Salerno is a coastal town and capital of the province of the same name in the Campania region of Italy. Located just south of the Amalfi Coast, it is a pleasant starting point to explore this much more expensive part of the coast.
Salerno city guide
Tourist information
If you arrive by train in Salerno, it is very easy to find the tourist information office. This is located on the left side of the square in form of the station. You can get free maps of the city here, and brochures about some (quite random) attractions. The helpfulness is impeccable, the information unfortunately not always up to date.
How to get there
There are direct trains from Naples to Salerno. A train will also get you to Paestum, where the famous temples are only a short distance from the railway station. The towns on the Amalfi Coast can all be reach by bus, but it is nicer 9although more costly) to take the ferry.
Tourist attractions
It is no more than a short walk from the train station to the historic center of Salerno. The shortest route is via Corso Vittorio Emanuele, which runs parallel to the Lungomare.
The Piazza Flavio Gioia is a lovely little round square with a central fountain, just before the beginning of downtown proper.
At the point where Corso Vittorio Emanuele narrows, the real center begins. The main street, and main shopping street, is the Via dei Mercanti.
The city’s most famous church is the Cathedral with its beautiful quadriportico. The Evangelist Matthew is buried in the crypt of this Duomo.
One of Salerno’s greatest attractions is the Castello di Arechi, which sits high above the city and offers a magnificent panorama that even includes the Amalfi Coast. It is also the seat of the Museo Storico di Salerno.
The Santa Maria de Lama Basilica in the medieval part of town is known for two fresco cycles in the crypt.
The Palazzo di Città was built during the fascist era.