Cilento: Musea, the sea museum in Pioppi

The small MuSea – Museo vivo del mare, that is inside the Castello Vinciprova (Vinciprova Castle) in Pioppi overlooking the sea, is dedicated to the Cilento sea marine species and the Mediterranean diet, worldwide known for being the most complete and healthy diet.

Walking along via Caracciolo, the main street in Pioppi, you will reach the historic building called Castello Vinciprova by residents, that houses the MuSea.

On the ground floor of the museum there are three rooms that house twelve tanks with Cilento sea typical marine species, such as greater pipefish, hermit crabs, Neptune grass, sea anemone, basses and many more little sea creatures. The tactile tank allows visitors to touch seaweeds, molluscs and small fish, a very funny experience especially for children. There is also a teaching tank created to focus attention on the sea pollution problem.

The first floor of the museum houses the Museo vivente della dieta mediterranea (Mediterranean diet living museum) dedicated to Ancel Keys, the American scientist that moved to Pioppi to study the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, trying to reveal the secrets of the centenarian residents.

The five exhibiting rooms of the museum are dedicated to the Mediterranean diet, humanity’s intangible heritage. Here, you will find expository panels, videos, the sala dedicata ai cinque sensi (Five Senses Room) where you can guess the kind of bean you are touching or the kind of aromatic herb you are smelling, the sala della pasta fatta in casa (Homemade Pasta Room), and many interesting things that will help you discovering how incredible and various the Campania area is.