Prignano Cilento was founded in late-Roman age. A hamlet called "Perinianu" was mentioned in 796 in a donation by prince of Salerno to the monks of the Abbey of Cava de’ Tirreni.

The origin of the name is uncertain. Some scholars think it comes from the Latin word "plinianus", that is "property of Plinius"; other scholars think it comes from the Greek "perì ghnatos", that is "near a narrow passage". Other scholars, instead, think that the name comes form the pears, very cultivated in this territory. Sanseverino family obtained the feud in 1112 and gave it as a sub-feud to a family who took the name of the town "di Prignano".

Sanseverino family lost Prignano together with all the other feuds after the Conspiracy of Capaccio (1246), but Carlo I d’Angiò gave them back all the feuds.

Many families then ruled this territory, the last family to rule it was Cardone family, who remained until the end of feudalism (1806).

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written by: Stefania Maffeo