Pruno (Cilento)

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For other uses, see Pruno (disambiguation)

	Pruno


Statistics
Country:	Italy
Region:	Campania
Province:	Salerno
Municipality:	Valle dell'Angelo Laurino
Location:	40°16′N, 15°21′E
Population:	40
Elevation:	1,200 amsl
Postal code:	84070 (Valle dell'Angelo) 84057 (Laurino)
Dialing code:	0974
Gentilic:	Prunesi

Pruno ^[1] is a forest area of southern Italy and it is the biggest one in the middle of Cilento. The hamlets (frazioni) with this name are situated in the municipalities of Valle dell'Angelo and Laurino, and it also exists a locality named Pruno in Piaggine.
Pruno represents one of the most unpolluted natural areas of Campania and also one of the lesser inhabited territories of Southern Italy.

1 Geography
2 Rural village
3 Photogallery
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Pruno is situated in south of the Province of Salerno, in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano. The forest is located between Gelbison and Cervati mounts, in an height between 600 and 1,300 AMSL. The area is extended not only in the comunes of Valle dell'Angelo, Laurino and Piaggine; but also in Cannalonga, Campora, Rofrano, Sanza, Novi Velia and Monte San Giacomo. The mountains of the areas are Vesalo, Monaco, Faiatella, Scanno del Tesoro, Raia del Pedale and Tuzzi di Monte Piano. There are also the springs of Calore river, and some caves with [[prehistorical engravings.
The middle of the area is known as Croce di Pruno (Cross of Pruno), a crossroad between the provincial road Piaggine-Rofrano (the only one completely covered with asphalt) and some trails, as the Inghiottitoio (Swallow), to Laurino. Major plains are the Piana of Roti and Campolongo.

[edit] Rural village

View of Pruno forest

Population in the villages of Pruno amounts almost in 40 inhabitants:
Pruno di Valle dell'Angelo is a rural village, one of the last in Europe. It is located in a detour of Piaggine-Rofrano road, on a trail under a canyon named Raia di San Bartolomeo. It is composed of circa 10 farmhouses and populated by 12-15 ancient people, with a rhythm of life similar to the one of 19th century ^[2], where electrical energy was fasted only in 1992. The community, impronted into animal husbandry and agriculture, is de facto autonomous and the village is indicated as a point of touristic interest.

Pruno di Laurino is situated along the Piaggine-Rofrano road, in south of the Croce di Pruno. It is composed by an extended group of circa 10-12 scattered farmhouses and populated by 20 people. Nearby the village there is a canyon with some little caves (Grotte di Sant'Elena) and the village was interested by the phenomena of Brigantaggio ^[3] in the first half of 19th century. It was in fact the headquarters for a band of brigands guided by Giuseppe Tardio ^[4].

Pruno di Piaggine is a little locality on the provincial road to Rofrano, situated nearby the Piana of Roti. It is composed by some scattered farmhouses and the population amounts of 5-7 inhabitants.