Agropoli's centro storico occupies the narrow promontory above the modern town, and it has the compressed, layered quality of a place that has been continuously inhabited for 2,500 years. The streets are too narrow for cars, which gives the whole neighbourhood a quiet, slightly suspended quality even in summer. The main lane, Via Salita Castello, climbs from the old gateway (the Porta Aragonese, a plain stone arch) up to the castle.
The neighbourhood is small enough to cover in 30 minutes but rewards slower exploration. There are good views at every turn — east over the harbour and the sea, west toward the hills of the Cilento. The churches, including San Francesco di Paola near the castle, are modest and often open. A few bars and one or two restaurants serve the local population; prices are noticeably lower than in the tourist area by the beach.