The town of S. Mango Cilento is set at the foot of Monte Stelle, in the heart of the National Park of Cilento and of Vallo di Diano, at a height of 560 metres above sea level.  Its position facing north, the fresh waters of the rivers and springs and the rich vegetation make the place an ideal resort during the summer season. It has a population of approximately 600 inhabitants, the majority of which are elderly. As a result of the abundant cedar woods in this region, you will find among the industrial-handicrafts many occupations connected with wood. The town’s origins begin in the 10^th century, as revealed in an old certificate dated 994, which testifies the presence of a monastery named after S. Magno. The monastery was founded by  oriental monks and then passed on to the Benedictines, who are claimed to have colonised the region introducing an agricultural contract which was very beneficial to the farmers. For several centuries life in the monastery flourished and it represented to a great extent the historical Cilento. Then in the 14^th century, for reasons unknown, the monastery disappeared and the village ultimately took on the name of S. Mango. The religious life was centred around the parish church of S. Maria degli Eremiti, built in the 15^th century at a short distance from the ruins of the ancient monastery. To this day one can admire the impressive belfry of this church, which was abandoned at the beginning of the 20^th  century for the present one which is situated in the centre of the town.