Salerno is a city in southern Italy, the administrative center of the province of the Campania region of the same name, and also a port on the shores of the Gulf of Salerno in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
History and interesting facts
This seaside resort has been known since 197 BC, at that time it was a Roman colony and was used for military and commercial purposes. In the era of the resettlement of peoples after the fall of Rome, the city was the capital of the Lombards, from the middle of the VII century - the Duchy of Benevento, from 839 - the Kingdom of Lombard. In the XI century, the Normans conquered the kingdom, and the city fell under the rule of the emperors of the Staufen dynasty. In the XII-XV centuries, Salerno was an independent administrative unit.
At this time, the city gained immense fame at the expense of the Salernitsa School of Medicine and received the nickname "Hippocrates city."
Since the XV century, the city became part of the Kingdom of Naples, and since 1860 - into a single Italy. 145 thousand people live in the city. The patron saint of the city, as is commonly believed, is Levi Matvey, whose relics are stored in the local cathedral. The holiday of the city, or as it is officially called the "feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and the Evangelist," is celebrated on September 21.
What to see?
Salerno is one of the most popular seaside cities in Italy, intended for recreation at sea. The climate here is warm and mild, which is typical for all cities of the Neapolitan Riviera. Tourism in Salerno is at a high level, as the city is a rich historical and cultural center. Salerno contains many attractions interesting for lovers of history, art and culture.
Market Street
Shopping street (via dei Mercanti), or as the locals call it, merchants street is the territory where local representatives of merchants settled and traded since ancient times. This street has always been very crowded, which remains to this day. Shopping street is a bizarre mix of museums, stalls and small shops, from here, tourist walks and excursions traditionally begin.
St. Matthew's Cathedral
In the heart of the city on Piazza Alfano I is the Cathedral of San Matteo (Cattedrale di Salerno), built in 1076-1085. The cathedral was erected in honor of St. Matthew, one of the four authors of the Holy Scriptures and the patron saint of the city. Since 954, his relics rest in the crypt under the main altar of the cathedral. The portal with lions in the Romanesque style, the colonnade in the Islamic style and the Baroque crypt are surprisingly harmoniously combined in this architectural masterpiece. Next to the crypt is the tomb of Pope Gregory II, who consecrated the church immediately after construction. Today St. Matthew's Cathedral is the main museum of the city. At this place were collected works of art that were created over the past thousand years, as well as documentation of the Salernitsa School of Medicine. Among tourists, an art gallery is popular where paintings by artists of the 13th-18th centuries are stored. Its wealth is striking in the sculptural decoration of the cathedral. Its feature is the predominance of animal sculptures. The cathedral is open to visitors from 10 to 18 hours.
Palazzo Ruggiero
Opposite the entrance to the Cathedral is the Palazzo De Ruggiero. This baroque building was originally owned by the Genovese family and bore their name. The palace was restored by the architect Bottillieri in the 19th century and is nowadays a venue for art exhibitions.
Genovese Palace
Palazzo Genovese is located on the piazza Sedile Del Campo, in the historical center of the city. Once it was the mansion of Fabrizio Pinto, which he bequeathed to the Order of the Carmelites. But the monks could not maintain the house, and he was ceded to Baron Matteo Genovese. In 1744, the palace was reconstructed in the late Baroque style. For some time, the building was the headquarters of the local university.
Hagia Sophia
Another old building is the monumental complex of Hagia Sophia (Complesso monumentale di Santa Sofia) - this building was built in the 10th century and served as the first monastery for the Benedictines. Later, the city court was located in the building, and even later - the school. Now in the complex of St. Sophia periodically exhibitions of various levels are held.
Papal chapel
Many tourists are attracted by the Papal Chapel (Cappella Palatina) - a chapel built of stones from an ancient Roman temple. Inside the chapel is decorated with millennial fresco paintings. At the top of the chapel is a small bell tower.
