Salerno: cosa vedere nella città degli Arechi

Salerno has experienced a real tourist boom, especially in recent years. Terminus of the Italo and Frecciarossa trains, recently the city presents itself as very lively and rich in attractions. Salerno has a very large province, the largest in Campania. The Amalfi Coast, the Cilento, the Vallo di Diano, the Sele plain, and the archaeological area of the ancient Greek city Paestum represent the flagship of the entire Salerno province.

Salerno was dominated by the Lombards, in particular it was administered by Duke Arechi II. In the 9th century “the Salerno Medical School” was the first and most important medical institution at the European level. Salerno also saw the domination of the Normans and then the Swabians, before yielding to the Spanish. The Gulf of Salerno was the site of the Allied landings (Operation Avalanche) during the Second World War, in September 1943. Let’s see what there is to see in Salerno.

What to see in Salerno

Salerno is a splendid seaside city. The narrow streets of the old town still retain the characteristics of a fishing village. It is an ideal destination, both in summer and winter. Thanks to the mild climate because it is located by the sea, the old town of Salerno and its Trieste waterfront, among the longest (and most beautiful) in Italy, during the warmer months and Christmas holidays, are packed with people. Salerno is also called the “Garden City” thanks to the public green spaces that grow year after year. For several years (since 2006) Salerno has hosted a mega attraction during the Christmas period: Luci d’Artista also known as the Salerno Light Decorations.

Salerno: cultural places of interest

1 The Salerno Cathedral

The Salerno Cathedral was built in the 11th century when the city became the capital of the Norman kingdom. The discovery of the relics of Saint Matthew, patron of Salerno, also featured on the city’s coat of arms and banner, dates back to the same period. The Salerno Cathedral underwent major renovations in the 18th century, especially inside. Outside the Cathedral stands a bell tower of Arab influence (12th century). The Gate of the Lions, reachable via a staircase, opens onto the atrium, which is also in an Arab style. The Cathedral has a classic three-nave structure with mosaics, such as the apse mosaic, of Byzantine influence. On the sides of the central nave are a series of chapels with art treasures and tombs. At the beginning of the left nave is the tomb of Queen Margherita of Durazzo dating back to the 15th century.

2 The Diocesan Museum of the Salerno Cathedral

The project for a Diocesan Museum of the Salerno Cathedral dates back to 1935, initiated by Mons. Arturo Capone, a member of the Primatial Chapter. Important is the series of illuminated manuscripts from the 13th-14th centuries, including the Exultet, a long parchment scroll from the 13th century, adorned with fine miniatures, unrolled by the deacon during the Holy Saturday liturgical ceremonies. The museum is located in the former Archiepiscopal Seminary of Salerno, which was also home to the Salernitan Medical School.

3 The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Salerno

Behind the Cathedral is the San Benedetto convent complex, since 1927 the home of the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Salerno. Inside the museum, divided into two floors, are prehistoric artifacts from excavations throughout the province and a permanent exhibition of the Campanian Etruscan center of Fratte. One area is entirely dedicated to relics of ancient Salernum, a Roman colony founded in 194 BC. In the Gulf of Salerno, a bronze head was found in 1930 and is exhibited in this museum.

4 The Museums of Salerno

The city of Salerno hosts several other very interesting museums. Among them stands out the Virtual Museum of the Salernitan Medical School, the Roberto Papi Museum linked to the Salernitan Medical School, located in the Palazzo Galdieri on Via Trotula de Ruggiero, and the Alfonso Tafuri ceramics collection.

5 Creative City Museum

The Creative City Museum of Salerno is a dynamic center for experimentation, exhibition, and documentation of ceramics. It is located at Via Ogliara, 127/143 and is rooted in a territory with a historical-artisanal background defined since the Middle Ages by the extraction, export, and processing of clay. Unique sites such as the fascine kilns, which survived in full operation until the nineteenth century, are visitable. Two of these have been restored and are periodically activated according to the same ritual of the 19th century. The old underground municipal warehouses have become the site of the Museum, and various urban furnishings, as well as periodic exhibition events (biennials, experimental shows), involving artists, architects, and associations, have been realized there.

