Three and half hours south of Rome, I reach the Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni Geopark, where limestone peaks rise from the Mediterranean. In Paestum, I stand before the ancient Greek temples. Francesco, a local guide, points to the Temple of Hera, built around 600 BCE. "These columns have stood for centuries," he says. "They've survived wars, earthquakes, and time itself.". head to the Pertosa-Auletta Caves, where a guide takes me through shadowy chambers, their walls etched with ancient marine fossils over 35 million years old. "This was once an ocean," he says, gesturing to the fossilized sea shells embedded in the stone. The cool air carries a deep sense of timelessness, as if the past still lingers here. In the Valley of the Mills, I visit an old watermill-turned-museum. Maria, a local woman, offers me bread soaked in freshly pressed olive oil. The taste is rich, earthy, and full of history. Finally, at Capo Palinuro, the sea crashes against the cliffs. Fishermen unload their catch, and I’m handed a plate of tonno alla Palinuro. The dish, made with tuna marinated in olive oil, garlic, and herbs, is grilled over an open flame. The smoky, salty flavor fills my mouth as I savor the connection between the sea, the land, and its people.