In Paestum there is a cheese shop with a farmhouse overlooking Capri

by Luca Matarazzo

A cheese shop on the hilly heights of Capaccio Paestum, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and with the horizon stretching over the sea to the Faraglioni of Capri, is the true novelty of the broader project of Fattoria Gaia Pietra Cavallo, begun in 2013 by the Cavallo family, originally from Cilento.

A sustainable and low-intensity breeding of goats – one hundred head from various crosses – sheep, cows, pigs, donkeys and hens, in an area where the presence of buffalo reigns supreme. The brothers Nicola and Pietro, the latter an engineer who sadly passed away prematurely not long ago, wanted to take up the activity of their grandfather, who here raised livestock to meet the needs of the family.

Nicola grew up from childhood in close contact with nature, following a course of studies in agriculture with a specialisation in plant diseases. The idea of following in the ancient footsteps of his family then took root in his mind, with a protected oasis where grazing animals could live in true psychophysical wellbeing, offering in return products of extraordinary quality.

“Running a business while preserving the place where you live is the true human wealth” – says the young entrepreneur from Salerno, with the proud eyes of one who knows what he wants from life – “everything happens through a circular closed-loop economy, eliminating any form of waste, in memory of my brother and in love for the future of my children”.

From field to table

The farm estate is divided into two plots along the road that connects Capaccio to Trentinara, for a total of 30 hectares dedicated to pastoralism, the cultivation of vegetables, olive trees and, more recently, also vines of Malvasia Nera, Sangiovese and Primitivo.

An amphitheatre-like space for summer music festivals is placed immediately below the premises dedicated to cheese tasting and sales, with the possibility of lunch and dinner by reservation. The supply chain is extremely short, from field to table, thanks to sauces and preserves made in collaboration with zero-kilometre companies and ice creams from goat’s milk, for a pleasant taste stop within the concept of slow living.

From fresh primo sale cheese to semi-matured ones obtained solely from goat’s milk, to mixed cheeses with the addition of cow’s and sheep’s milk, a classic soft cheese with bloomy rind and the popular “Angelotto” pressed cheese, all organic and artisanal. An agriturismo activity created in full respect of the intrinsic values of the term: the vegetables from the garden accompany in every season the platter of cured meats and then fresh pasta, meat and even pizzas with original toppings, before ending sweetly with cakes prepared by mamma Silvana.

Finally, hospitality as an educational farm for schoolchildren and small groups for tours dedicated to learning and respect for what surrounds us. After all, as the motto of the original t-shirt offered for sale proclaims, in goat we trust: let us learn to trust goats as well as other living beings, homo sapiens included.