Tradition & Mediterranean Diet
Pollica is the Cilento municipality that includes some of the most iconic places of the Mediterranean: Pioppi, where Ancel Keys lived for over forty years and the modern Mediterranean Diet was born; Acciaroli, the fishing village internationally studied for its high percentage of centenarians; and Capano Castle overlooking the old town. Essential stops in the heart of Cilento National Park.
UNESCO 2010 · Living Museum
Pioppi
Blue Flag · Centenarians
Acciaroli
Historic village · 12th century
CapanoPioppi, where the Mediterranean Diet was born
In 1962 American physiologist Ancel Keys moved to Pioppi with his wife Margaret and stayed over 40 years, until 2004. At Minnelea, his seaside home, he studied eating habits, longevity and cardiovascular health of locals: this is how the Seven Countries Study was born, the foundation of the modern Mediterranean Diet. In 2010, UNESCO recognized it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and Pollica is one of the seven emblematic communities of the inscription, alongside Soria (Spain), Koroni (Greece), Chefchaouen (Morocco), Agros (Cyprus), Brač–Hvar (Croatia) and Tavira (Portugal).
Pioppi: the village by the sea
A neat marina between the blue Tyrrhenian Sea and the green Cilento olive groves. Pioppi is a small village of about 350 inhabitants, hamlet of the Municipality of Pollica. Famous as home of Ancel Keys and birthplace of the scientific Mediterranean Diet. Mixed sand and pebble beaches, historic palaces, the Living Museum, salty air: this is authentic Mediterranean.
A hamlet of Pollica · Cilento
Pioppi lies between Acciaroli (4 km southeast) and Casal Velino (5 km northwest), inside Cilento National Park — UNESCO World Heritage since 1998.
Key facts
Experiences, flavours & sustainability
Beyond the sea: slow itineraries, zero-kilometre products, anti-waste dining and a low-impact platform. Discover the sustainable side of Pollica and Pioppi.
Slow Itineraries
Trekking, horse riding and e-bike from Pioppi to San Mauro Cilento and Serramezzana, plus the calendar of autumn and winter experiences.
Local Food KM 0
The Cilento Pantry: EVO oil DOP, menaica anchovies, white figs and dairy with green traceability of the supply chain.
Conscious Dining
The Anti-Waste Pact and the "Friend of the M.E.D. Living Lab — Zero Waste" badge.
The Network
Environmental partners — Legambiente, Cilento National Park, Living Museum — that validate the content.
Sustainability
Green hosting, low-energy code and a calculator of the CO₂ impact avoided with the short supply chain.
Plan with us
+39 0974 901014
Via Roma, 1 – 84068 Pollica (SA), Italy
Pollica · Pioppi · Acciaroli
Cilento National Park
Mon–Sat: 09:00 – 13:00 / 16:00 – 19:00
Summer: every day until 21:00