Let's stay in the province of Salerno and talk about the Certosa di San Lorenzo (*) in Padula, the largest monastic complex in Southern Italy and one of the most interesting in Europe for its architectural magnificence and abundance of artistic treasures. It is difficult today to imagine how this imposing site could have gone through dark moments and total abandonment, or worse still be used as a prisoner camp during the two world wars. So let's enjoy today's usability, symbolized by the Padula-Buonabitacolo exit of the A2 or Autostrada del Mediterraneo, which takes us a few minutes from the monastic complex. A premise for people with motion disabilities: before traveling, make sure with a phone call that the lift that gives access to the complex from the internal courtyard is working, in order to avoid disappointment https://cultura.gov.it/luogo/certosa-di-san-lorenzo The best way to reach the Charterhouse is by car; following the signs you will arrive at a signposted entrance for the disabled which in a hundred meters leads to a large parking lot. From the parking lot you can easily reach the entrance to the internal courtyard (it is the door that can be seen in the photo to the left of the staircase); in the inner courtyard, in addition to the lift, there are also equipped toilets.
Arriving at the ticket office, it is advisable to point out to the staff that to visit some internal rooms it will be necessary to pass with the chairs for a few meters on the majolica floor of the church (it is good to ask for authorization); in any case there are some critical points (two-three steps that can be overcome with some help), so if we don't feel like it, we can limit ourselves to the easier parts, starting with the Chiostro Maggiore:
You can take a look at the monumental staircase and then move on to the church, the choir and the kitchen:
A completely accessible area is also the annexed Archaeological Museum of Western Lucania, rich in various finds from the necropolis of the area:
The Charterhouse is however rich in environments, such as small internal cloisters, the monks' cells, the refectory, which can all be visited except for possible closures for contingent reasons.
At the end of the visit to the Certosa, you can get back in your car and in a few kilometers you will reach a little known little treasure, the Paleochristian Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte. It is a monumental complex probably dating back to the fifth century AD, in which the function of baptism was carried out by immersion in the waters of the stream that still flows among the ancient stones
Entering the Baptistery with a wheelchair is very problematic (in the second photo you can clearly see the three steps at the entrance); however the suggestion of the place can also be perceived by entering the surrounding area with a special platform and turning around the building, contemplating the crystalline water that flows incessantly. At this point for lunch we have two possibilities: stop at the farmhouse adjacent to the Baptistery, with an adjoining trout farm: La Fonte (ittioagriturismo) (*) Contrada S. Giovanni in Fonti 1, Sala Consilina +39 0975 74113 www.agriturismofonte.com
or continue to a restaurant, which also meets our requirements, a few kilometers from Padula, in the municipality of Atena Lucana: Locanda San Cipriano (*): Via Serrone, Atena Lucana +39 0975 511447/366 9036347 www.locandasancipriano.it (*) symbol indicating the presence of toilets equipped for the disabled
