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Places to Visit in Salerno, Italy

Ishwari Pamu
Salerno, a city located along the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, has a rich and a long-standing history dating back to the Greeks. This beautiful seaport of Southern Italy, often eclipsed by its neighbor, Naples, is the perfect blend of tranquility and liveliness. Here’s what you can do when in Salerno.

Salerno Duomo

Constructed during the 11th century, this historic church is dedicated to St. Matthew (circa 954) whose relics are believed to be in the crypt which is a groin vaulted hall.
The church is built in a Romanesque style and the bell tower that stands 56 meters tall is its most striking feature. A portico with 28 columns rises over the entrance and is adorned with arches and a triangular pediment.

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Amalfi

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Nestled along the edges of the cliffs, Amalfi has a lot of historical sites like the Duomo, Chiostro del Paradiso, the Shrine of St. Andrew and the Arsenal of Maritime Republic. It is the most dramatic stretch of coastal scenery with colorful buildings lining the cliffs and the Gulf of Salerno at its feet perfectly complimenting the commune.

Castello di Arechi

Perched atop Mt. Bonadies, about 300 meters above sea level, this fort is strongly associated with Lombard duke Arechi II. It was constructed during the Medieval times as a means of defense for the surrounding region.
The castle houses a museum which showcases the artifacts that were excavated on site. In addition to that, the castle offers spectacular views of the Salerno and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Paestum

The ruins of Paestum are what was once a major ancient Greek city. What now remains are three of the most remarkably well-preserved Greek Doric order temples in the world.

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The first two temples were dedicated to Hera (Juno to the Romans) and they stand beside each other. The first one was built in circa 550 BC, the second one in was built in circa 450 BC.
The temple of Athena (Minerva to the Romans) was built in circa 500 BC. Apart from that, there is a museum that houses artifacts from the site.

Provincial Archaeological Museum

Opened on 28th October, 1928, the museum displays its archaeological exhibition on two floors in both topographic and chronological order.
The most significant excavations and finds in Salerno are structured on the ground floor. The first floor, however, is mainly for Etruscan Sunni-Campanian site of Fratte. They also have an entire hall for the bronze head of Apollo (1st cent. BC).

Villa Rufolo

This villa belonged to the Rufolo family and dates back to the 1200s.
It sits higher up on the hillside along with other buildings, and has a terrace facing the Amalfi coast which offers stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the small towns in the city.

The Beaches of Salerno

There are several small beaches around the city, visit one of these to make a half- or a full-day trip out of it. La Baia, La Crespella and I Due Fratelli are few of the popular beaches in Salerno.

A Few Other Places to Visit

  • Vietri sul Mare
  • Minerva’s Garden
  • Forte La Carnale
  • Ristorante Cicirinella
  • Parco del Mercatello
  • Lungomare Trieste