Parco del Fuenti: the phoenix rising from its ashes

Parco del Fuenti is nestled in the heart of the Amalfi Coast, which was recognized as a World Heritage Site well before UNESCO placed its seal in 1997. The name refers to the environmental restoration project, which was conceived for the area between Vietri sul Mare and Cetara, where once stood the infamous Hotel Fuenti. Labelled an eco-freak and considered as one of the worst examples of defacement of the natural landscape by man, this hotel was demolished in 1999.

The design of Parco del Fuenti includes a reconstruction of the terraced area, 1185 square meters of Mediterranean maquis, 1700 square meters of pergola with vines, 1774 square meters of citrus grove, 400 square meters of paths and terraces, 1342 square meters of gardens and about 100 meters of creek flowing on the surface.

In addition to the development and valorization of this area, the park was also designed to have an educational purpose. Among other things, it is expected to offer and carry out old style cultivations, with wine tasting tours and sponsorship of the Mediterranean diet. According to the project, the park shall also accommodate exhibitions of ceramics, cooking classes, local wine tasting and fishing related activities. Finally, the original design includes a restaurant serving only traditional dishes and local foods, a wine cellar, a spa reproducing the ancient Roman baths, country paths with an educational museum, open spaces dedicated to the ceramics of Vietri sul Mare and other services as well. The main goal of this project is to promote regional and coastal tourism, even beyond the summer time.

The project approval came after a long bureaucratic process and the building permit was issued in 2006. Work started immediately after that and the beach resort was opened in 2009, complete with all the necessary permissions.
In 2010, however, the whole project came to a halt: the Court of Salerno decided in fact to impound the entire site, because of an alleged speculation. The following process only ended in June, when all of the accused ones were finally acquitted. The impounding has therefore been revoked and Parco del Fuenti was announced to be reopened in 2015.