Things to see in Salerno

Salerno (Neapolitan: Salièrno) is a city in Campania, Italy. It is a lively port town, with a relaxing and open Mediterranean atmosphere. Worth a visit also is the Historical Old Town, which is a well-preserved historical town centre, full of tiny little passageways and hidden corners. Salerno is an ideal stopping off point on the way to Paestum, Pompeii or Positano, or the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, which is a lesser known UNESCO World Heritage site. Placed as it is at one end of the Amalfi Coastline, it is an important passing point for the local tourism scene.

At night, you can take a walk along the Lungomare, a boulevard with palmtrees and a nice view at the sea and the surrounding hills.

The Villa Comunale is an oasis of green at the centre of the city. Big plants, giant flowers, lots of spaces to sit. If you're quiet enough, you will hear the music boxes sing their beautiful song.

Garden of Minerva (Il Giardino della Minerva). Closed on Mon. A beautiful botanical and herbal gardens on multiple terraces. The plants are well labelled with their scientific names as well as the locations where they are native. Cathedral (Duomo). Imposing church built in the 11th century with a mixture of Romanesque, Norman, Arab and Byzantine architectural elements. Arechi Castle (Castello di Arechi). A symbol of the city, the castle was built in the late Roman or Byzantine era. It was renovated by the Lombard prince Arechi II, from whom it takes its name, when he moved the court of the Principality of Benevento to Salerno in the 8th century and became the cornerstone of the city's triangular defence system. It was expanded and fortified, but the manor was never conquered.