Salerno

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Salerno is the second largest city in Campania, located on the Gulf of Salerno southeast of Naples. Inhabited since ancient times, it was an Etruscan town and then a Roman city. Salerno was taken by the Lombards in 646, and in 839 it became the capital of the Principality of Salerno. This was the golden age of the city, which also hosted the most important medical school of medieval Europe. Salerno remained one of the main cities of Italy under the Normans, but over time it was overshadowed by Naples. The city shared its history with the rest of the region until the unification of Italy, and was severely damaged during World War II. Salerno is now an industrial center with a busy port, and offers various historic landmarks.

✪ Salerno Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Matteo, and San Gregorio VII (Cattedrale di Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Matteo e San Gregorio VII)

The Salerno Cathedral (Duomo di Salerno) is the main church of the city, and a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The church was built in the 11th century, and features an Arabic-Norman style bell tower. In front of the church is a decorated portico hosting ancient Roman sarcophagi. The facade features an elaborate portal, while the interior is adorned with Baroque decorations. The church houses various ancient artworks, funerary monuments, and mosaics, although most of the mosaics were made while the cathedral was being restored in the 1950s. The crypt under the church features extremely elaborate Baroque decorations and, according to tradition, it houses the remains of Matthew the Apostle.

✪ Arechi Castle

The Arechi Castle is a medieval castle located on top of a hill overlooking Salerno. The castle was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century, and in the 8th century the Lombard duke Arechi II moved his court here from Benevento. The structure was later expanded and remained one of the main fortifications in the region for centuries. Now restored, the castle houses a museum with ancient coins and ceramics. Thanks to its position, a great view of Salerno and the surrounding area can be enjoyed from the castle.

Diocesan Museum of Salerno

The Diocesan Museum of Salerno (Museo Diocesano di Salerno) is a museum of religious art located near the Salerno Cathedral. Its collection includes various artworks dating from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Early Modern period, along with numerous religious objects. The museum also hosts the Salerno Ivories (Avori Salernitani), a series of elaborate Biblical ivory plaques from around the 11th or 12th century, one of the most significant works of its kind from that era.

Church of San Giorgio

The Church of San Giorgio is a historic church in the center of Salerno. Erected as part of a monastery in the Middle Ages, it was reworked between the 16th and the 18th century. The church is adorned with Baroque decorations and features a large and elaborate ceiling fresco.

Provincial Art Gallery of Salerno

The Provincial Art Gallery of Salerno (Pinacoteca Provinciale di Salerno) is an art museum hosted in a historic palace in the center of Salerno. Its collection includes several artworks dating between the Renaissance and the 20th century, mostly from Italian artists but also including a section dedicated to international artists.

Virtual Museum of the Schola Medica Salernitana

The Virtual Museum of the Schola Medica Salernitana (Museo Virtuale della Scuola Medica Salernitana) is a museum hosted in a former church in Salerno. The museum is dedicated to the Schola Medica Salernitana, the most important medical school of medieval Europe, and houses numerous ancient manuscripts.

Provincial Archaeological Museum of Salerno

The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Salerno (Museo Archeologico Provinciale di Salerno) is a museum housing a large collection of archaeological findings unearthed in Salerno and the surrounding area. The museum includes numerous ancient Greek and Roman artworks, and objects from a nearby Etruscan settlement.

Medieval Aqueduct of Salerno

The Medieval Aqueduct of Salerno (Acquedotto Medievale di Salerno) was erected in the 9th century, and a few ruins still survive to this day. Among the surviving sections is a bridge that, according to a local legend, was built by the devil. According to another legend, the founders of the Schola Medica Salernitana met by chance under the aqueduct.

Minerva’s Garden

The Minerva’s Garden (Giardino della Minerva) is a botanical garden in Salerno. Founded in the early 14th century, it is considered a forerunner of all the botanical gardens of Europe. After a recent restoration, the garden now houses hundreds of plant species, including several rare ones.

Villa Comunale

The Villa Comunale is a park built during the 19th century in the center of Salerno. The garden is adorned with statues and fountains, and it is adjacent to the Teatro Municipale Giuseppe Verdi, the main theater in Salerno. This theater was inaugurated in 1872, and features various elaborate decorations.

Salerno Promenade

One of the main attractions of Salerno is its long seaside promenade. The main section of the promenade is Lungomare Trieste, which is richly adorned with trees. At the western end of the promenade is the modern Piazza della Libertà, partly surrounded by a semicircular building known as Crescent. Nearby is the Stazione Marittima, a cruise terminal designed by architect Zaha Hadid and completed in 2016.