Welcome to Salerno
Salerno
with its privileged geographical position, as junction between
the Amalfi and the Cilento
Coast, is the chief town of one
of the largest provinces of Italy boasting 60% of its territory
protected by UNESCO and about 200 miles of coasts.
Services and business are the strengths of the town economy,
but also tourism is beginning to establish itself, but the
attempts in the 60's to create a strong industrial area can
be considered essentially failed. Salerno is famous in the
world thanks to the famous Medical School of Salerno, a centre
par excellence for medicine during the Middle Ages, where women
not only studied, but even taught. Trotula
de Ruggiero, Abella
Salernitana, Rebecca
Guarna, Mercuriade, Costanza (or Costanzella)
Calenda, Francesca Romana, are the most famous 'mulieres salernitanae',
all women who graduated in the art of medicine.
The
historical centre of Salerno boasts many vestiges of the
medieval period, during which the town enjoyed a full splendour,
and the town structure is still intact because the modern
Salerno has mainly developed in the plain area, leaving
the piedmont region of the 'Colle
Bonadies', where the
ancient town is located, untouched. The Arechi
Castle was
the hub of defensive system of the city, a really inexpugnable
fortress that, unlike many other manors, has not been transformed
into a nobiliary palace, maintaining its stern aspect.
From the castle, tourists can enjoy the wonderful and brethtaking
panorama of the city and the Gulf
of Salerno, and visit
the small museum located inside.
In defense of the eastern side there is the fort
'The Carnale'
whose name is due to the small promontory on which it is
located, and where in 872 the people of Salerno organized
a surprise battle against a column of Saracens intending
to besiege the city leaving a substantial heap of corpses
to rot.
The tumultuous expansion of the 60's has caused that the
fort, formerly located in the suburbs, is now positioned
at the centre and represents in some ways a border between
the west and the east side of Salerno.
Do not miss the Cathedral,
built by the Norman Prince Robert Guiscard and dedicated
to the patron saint, St. Matthew; the
Provincial Museum; the Diocesan Museum and the Museum
of the Medical School of Salerno; the sixteenth-century Church
of Our Lady of the Annunciation with its beautiful
baroque bell tower by Sanfelice; Piazza Flavio Gioia, this square is called
'la rotonda' (the rotunda) because of its characteristic
shape on which the eighteenth-century door Porta Nuova opens,
through which you enter the old city; the magnificent baroque
churches disseminated throughout the town.
The
long and wide Promenade offers a pleasant place where to
walk or wait for the boarding on the tourist ships crowding
the two main ports. A dense presence of bars and restaurants
characterize the so-called Salerno 'movida', where nightlife
lovers will find many amusements and distractions, and can
enjoy the typical local fish specialties. The green part
of Salerno is formed by four major parks and a network of
public gardens and villas. The Mercatello Park, with a size
of 10 hectares is one of the largest urban parks in Italy,
in relation to the number of residents (it connects three
districts: Mariconda, Mercatello and Quartiere Europ); the
Pinocchio Park is dedicated to tiny children, while the adjacent
Irno Park boasts an educational role as well as relaxing;
the seminary park offers impressive views thanks to its terraces.
A
rest under the tall trees of the town park is a must, especially
in summer. The Gardens of Minerva play a mainly cultural
role; the area in which they are located was very useful
to the doctors of the Medical School of Salerno to grow plants
from which to draw the active ingredients necessary for the
production of drugs. Still today you can learn about plant
species of different origin walking among the ancient baths
and beds. The Garden of Minerva also offer a 'tea/tisane
room' where you can taste tisanes, herb teas, infusions,
apertitifs and typical biscuits.
From the port of Salerno it is possible to reach the beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia. The Amalfi Coast is very close and easily reachable by car, SITA bus or ferry which in summer leave from Salerno for the Divine Coast. Vietri sul Mare is the first town of the Amalfi Coast and is about 5 km from Salerno. The municipality of Cetara is at 11 km. Maiori and Minori are respectively at 20 km and 21 km. Atrani and the contiguous Amalfi are located approximately at 25 km. Ravello with its spectacular views is at 29 km. Conca dei Marini and Praiano are respectively 30 km and 35 km far, Furore 35 km and the beautiful Positano lies at 42 km. Southly from Salerno the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano is a destination of great interest with its famous tourist locations. With its spectacular temples, Paestum is at 41 km, Agropoli at 53 Km, Acciaroli at 78 km, and the excavations of the famous town of Velia and Ascea at 85 km, Casal Velino at 82 km and Pisciotta at 97 km, the promontory of Palinuro with its splendid caves is at 116 Km, Marina di Camerota at 112 km. Although far from Salerno, the beautiful tourist resort on the Gulf of Policastro, Sapri , and the beautiful Val d'Agri are worthy a visit too. Salerno is located very close to the ruins of Pompeii, which are located within 30km of highway, while Sorrento is 56km away.
Accommodation...
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Offerta Coupon!
Hotel Olimpico
Paestum4 stars resort, located at 50 meters from the sea with a private beach and swimming pool. Free shuttle service from / to the ferries to Amalfi, Positano and Capri. Restaurant, internet access and free car parking. Ideal for family or couple. Book now and save on our regular rates!...
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Hotel Bristol
Vietri sul MareAt the Hotel Bristol in Vietri Sul Mare we will be happy to accommodate you in a fabulous scenery and on the inside of a structure where we will be able to satisfy your every need. The staff will be happy to take care of every detail of your stay ...
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Hotel Calipso
LitoraneaWelcome to the Calypso Hotel, a brand new zero emissions hotel located on the most beautiful segment of the Tyrrhenian Sea coast ...