A district of the municipality of Pollica. Pioppi is a beautiful and charming village of the Cilento area, characterized by an unspoiled nature, crystal clear waters and sandy beaches.
In the Augustan age, near the mouth of the river Aude, here was built a port that could also accommodate military vessels. The local historians acclaim that during a large storm, here found shelter the vessels of the fleet of Emperor Augustus. The port area, under the control of the nearby Velia, remained active until the XIV century and became possession of the Benedictine Abbey of Cava de 'Tirreni. Its development and growth ended in the IX century, when the Saracens settled in the nearby town of Agropoli and Licosa.
The beauty of its surroundings has inspired more than one artist and it has also been mentioned in the writings of Giuseppe Ungaretti ("Viaggio al Sud - Journey to the South") and of Strutt Arthur John ("Passando per il Cilento - Going through the Cilento"). Furthermore, thanks to studies on the dietary habits of the inhabitants of the town, the American scientist Ancel Kays, is now universally referred to as the theoretician of the Mediterranean diet.
Sites of Interest:
- the Church of the Carmine, founded in the early XVII century, inside which is venerated a miraculous painting of Our Lady of the Carmine;
- the Castle Vinciprova, built in the XVIII century by the Ripoli family, of Spanish origins. It features a strong and harmonious structure, divided into three: one central building to which are adjoined two lateral towers, that feature terraces with battlements in Arabic style. Today it houses the Maritime Museum and the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet entitled to its creator "Ancel Keys.