6 Arechi Castle

The Arechi Castle has Roman-Byzantine origins and overlooks the city of Salerno. Situated on a hill, overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, the Arechi Castle was expanded by the Lombard prince Arechi II because it was important for his defense strategies and as a sea outlet for the kingdom. The castle was also expanded during the Norman, Angevin, and Aragonese periods. One wing of the castle displays the recovered artifacts and is often used for exhibitions or conferences. The Medieval Monumental Complex of Salerno contains the Castle with the historic part and some halls where events, conferences, and private ceremonies can be held, the Nature Park, the Medieval Museum, the Multimedia Museum, and it also hosts the headquarters of the Salerno Provincial Wine Cellar and a characteristic refreshment point.

The Arechi Castle is open daily from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 4:00 PM until one hour before sunset (Tel. 089.481014).

7 Fratte Archaeological Area

The Fratte archaeological area covers 4,500 sqm. and is fully open and enclosed by walls, preserving the remains of the Etruscan-Samnite settlement and necropolis. It is arranged as a park keeping visible the most significant remains of the structures brought to light. The Fratte archaeological area is located on the northeastern outskirts of the city of Salerno, along the Irno river, in the current Fratte district, near the hamlets of Cappelle and Matierno. The area is about one kilometer from the A2 Salerno-Fratte junction and is served by urban buses and the Fratte Villa Comunale train station.

8 San Pietro a Corte Monumental Complex

This is a complex founded by the Lombards. The San Pietro a Corte monumental complex was commissioned by the Duke of Benevento, Arechi II, who in 774, after the defeat of the Northern Lombards by Charlemagne, moved his residence from his city, then the capital of the duchy, to Salerno. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, a chapel dedicated to Marian worship was created. It was one of the seats of the Salernitan Medical School.

Salerno Tourism what to see

9 The historic center of Salerno: medieval districts

The historic center of ancient Salernum was located between the Fusandola stream (“Portacatena”), the beach, the hill of Arechi Castle (“Monte Bonadies”) and the historic Carmine ascent (near “Portanova”). The ancient city was divided into four historic districts: Curtis Dominica, Locus Veterensium, Orto Magno, and Plaium Montis. The historic center of Salerno retains its medieval origins. Narrow streets, churches, and palaces of Lombard and Norman origin characterize this part of the city that originated from the well-known Via dei Mercanti, which begins at the Arechi Arch dating back to the 8th century.

10 Verdi Theater of Salerno

The Verdi Theater of Salerno was built on an Italian-style plan with 71 boxes, an orchestra pit, and a gallery. The theater is municipally owned and is mostly used for opera or classical music performances. It was designed immediately after the Unification of Italy in 1863, following the closure of the San Matteo theater (around 20 years earlier), but was only inaugurated in 1872. The theater, after a restoration period following the 1980 earthquake, was reopened in 1997. The Verdi Theater has a capacity of about 610 seats. It is located in the old town area of Salerno, next to the Villa Comunale.

11 The Villa Comunale of Salerno

The architect Casalbore designed the Villa Comunale of Salerno at the end of the 18th century. Historically, it was one of the main connecting areas of the ancient city with other urban centers located to the Northeast, the foremost being the capital Naples. Famous is the don Tullio fountain, also known as the fountain of Aesculapius, which was made at the end of the 1790s for passersby. Over the years the Villa Comunale has been enriched with other monuments dedicated to distinguished historical figures and botanical species, becoming a meeting and gathering place. In recent years the Villa Comunale has been expanded and new ornamental monuments have been added. The Villa Comunale is connected to the Verdi Theater by a pedestrian walkway. Since 2006, it has housed the Enchanted Garden of Artist Lights, the illuminations that decorate the entire city during the Christmas period.

