Salerno
Provincial capital city, with Roman origins, with a splendid historic center and breathtaking views of the Gulf
Salerno is a city in southern Campania, the provincial capital, in the innermost part of the homonymous gulf and, after Naples, it is the second largest city in the Campania region. The city extends from the coast to the hills behind, on which the oldest nucleus stands. It is also well known for the famous Luminarie, an artistic light show during the Christmas period.
History
Roman colony was occupied by the Lombards in 646 and was part of the Duchy of Benevento. In 1076 it was conquered by Roberto il Guiscardo, who made it the capital of the duchy of Puglia. Seat of the famous medical school, it reached its maximum splendor in the 11th and 12th centuries, but declined under the Normans and the Swabians. In 1419 it was ceded to the Colonna family: it then passed to the Orsini and Sauseverino families. In 1632 it was definitively incorporated into the Kingdom of Naples. The Salerno Landing During the Second World War the Allies, during the Italian campaign, in September 1943, operated a landing on the stretch of coast that stretches from Salerno to the mouth of the Sele and Paestum. Supported by the fire of the ships and received the reinforcements, the Americans managed to reach the river Sele e. to take possession of the hills surrounding Salerno. The renewed German attempts to throw the Allies back to the sea were broken by the intervention of Anglo-American aviation and Admiral Cunningham’s fleet. The Germans were forced to give up the fight and start retreating.
The Gulf of Salerno
The Gulf of Salerno is a large inlet formed by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the coast of Campania. It extends from Punta Campanella to Punta Licosa. It is 50 km wide and goes about 40 km inland. On its northern coasts, high and jagged, there are centers of notable tourist importance: Positano, Amalfi, Vietri, Salerno.
The main attractions of Salerno: what to see
Cathedral of Salerno
The cathedral dates back to the 11th century and is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno
Old Town
One of the most fascinating and best preserved Italian historic centers of medieval origin.
Seafront
30 meters wide and about 1.5 km long, the seafront of Salerno from the historic center reaches the port, with a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Salerno
Garden of Minerva
Botanical garden of medieval origins overlooking the sea, located in the historic center of Salerno
Castle of Arechis
The Castle of Arechi is of medieval origins, positioned at a height of about 300 meters above sea level, and dominates the city and the Gulf of Salerno
Municipal Villa
Born in 1870, it is the main garden of the city and is well known for its splendid illuminations
Diocesan Museum
The Diocesan Museum has a remarkable collection of works of art from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. The ivories are exceptional.
St George's Church
The church of San Giorgio is not only the most remarkable Baroque church in Salerno, but also the oldest religious building in the city. It was redecorated in the 18th century by Ferdinando San Felice. Frescoes on Paradise by Angelo and Francesco Solimena
Church of San Pietro a Corte
Church from the 8th century AD, with traces of Roman baths from the 3rd century AD.
War cemetery
War cemetery where soldiers from all over the world who died during the Landing of Salerno in the Second World War rest.
Activities and things to do in Salerno and surroundings
Find out what to do in Salerno and its surroundings
Documentaries about Salerno
See the beauty of the city of Salerno in these beautiful videos