Trieste Embankment
Tourists who love leisurely walks are provided with Trieste Embankment. This is a pedestrian alley 2 km long and 30 m wide. To create a modern recreation area on the embankment, some historical monuments had to be sacrificed. The only old site preserved in the area is the beach of St. Teresa.
Santoro Palace
With its facade, the Palace of Santoro (Palazzo Santoro) proudly looks at the city promenade. This seven-story building, resembling a fabulous palace, was erected in the rare architectural style of Coppeda.
Areca Fortress
The Areca fortress (Castello di Arechi) is the main goal of tourists taking walks in the vicinity of the city. This is a large castle complex located at an altitude of 263 m above sea level. The castle for a long time its existence basically turned into ruins. However, after lengthy restoration work, the fortress building turned into a museum where you can contemplate ancient collections of weapons, coins and ceramics.
Provincial Archaeological Museum
Some of the exhibits were transported to the Areca fortress from the Provincial Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Provinciale). The museum is located a little south of the cathedral. The museum's collection includes significant archaeological finds from all over the province. The most famous exhibit is the bronze head of the statue of Apollo I, which was caught by a fisherman in 1931 in the waters of the Gulf of Salerno. The most ancient archaeological exhibits are Greek ceramics and Etruscan tableware.
City Palace Salerno
One of the youngest architectural creations is the city palace of Salerno (Palazzo di Città di Salerno). This four-story building, made in the fascist style, was erected in 1936. On the ground floor of the palace there is a cinema with 700 seats, and the main hall, called "Marble", is decorated with paintings by the local master Pasquale Avallone.
Kopeta Palace
On the slope of Mount Bonadies stands the Palazzo Copeta - a medieval L-shaped building, the last place of deployment of the Higher Medical School.
Provincial Art Gallery
The provincial art gallery (Museo Pinacoteca Provinciale) is located in a small building in the heart of medieval Salerno on Torgovaya Street. Here are the works of artists, ranging from the Renaissance to the middle of the XIX century. The works of contemporary local artists are also exhibited here. The central place of the gallery is occupied by canvases by Andrea Sabatini - the famous South Italian artist who, together with Raffaello Santi (Raffaello Santi) designed the halls in the Vatican.
Palace of Ruggi of Aragon
The Palazzo Ruggi d'Aragona is the largest palace in the historical center of Salerno. The palace is famous for the fact that it was here that Emperor Charles V. had the honor to visit during his visit.
Roman bridges
Salerno was built on the hills, so the city has many bridges built during the time of Ancient Rome. Some Roman bridges are so strong that they are still used for their intended purpose.
Fragments of an ancient water supply
Fragments of an ancient aqueduct (Acquedotto medievale), which was built in the 9th century, are located on Via Arce. The aqueduct covered the whole city and was the pride of the engineers and builders of that time.
Roberto Papi Museum
In 2009, the Roberto Papi Museum (Museo Roberto Papi) was opened in the historic Galdieri Palace. The originality of this museum is that the exhibits here are medical instruments that have been created by man since the 17th century. Museum exhibits cover literally all areas of medicine. In addition, the medical rooms of different times with the appropriate environment were clearly recreated in the rooms.
Garden of Minerva
In the center of the city is a botanical nursery called the Garden of Minerva (Giardino della Minerva). The garden was arranged in the Middle Ages for students of the Salernitsa Medical School. The garden contained many plants used for medicinal purposes. For a long time he was in private hands and did not have proper care, but after the Second World War he again became a city property. The garden was restored and supplemented with rare plants. Today, the Garden of Minerva is a tourist attraction where excursions are held.
Mercatello Park
In the eastern part of the city is Mercatello Park, one of the largest parks in all of Italy. On hot days, shady alleys give life-giving coolness to people. The park is a popular venue for a variety of social events.