12 The Minerva Garden: botanical garden of the Salernitan Medical School

In the area between the Villa Comunale and the Arechi Castle, there is this splendid botanical garden that was used by the Salernitan Medical School: the Minerva Gardens. The botanical garden remains open all year round with varying afternoon hours depending on the period. In February the Minerva Gardens are visitable only in the morning, from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The Minerva Gardens host several educational activities and are visitable with guidance. The entrance fee is 3 euros with discounts for groups. Children under 6 years old do not pay, as well as tourist guides.

13 The Trieste Waterfront

The Trieste Waterfront of Salerno is one of the longest (and also most beautiful) in Italy. It starts from Amendola Square where the Villa Comunale, the Verdi Theater, the City Hall, and the Prefect’s Office are located. The Salerno waterfront, dotted with palm trees, borders the sea on one side and is lined by elegant buildings on the other. The waterfront is a landmark of the city. From here it is possible to walk safely (the path is wide and pedestrian) and enjoy the beautiful view of the Gulf of Salerno and Vietri sul Mare, which marks the beginning of the Amalfi Coast. On the route of the Waterfront you cross the famous Piazza della Concordia and the city’s marina (which contrasts with the merchant port further north) where boats depart for the Amalfi Coast.

14 Salerno illuminations: Artist Lights

Salerno Artist Lights. The historic center of the city of Salerno and some connected areas are decorated with special illuminations with a theme that changes every year. Following what already happens in Turin, in Salerno the event has become a major attraction to the point where the city fills with tourists and visitors during this period. The Artist Lights are enriched every year with side events which blend well with the usual Christmas period events. The event begins at the start of November and ends in early January, right after Epiphany.

15 How to get to Salerno

Salerno is well connected by motorway, rail, air, and sea. By car, from the North: A1 Naples – Salerno: exit Vietri sul Mare or Salerno; A30 Caserta – Rome: exit Fratte/Salerno center; from the South: A2 Salerno-Reggio Calabria: exit Fratte/Salerno center; A2 Salerno Reggio Calabria: exit Pontecagnano towards Fratte/Bypass: exits from Industrial Zone to Fratte. By train (Salerno station): high-speed trains too (Italo and Frecciarossa). By ship: daily connections from Salerno Port with Messina, Catania, Palermo, Olbia, Tunis, Malta, and Valencia. By air: Naples Capodichino airport 50 km away; Salerno Costa d’Amalfi airport (about 20 km).

Salerno things to do

16 Things to do in Salerno and surroundings

Salerno is a very lively city. The narrow streets of the historic center and the waterfront are always crowded, especially in the warm season. And from Salerno depart connections to the Amalfi Coast, which represents the noble province of the city of Arechi.

There are many things to do in Salerno and surroundings; we suggest some attractions and tours you must not miss. 

17 Where to eat and what to eat in Salerno

The city offers a wide choice of food and wine options. Salerno cuisine is a descendant of Campanian cuisine. Therefore, tasty are the first courses based on fish but also pizza which can be chosen with the stuffed crust (almost always with ricotta). In the streets of the historic center, especially in summer, it is possible to eat fried fish served in paper cones. A true delicacy representing Salerno street food. The historic center area of Salerno also abounds in venues with diverse offerings.

A typical sweet of Salerno is the “Cardinal’s Scazzetta” (the cardinal’s galero). It was born in 1920 at the Ancient Pantaleone Sweet Shop on Via Mercanti 7. Mario Pantaleone is the owner of the ancient sweet shop whose building was once a chapel dedicated to Saint Antonello, deconsecrated by Murat in 1807.

Also exquisite is the “pizza stuffed with escarole” whose recipe is derived from Campanian tradition. Another typical Salerno specialty is the gelato-filled brioche. A specialty found in various gelaterias (recommended is Bar Nettuno, on the waterfront, at number 136).

18 Where to sleep in Salerno

The city offers various accommodation options. From cheaper B&Bs and holiday homes to hotels also located on the waterfront. Salerno is a city where sleeping does not cost much even though during the summer period and especially during the “Artist Lights” event in the Christmas season prices rise.