Introducing Salerno
Salerno provides something of a reality check after the glut of postcard-pretty towns along the Amalfi Coast. As a major port and transport hub it’s unlikely to detain you long, but if you do find yourself passing through en route to Paestum, don’t despair. The centro storico is a vibrant area of medieval churches, neighbourhood trattorias and neon-lit wine bars, and the seafront is a fine place for an evening stroll.
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Originally an Etruscan and later a Roman colony, Salerno flourished with the arrival of the Normans in the 11th century. Robert Guiscard made it the capital of his dukedom in 1076 and, under his patronage, the Scuola Medica Salernitana was renowned as one of medieval Europe’s greatest medical institutes. More recently, it was left in tatters by the heavy fighting that followed the 1943 landings of the American 5th Army, just to the south of the city.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
