Padula, Campania

Explore the Cities and Towns of Campania

Overview

Padula is known all over southern Italy for the 'Certosa di San Lorenzo', one of the most important monasteries in southern Italy, It's definitely not a stop you want to miss when driving south or north along this route!

The monastery, which draws visitors from all over the world, was founded in 1306 by Tommaso Sanseverino, who paid for and erected the Carthusian monastery on his own land. The decision to found a monastery for a French order is likely to have been made for political reasons, as Tommaso was close to the Angevin kings of Naples and the valleys, situated between the capital and the remote province of Calabria, was of considerable strategic importance. Through the feudal organization of its land, the Certosa maintained a strong influence over the entire area.

The monastery retained its importance until its suppression in 1816.

The plan of san Lorenzo follows the standard pattern of a Carthusian monastery, in keeping with the order’s religious and administrative organisation. A long wall, once acting as an enceinte, encloses the complex.

The arrangement of the building within is determined by the rigorous division between “lower” and “upper” houses-or in lay terms, between communal and secluded activity. The main gate opens onto the outer courtyard, which gave access to the stables, storage rooms, granaries, pharmacy and living quarters of the lay brothers.

The second entrance, the principal one in architectural terms, leads into the monastery itself, where visitors were only rarely admitted. One eminent visitor was Charles V, who stayed here in 1535, while on his way from Naples to Reggio Calabria. For the occasion the monks are said to have prepared the emperor and his train an omelette made with 1000 eggs.

Gallery

Location

Private and Small Group Tours

Multi-Day Holidays Tours

Cilento Discovery: South of the Amalfi Coast, a New Paradise Is Waiting

Hotel

Villas

Apartment

Gallery

Discover Padula and Southern Italy with Italy Vacation Specialists

Certosa di Padula with Italy Vacation Specialits

Our Multi-Day Holidays Tours

Cilento Discovery: South of the Amalfi Coast, a New Paradise Is Waiting

Our Featured Properties

Villa Adriana

Dimora Vesuvio

Villa Rocio

Villa Della Musica

Villa Spirita

Sotto La Luna - Sorrento

Villa Giulia

Villa Blu Magia Amalfi

Villa Del Sole Sorrento

Villa Panoramica

Villa Tramonto

Villa Clara

Quick Enquiry Form

Explore Towns and Cities in Campania

Search Your Tour

Incredible Experiences in Italy for Exceptional Prices

Private Tour of Volterra and Her Incredible Landscapes including San Gimignano

Client Testimonials

Jesse & Giuseppe,Sandy and I have been looking through my slides of our trip to Southern Italy. We had such a good time with you and Giuseppe that we wanted to let you know again. You were the best guides ever. ... [Read More]
- Bob & Sandy
I went to high school with the owner of the company who organized my honeymoon for myself and my now wife from Tokyo. We spent three short weeks seeing Piedmont and experiencing wine paradise there, then heading to Nice in France with our private driver and flying to Rome where honestly 4 days is NOT enough. They keep saying to spend more time and we could not agree more! You need to spend more ti ... [Read More]
- Robin and Kumi Bruun, Tokyo Japan
In September of 2018 I brought a group of 12 from Venice to Sicily and organized all of my services with the Italy Vacation Specialists. Being a travel agent and in the business, I know how complicated organizing travel arrangements can be in Italy and the IVS team took a huge burden off of me! I would like to start of by saying "THANK YOU" both for the amazing job you did on our trip. There was n ... [Read More]
- Ann Brownell, KHM Travel Group
Dear Guiseppe and Jesse, We just returned from our most wonderful vacation to Italy and wanted to first thank you for putting together such a wonderful trip, and second to provide some feedback for the future. Hotels 1. Hotel Sovestro in San Gimignano was wonderful. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made the first portion of our journey very stress free. They made us feel like we wer ... [Read More]
- Ron and Deb Crosby
As a travel agent, but also a traveler to Italy, thee is no other company I would recommend than the Italy Vacation Specialists. Not only do they really care about what they are doing, they also really know Italy and try to educate many people about ways they can best see the country and not fall into tourist traps. I have been on 4 trips with the IVS team, firstly when they did my first 2 tri ... [Read More]
- Laura Chomiak, Travel Agent
The trip was great we appreciate all the hard work you and your team invested to make our experience a once in a lifetime trip. We appreciate all the attention to the details in particular Giuseppe spending the time and the focus with us on the road and as we were exploring your great country. ... [Read More]
- Leon and Michele
This company really knows their stuff and recommended our family to stay longer in each location. We didn't listen to them, but wished we had in every single place we went. They recommended Sestri Levante over the Cinque Terre which was our favourite destination on our entire trip. We visited Rome where we stayed in the outstanding Hotel Locorno where they know the owner there, like in every place ... [Read More]
- Sean & Veet Chapman, CGA
In August 2018, my family of four and myself travelled from Vancouver, BC to Rome Italy and spent 3 weeks touring Italy with IVS. This company had come highly recommended by many friends and associates of ours who had used them before and indeed to say they do an outstanding job is an understatement. You can tell while being in Italy that it is one complicated place to run tours in, just by the ... [Read More]
- Vijaya Sunil CPA, CGA
I traveled with JoAnn West through your services, guided by Giuseppe, in July of this year. What a wonderful experience; your service is really top notch! If I return to Italy for a tour, I will absolutely use your services again and recommend you to my friends! ... [Read More]
- Lucretia Brower
We're home now from the most amazing trip to Italy! I can't thank you enough for your efforts and coordination of what was without question the finest vacations I've been on to date. ... [Read More]
- Carol Carson