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Salerno by the sea with a spacious harbour built into the sea. A mountain range can be seen in the background.
Salerno by the sea with a spacious harbour built into the sea. A mountain range can be seen in the background.

Salerno

Published: 04 July 2024, 14:30

A Hidden Gem and Gateway to the Amalfi Coast

Enchanting Salerno is one of Italy’s hidden gems. The pretty harbour town in the south of Italy boasts a wonderful location amidst the lush green of the surrounding hills and the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea, as well as an authentic Italian way of life. The beautiful, medieval old town invites visitors to take a stroll and explore. There is something to discover on every corner: enchanting streets and courtyards, old wooden doors and wonderful little shops. The magnificent San Matteo Cathedral and Castello di Arechi fortress high above the city are relics of its rich historical past. The Amalfi Coast, one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, is also just a stone’s throw away from Salerno. 

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: none
  • Population: 128.000
  • Official language: Italian
  • Currency: EUR (Euro)

Ten Salerno highlights

Inner courtyard of a large cathedral. The courtyard is lined with arcades; in the centre of the picture is the main nave of the church. © Max Zolotukhin/stock.adobe.com
The Romanesque San Matteo Cathedral impresses with its magnificent architecture and ornate frescoes. © Max Zolotukhin/stock.adobe.com
A garden between several residential buildings in a city that extends like a terrace over two levels. Several trees and bushes can be seen and there is a covered seating area with deckchairs in front of it. © e55evu/stock.adobe.com
The historic Giardino di Minerva herb garden dates back to the 13th century and boasts a variety of plants and magnificent views over the city. © e55evu/stock.adobe.com
A white-grey fortress on a densely overgrown hill. A roof terrace of a building surrounded by a white balustrade can be seen in the foreground.
The 8th century Castello di Arechi fortress towers high above the city and offers a fantastic panoramic view over the Gulf of Salerno. © Florence/stock.adobe.com
A cobbled square in the warm light of the street lamps. Several old buildings can be seen on the left of the picture, including street cafés where people are sitting.
Salerno’s pretty old town is interesting both day and night with its beautiful little streets, bars and cafés, churches and historic buildings. © adamzoltan/stock.adobe.com
A harbour with numerous yachts and small boats floating in the water. The industrial part of the harbour with shipping containers and pallets can be seen in the foreground.
The lively harbour of Salerno is the starting point for a variety of boat trips and ferry connections. © Carson Liu/stock.adobe.com
A square with a terracotta-white patterned mosaic floor. There are historic street lamps to the right and left, and a grass roundabout with several palm trees can be seen in the centre of the picture.
The harbour promenade invites visitors to stroll and watch the activity on the water. © ArTo/stock.adobe.com
An unpaved square to a fountain with a marble superstructure above it. Behind the fountain is a lush park with trees and bushes.
The Villa Comunale park is a wonderful oasis of peace in the city centre and is beautifully landscaped with elaborate paths, fountains and lush vegetation. © Giuseppe Cinque/stock.adobe.com
A narrow cobbled alleyway in an old town. In the foreground is a woman with a rucksack, her back facing the picture.
In the old town is the alley with poetry murals – texts and poems by well-known poets and local authors. © Roberto Montanari/stock.adobe.com
Very high arcades with double arches in the centre of a city. The obviously historic arcade construction is partly overgrown and a road leads through two high arches.
The historic aqueduct stretches through the entire city in the form of arcades and is a popular photo scene. © giuliano/stock.adobe.com
Yellow front of a church to which a short, circular staircase leads upwards. There is a cross on the roof. There are palm trees on the square in front of the church and parasols below the steps.
The former Benedictine monastery of Santa Sofia now serves as a cultural centre and houses an exhibition of the former medical school. © Giuseppe Cinque/stock.adobe.com

Highlights on the Amalfi Coast

The unrivalled beauty of the Amalfi Coast cannot simply be reduced to just a few highlights. It stretches for around 50 kilometres along the Gulf of Salerno and is known for its breathtaking scenery: steep cliffs rise out of the turquoise sea, picturesque villages are nestled into the slopes along the coast. The region is also historically important and culturally significant as a former powerful maritime republic. Last but not least, the Amalfi Coast boasts outstanding cuisine and is particularly famous for its lemon groves and the limoncello made from them.

Those wanting to explore the Amalfi Coast at their leisure and with numerous stops, for example, by hire car, can include Naples in their plans (a little further north) and take off or land there.

 

Picturesque villages and a spectacular coastline

A town with colourful buildings that rises up on a slope directly from the turquoise sea. Below the town is a beach with numerous small boats lying on the sand.
The picturesque coastal town of Positano with its colourful buildings is nestled into the steep cliffs. © Nido Huebl/stock.adobe.com
A landscaped garden on a hill above the sea, which is bright blue in the background. The garden consists of many different types of palm trees, flowering bushes, trees and flowers.
Ravello is known for its wonderful gardens and impressive villas with breathtakingly beautiful views of the sea. © janoka82/stock.adobe.com
A magnificent cathedral, the front of which is characterised by stripes and mosaic patterns of black and white marble and has arches and columns reminiscent of Arabic architecture.
The eponymous town of Amalfi is home to the magnificent Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea, a wonderful example of Norman-Arabic architecture. © LianeM/stock.adobe.com
A small village situated on a cliff, along which a serpentine road leads. The road stands out thanks to arcades below that reach down to the water.
Atrani is one of the smallest villages on the Amalfi Coast and enchants visitors with its location and picturesque, historic centre. © Boris Stroujko/stock.adobe.com
A very narrow bay that leads onto a sandy beach. Steep rocks rise up on the left, a building and a narrow staircase can be seen on the right.
The Fiordo di Furore lies in a deep, narrow gorge spanned by an impressive bridge. © Nicola/stock.adobe.com

Salerno from BER

Airplane shortly before touching down on the runway.

easyJet

Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (QSR) 

Five travel tips for …

  1. Located right in the centre: Spiaggia di Santa Teresa
  2. Fine sand and clear water: Marina di Vietri
  3. Beach at the picturesque fishing village of the same name: Spiaggia di Cetara
  4. Small bay with crystal-clear water: Spiaggia di Erchie
  5. Largest beach on the Amalfi Coast: Spiaggia di Maiorie

  1. Enjoy spectacular views from Villa Rufolo in Ravello
  2. Look out over the colourful town and the glittering sea from Piazza Tasso in Positano
  3. Experience fabulous views from the Sentiero degli Dei hiking trail
  4. Look out over the coastal landscape from the ancient Torre dello Ziro tower in Scala
  5. Enjoy the marvellous panoramic view from the higher cathedral in Amalfi

  1. Experience the Amalfi Coast from the water on a boat trip
  2. Explore the legendary ancient ruins of Pompeii
  3. Experience spectacular sunsets along the Amalfi Coast
  4. Discover the rich wine tradition in the vineyards of Tramonti
  5. Visit the famous grottos of Capri on a boat tour from Salerno

Picture Source title:
© Siegfried Schnepf/stock.adobe.com 

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