Salerno
|
Situated at the eastern end of the Amalfi Coast, Salerno is one of the most important cities in Campania; it's the capital and administrative centre of the eponymous province as well as a busy port for both cargo and tourism.
Most cultural life in Salerno centres around the seafront where you'll find joggers by day and strollers in the evening taking their "passeggiata". There's also a very healthy commercial side to the city with plenty of shops along its main streets such as Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi. |
|
Established in 197 BC, the life-span of Salerno has covered the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the medieval and Renaissance periods, the Risorgimento and notably the Second World War. The city's current architectural state has been shaped by each of those periods in various degrees; at one stage in its history Salerno was able to boast the world's pre-eminent medical school and from this same period you can visit one of the city's main sights, its Cathedral which sits in the beguiling medieval quarter.
The old town is one of the most charming areas of the city but you don't have to walk far to find the wider, modern streets which were built in the aftermath of the terrible damage wrought by World War 2. Salerno was in fact the landing site of Operation Avalanche, the Allies' amphibious invasion of the Italian peninsula which saw fierce fighting and heavy casualties of American, British and German troops.
The city lies in the Gulf of Salerno from where you can take ferries to important tourist destinations along the Amalfi Coast such as Positano and Amalfi but also slightly further afield to the likes of Capri, Ischia and Naples, all of which have direct maritime connections with Salerno during the peak summer months.
Salerno is well connected in the road network as well; from here to Vietri sul Mare at the start of the Amalfi Coast road takes around 10 minutes while there's also an important motorway junction close by from where you can travel south to Basilicata and Calabria or north to Naples, Rome and beyond.
Rail travellers can take advantage of Salerno's train connections, its train station acting as an important hub with trains coming and going in all directions from its 5 platforms and high-speed options available to the major Italian cities.
The old town is one of the most charming areas of the city but you don't have to walk far to find the wider, modern streets which were built in the aftermath of the terrible damage wrought by World War 2. Salerno was in fact the landing site of Operation Avalanche, the Allies' amphibious invasion of the Italian peninsula which saw fierce fighting and heavy casualties of American, British and German troops.
The city lies in the Gulf of Salerno from where you can take ferries to important tourist destinations along the Amalfi Coast such as Positano and Amalfi but also slightly further afield to the likes of Capri, Ischia and Naples, all of which have direct maritime connections with Salerno during the peak summer months.
Salerno is well connected in the road network as well; from here to Vietri sul Mare at the start of the Amalfi Coast road takes around 10 minutes while there's also an important motorway junction close by from where you can travel south to Basilicata and Calabria or north to Naples, Rome and beyond.
Rail travellers can take advantage of Salerno's train connections, its train station acting as an important hub with trains coming and going in all directions from its 5 platforms and high-speed options available to the major Italian cities.
|
Category: Italian Ferry Ports
Region: Campania Regional district: Capital of Salerno Province Population: 133,364 Highlights: Salerno Cathedral, Lungomare (sea-front) Close by: Amalfi Coast, Cava de Tirreni, Battipaglia, Eboli Recommended accommodation: Hotel Plaza Main train station: Salerno Stazione (city centre)
|
By air: Naples International Airport - 44 minutes by car (58 km)
|
|
|
