The Roman war hero Lucius Sicinius Dentatus, of the gens Sicinia, founded Sicignano degli Alburni as his ancient latifundium.

The earliest documentation of Sicignano is from a medieval donation document dated 1086 by which the Norman count Asclettino Sicignano, Lord of Polla (died 1086), gives the abbey of Cava dei Tirreni the monastery of St. Peter and St. Catherine's Church, located in the Castrum Pollae.

Sicignano is located between the valley of the Tanagro river and the Alburni mountain range; its territory lying mostly within the Parco nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano.

The municipality is bordered by Auletta, Buccino, Castelcivita, Contursi Terme, Ottati, Palomonte, Petina and Postiglione.

The national highway SS 19 crosses the villages of Scorzo and Zuppino.