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In Pineta La Serra stands the Castle of San Adiutore, a stronghold built in the 8th century. It is called "San Adiutore" because legend has it that the cell where the Holy Bishop withdrew in the 5th century was located there. The exact date of construction of the stronghold is uncertain: some scholars date it to 787, while others place it around the 9th or 10th century.
In 1110, the Castle was purchased by the Monastery of the Holy Trinity and was inhabited by a monk and a layman who commanded the garrisons—both permanent residents who lived in the castle, and secular ones who came to assist in times of need. The monastery lost possession of the Castle of San Adiutore in 1291 when it was destroyed by Robert, Count of Arras, the vicar of King Charles II of Anjou. It was rebuilt in 1390, with the expenses borne by the University of Naples, which imposed a tax on the citizens. From that point on, the fortress was used as a military station.
In the 17th century, the decline of the castle began, culminating in September 1943 with the bombing during World War II. The municipal administration of Cava de' Tirreni restored the castle in 1970 and placed a plaque in memory of those who fell during the war. In recent years, the castle has undergone further restoration, which has allowed for the rebuilding of the parts of the structure destroyed during World War II.
The history of the castle is intertwined with legends, some of which are still celebrated during the Feast of the Mountain Castle, held on the Octave of Corpus Christi.
According to a local legend, the spirit of an old witch is said to appear in the still waters of a cistern in the castle. The origin of this story is rooted in a documented event in the records of the Church of SS. Annunziata in the city.
Another story, much less imaginative, concerns a secret underground passage that would exist between the Castle of Cava and that of Salerno, the Castello di Arechi.
On-street parking
Line: no.64 + 15 min walk uphill
