Piaggine (630 meters above sea level) is a village of 1,500 inhabitants situated in the picturesque Cilento park in the province of Salerno. It was built around XII century by a Benedictine community who erected a church dedicated to San Simeon on the banks of the Calore river. From there the village started growing up. St. Nicolas mother-church was built between XVI and XVII century and in the same period, in the higher side of the village, a convent of Capuchin friars was built, with the school of philosophy and theology, with the annexed chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine. The village was named Chiaine soprano (above) to distinguish it from Chiaine sottano (below) which corresponds to the current Valle Dell’Angelo (Angel Valley). The name Chiaine seems to refer to rubbles and conglomerates layers derived from ancient floods and debris coming down from the mountains transported by the river. In 1810 Piaggine became well-known for being the birthplace of liberal activists and famous bandits. In the heart of the Cilento park, in a mountain area that is known to be of help in the rehabilitation of heart disease, Piaggine is the perfect place for people who like trekking and excursions into nature trails. From the village is also possible to reach places of historic and archaeological interest (Velia, Paestum, Padula) and seaside resorts (Acciaroli, Pioppi, Palinuro).