Justice beacon
In the city, not only old architectural monuments are being restored, but also new ones are being built. So in 2007, a cone was built of black and white marble 9 meters high. The construction of the monument was timed to the opening of the "judicial fortress". The monument was given the name Lighthouse of Justice (Faro della Giustizia).
Holidays in Salerno
Nowadays, there are many who want to see the sights of old cities, visit museums and galleries, but even more tourists tend to the sea. Salerno will satisfy both. Clean sandy beaches, warm azure sea, fresh air, good hotels and restaurants with unique Italian cuisine - what else is needed for a comfortable beach holiday!
The beauty and diversity of nature creates a unique relaxing atmosphere, and the hospitality of local residents will add a sense of comfort and tranquility. Salerno is not in vain called the “sunny beach”, because the sun shines here all 280 days a year. The climate here is very mild, Mediterranean and is considered one of the most favorable in Italy. The average air temperature in summer is from + 24C to + 27C, in spring and autumn from + 16C to + 22C. The official holiday season in Salerno lasts from May, when the water temperature reaches + 18С, until October, when it drops to the same temperature. However, even in winter you can come to Salerno and enjoy the warmth and fresh air, the purity of which the Italian authorities monitor with special care. In many protected areas, as well as the centers of ancient cities, cars are strictly forbidden. By the way, about protected areas. In the province of Salerno, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
How to get there
Salerno is 60 km from Naples and 260 km from Rome, where international airports are located. From both cities, both high-speed and conventional trains run to Salerno. Naples - Salerno: 35 minutes, 6.5 euros. Rome - Salerno: 2-2.5 hours, 40-45 euros. Also in Salerno there are trains in the direction from Basilicata, Reggio Calabria, Puglia and Calabria.
- We recommend reading: how to buy train tickets for Italy
From Naples Airport, you can also get on the Buonotourist bus, which arrives at Salerno Train Station, located in the city center. The cost of such pleasure is 7 euros, tickets can be purchased directly on the bus.
Hotels in Salerno
In Salerno you can find a hotel for every taste and budget. We will tell you about the most popular hotels from each price category.
- Recommended: B&B Luxury Suite Corso Vittorio - comfortable apartments in the city center, suitable for families or for a group of friends who want to be together, the staff speaks Russian.
HotelIl fuso The bed and breakfast is located in the very center of Salerno, 10 minutes from the train station and just next to the main street of Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Each room is equipped with an LCD TV and free Wi-Fi. For breakfast, guests can enjoy sweet Italian cuisine.
Mediterranea Hotel & Convention Center - one of the cheapest hotels, but in addition to the low price, you will find quite a few other advantages in it. The 4 * hotel and congress center is located on the seashore and has a private beach area. It features 2 restaurants, a rooftop garden, private paid parking, and free public parking near the hotel, a golf course, bicycle and car rental, and much more. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, from the balconies of some rooms offer unforgettable sea views.
Hotel Relais Paradiso 5 * considered one of the most expensive hotels on the coast. Located in the small town of Vietri sul Mare, just three kilometers from Salerno, away from the port, where you can relax in a calm and peaceful environment. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to a private beach, as well as to the center of Vietri sul Mare. On the territory of Paradiso there is an outdoor swimming pool with stunning views of the bay. All rooms are equipped with free internet connection, and spa treatments can be ordered directly from the room.
However, there is something exclusive, luxurious, hidden from prying eyes away from the noise of tourist places. Paradise calledHotel caruso, which is located in the town of Ravello near Salerno. Luxurious, elegant rooms, a wide range of services, the highest service.
This class of hotels has everything, and even more, to spend an unforgettable romantic vacation on the Amalfi Coast - one of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean. True romantics who want to make their most important day truly unforgettable can celebrate a royal wedding here, with all its inherent splendor and luxury. For those who want to get to know the surroundings more closely, Hotel Caruso offers private walking tours, helicopter sightseeing tours, yacht trips, evening city tours, as well as golf and tennis. With any luck, you can get to the Ravello music festival.
