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City in Campania, Italy
Photo: Mattatoio5, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Salerno (Neapolitan: Salièrno) is a city in Campania, Italy. It is a lively port town, with a relaxing and open Mediterranean atmosphere. Worth a visit also is the Historical Old Town, which is a well-preserved historical town centre, full of tiny little passageways and hidden corners. Salerno is an ideal stopping off point on the way to Paestum, Pompeii or Positano, or the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, which is a lesser known UNESCO World Heritage site. Placed as it is at one end of the Amalfi Coastline, it is an important passing point for the local tourism scene.
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Il Giardino della Minerva
A beautiful botanical and herbal gardens on multiple terraces. The plants are well labelled with their scientific names as well as the locations where they are native. You can enjoy the sights and smells of the plants, the ingenuity of the irrigation system and a wonderful view of the town and seashore below, all while learning about the plants and the hundreds of years of history of the gardens.
Duomo
Imposing church built in the 11th century with a mixture of Romanesque, Norman, Arab and Byzantine architectural elements.
Castello di Arechi
A symbol of the city, the castle was built in the late Roman or Byzantine era. It was renovated by the Lombard prince Arechi II, from whom it takes its name, when he moved the court of the Principality of Benevento to Salerno in the 8th century and became the cornerstone of the city's triangular defence system. It was expanded and fortified, but the manor was never conquered. It hosts a museum, accommodation and conference activities and is a hub for nature trails and equipped paths.
From the early 18th century, it is commonly called "the most beautiful baroque church" in the city. It houses the relics of the holy Salerno martyrs Santa Tecla, Archelaa and Susanna and has paintings by Andrea Sabatini.
Museo Diocesano di Salerno
Housed in a former seminary near the cathedral, it displays a rich collection of religious art and artifacts, with a strong focus on the medieval period. Its holdings provide a fascinating insight into the spiritual and artistic heritage of the city and surrounding region.
It was built by the Lombards in the 9th century to supply the monastery of San Benedetto and, via an underground passage, the convent of Piantanova. It consists of two branches, one coming from the north and one from the east, which join in via Arce and continue south towards the monastery.
Pinacoteca Provinciale
This art gallery is housed in the 17th-century Palazzo Pinto in the heart of the old town. Its collection spans from the 15th to the early 20th century, showcasing works by local and regional artists, including Renaissance master Andrea Sabatini and Baroque painters from the Solimena family. Highlights also include landscapes from the Posillipo School.
Museo Archeologico
Located in the historic San Benedetto complex, the museum houses a rich collection of artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the late Roman period. Highlights include Roman statues, inscriptions, and funerary urns displayed in the outdoor lapidary garden, as well as a remarkable bronze head of Apollo retrieved from the Gulf of Salerno in 1930.
Chiesa del Santissimo Crocifisso
A 13th-century Romanesque-style church, it was once connected to the monastery of San Benedetto.
Established in November 1943, the cemetery was created to inter the remains of Commonwealth soldiers who perished during the fierce battles following the Salerno landings. Many of the burials are of those who died in the immediate aftermath of the invasion, while others were relocated from various parts of southwestern Italy. The site also includes a special memorial for a First World War casualty whose original grave was lost.
A great bed and breakfast with private rooms in the tranquility of the Cilento and Vallo del Diano National Park. Clean, cozy and friendly. Cooking facilities, English speaking staff, library.
A nice and good hostel in the heart of the Historic centre of Salerno. Friendly people, clean rooms and good service. Breakfast included, internet available. The hostel offers trips to Amalfi and other, adventurous hiking and biking trips.
By train
From Naples, you can also reach Salerno on Regional trains from Napoli Centrale which take about 50 minutes, or on some Metropolitan trains making several stops in Naples (80 minutes).
By rental car
You can rent a car to cover the last stretch of the journey. If you are used to driving in Northern Europe or the US, you'll find the driving habits in this area to be very different.
By bus
When you have to cross the road here, you'll find that traffic in Naples follows unwritten rules that are not accessible to foreigners (or even some Italians).
By boat
Travel by sea is seasonal, from around Easter to mid or late October, and may be canceled depending on weather conditions like strong winds.
Salerno has three kinds of public transportation: buses, trains, and light metro.
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Salerno · Regional · QSR
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