Watched over by a centuries-old castle, Salerno clusters around a medieval Old Town on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast. It’s home to a historic medicinal garden and a striking cathedral built on the ruins of a Roman temple and is near the Amalfi’ Coast’s picture-perfect villages.
Things to do in Salerno
Admire the Romanesque architecture of the Salerno Cathedral, an 11th-century landmark housing the holy relics of Saint Matthew and Pope Gregory VII. It’s renowned for its ornate facade and Byzantine-style bronze doors, together with a domed bell tower adorned in Arabic-Norman art.
At the heart of Salerno’s Old Town lies Minerva’s Garden, which was cultivated with medicinal and therapeutic plants in the 14th century. Learn about rare plants that were used as Middle Ages medication and admire the ancient plant classification system on display, then soak up views across Salerno and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Perched above Salerno are the remains of Castello di Arechi, a Byzantine fort that was established in the 8th century before being expanded by the Normans and Aragonese. It’s home to a small museum with antique coins, ceramics and weaponry and is surrounded by wooded walking trails overlooking the Gulf of Salerno.
Drive along the Amalfi Coast, a Heritage-listed landscape of dramatic cliffs, lemon groves and terraced vineyards west of Salerno. It centres around the charming town of Amalfi at the foot of Monte Cerreto, together with the pastel-coloured villages of Positano and Sorrento.
Getting around Salerno
Salerno is a 45-minute drive from Naples International Airport and is connected by high-speed rail to destinations across Italy. Both buses and trains travel throughout Salerno and connect most of the city’s sights.