhouse is meant to remind us of the red-hot gridiron used for the martyrdom of the Saint. The inner cloister of the building is the largest in the world, surrounded by 84 columns. The inside of the building contains 320 rooms. Today, the Charterhouse hosts the Archaeological museum of Lucania, with its interesting collection of materials found in the excavations of the necropolis of Sala Consilina and Padula.