Salerno: the city of the cathedral and the long seafront
Eastern gateway to the coast, Salerno combines the cathedral with St Matthew's tomb, historic gardens and one of Italy's longest seafronts.
The city of princes
Salerno was the capital of the Lombard Principality and home of the Schola Medica Salernitana, the first and most important medical institution of medieval Europe. In the cathedral rests St Matthew the Evangelist, in a crypt rich with marbles.
What to see
The cathedral with its cloister, the Garden of Minerva, a Renaissance rooftop botanical garden, the Arechi castle on the hill and the Trieste seafront, among the longest in Italy. The centre is walked on foot, between historic gardens and medieval palaces.
Gateway to the coast
From Salerno, buses and ferries leave for Amalfi, Positano and the coast from its eastern side, with views that are different and less crowded. The city is also a good base for those seeking calmer prices and authentic urban life.
Getting there
From Pompei's FS station regional trains towards Salerno take about 30 minutes. A half-day visit pairs well with Paestum, further south along the same line.