Draft:Stella Cilento

Stella, named after the neighbouring mountain, is located in the middle of Cilento. It borders with the municipalities of Casal Velino, Omignano, Pollica and Sessa Cilento. It counts the frazioni of Amalafede, Droro, Guarrazzano and San Giovanni.

The town was formerly known as Porcili, a name documented as early as 1038 in local land records.^[2] The village likely developed in the early 13th century, when refugees from the older settlement of Torricelle, near Monte Stella (Cilento), resettled further downhill. By around 1225, a community had formed on the present site. Stella was part of the medieval Barony of Cilento and under the control of noble families such as the Sanseverino family and later the Capano family of Pollica.^[3]

The fief of Porcili passed through various hands in the 15th and 16th centuries, including the Sanseverino, Di Sangro and Gambacorta families. In 1617 it was acquired by Luzio Materazzi of Castellabate, and eventually sold in 1783 to Antonio Cesare Ventimiglia, the last feudal lord before the abolition of feudalism in the Kingdom of Naples in 1806.^[2] After that year, Porcili became a municipality (università) and incorporated the hamlets of Guarrazzano, San Giovanni, and Amalafede.

In 1871, the town officially changed its name from "Porcili" to "Stella Cilento" to eliminate the negative connotation of the former and highlight the proximity to Monte Stella, adding "Cilento" to distinguish it regionally.

Stella Cilento includes four frazioni: San Giovanni, Guarrazzano, Amalafede (also known historically as Bonafida), and Droro.

• San Giovanni was reportedly settled around 1225 by inhabitants relocating from Monte Stella. It later hosted a 17th-century ducal palace belonging to the Vassallo family, known locally as "the Castle".
• Guarrazzano has Lombard origins, with references dating back to 1009. Its name may derive from the Lombard word for "wood".
• Amalafede, meaning "good faith", developed after the Black Death in the 14th century as nearby settlements regrouped.
• Droro is traditionally known for artisanal basket weaving, earning it the local moniker paese dei maestri di cofane e canestri (“village of the basket-makers”).

Each hamlet celebrates its own festivals and maintains a strong local identity.^[4]

The main parish church is dedicated to San Nicola di Bari. It contains a 14th-century bas-relief of the Madonna della Stella and wooden Stations of the Cross by local artist Anna Maria Chirico. In San Giovanni, the 17th-century Palazzo Vassallo survives with a fortified structure and original stone portal.

Stella Cilento observes its patronal feast for Saint Nicholas on the second Sunday of August. The town also celebrates the Feast of San Bernardino in May and local summer festivals in each hamlet. The area is known for extra-virgin olive oil and traditional foods like goat cheese, figs, and cured meats.^[5]

• Monte Stella (Cilento)
• Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park