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Salerno

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The city of Salerno is located within the province of the same name, in the Campania region of South Western Italy, looking out onto the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the main city on the Amalfi Coast, quite near Sorrento and shares the same Italian Riviera calm coastal lifestyle mixed with a strong sense of tourism. In fact, Salerno is smack bang in the middle of what is known as the 'tourist triangle', which consists of Positano, Pompeii and Paestum.

Known as 'Salernitani', people have inhabited Salerno since pre-historic times. Within the middle ages the city became known as the European capital for knowledge of medicine, due to the construction of the first medical university ('Schola Medica Salernitana') on the continent. Today, the university still stands and is still in use, bringing around 40,000 students to the city. The Salerno economy is driven primarily by tourism, although the pottery and food production industries still remain and are still strong here. Additionally, Salerno Port exports and receives several millions of tons of goods each year, creating great revenue for its residents.

The five mile long promenade, clear view out to the Tyrrhenian Sea, range of Roman architecture and vast city populated by around 200,000 Italians earns Salerno its title as one of the best tourist destinations on the Italian Riviera.

Areas

Because the city of Salerno manages to incorporate a port, a staggering history, shopping, tourism and education into itself, it has a couple of different districts which make it easier to travel around.

Merchant Street

This is the shopping district where visitors can find top quality restaurants, cafés, boutiques and shopping centers which all make for a fantastic day out. Right at the heart of this shopping Mecca is The Duomo, which is Salerno's cathedral and a tourist attraction in itself.

The Promenade

Built in the 1950s and stretching around 5 miles across the Amalfi Coast, the promenade in Salerno is a spectacle to behold. Along its length are beautiful trees and plants, not to mention the seaside shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars. If you're looking for a relaxing day by the beach then head straight for the promenade. Who knows, maybe you'll decide to catch a ferry to one of the other cities on the Amalfi coast?

Weather

Salerno sees fantastic weather all year round, seldom reaching below 10ºC. The maximum temperate can get up to 35ºC in July and August and often feels quite muggy, so the best time to arrive is between May and June to avoid the hottest weather.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	48	48	52	56	64	71	76	76	71	63	54	50
C	9	9	11	13	18	22	24	24	22	17	12	10

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	3.8	3.2	3	3	2	1.5	0.9	1.2	3.1	5.2	5	4.7
CM	9.7	8.1	7.6	7.6	5.1	3.8	2.3	3	7.9	13.2	12.7	11.9

Getting There

By Boat

Arriving at Salerno by Ferry is the most pleasant way to travel, yet you must catch a ferry from somewhere on the Amalfi coast (e.g. Positano). These services do not always run like clockwork so be sure of what time you will travel!

By Plane

This is one of the most direct ways of getting to Salerno. The nearest airport is Capodichino (NAP), around 31 miles away and once you arrive here you can catch a SITA bus from behind the terminal. Alternatively, fly to Rome airport and catch a train to Salerno station.

By Train

From Rome there are several services running straight to Salerno, usually costing around 25 Euros per ticket. Alternatively, if you have flown to Naples Airport there is a 1 euro bus which takes you to Naples Railway station where you can catch a connecting train to Salerno for between 3 to 11 euros.

By Car

Salerno is located just off the A40 so driving there isn't difficult. If you have flown or caught a train to a nearby city then a car rental might be a good idea so that you can drive for the rest of the holiday. Bear in mind that many drivers in this area don't always follow the highway-code and you will need to stay alert!

Getting Around

By Car

There are plenty of car hire companies in and around the Salerno province and capital city. You will be able to hire a car for however long you plan to stay. Watch out for the thin winding roads; some locals can drive very fast around these!

By Ferry

Salerno is a fantastic starting point for exploring the rest of the Amalfi coast. Several boats, yachts and ferries leave the port of Salerno each day and this is a cheap, pleasant way to travel around Italy.

On Foot

The city of Salerno itself is fascinating when explored on foot. While you can be sure you won't miss a trick, the five mile long Lungomare Trieste promenade is perfect for a walk in the sun. Additionally, you will never be far from a taxi or car rental company if your hotel is a little further away.

Food & Dining

Just as with the rest of Italy, pasta, fresh herbs, and different fruits and salads are all very popular in Salerno. One dish that is closely associated with this city is sangiovannara. This dish contains pasta which is tossed with tomatoes, olives, garlic, and eggplant. Pasta e lenticchie is also very common and this is pasta that is combined with lentils for a truly rustic and authentic feel and taste! Pizza is another main dish in Salerno and there are many street vendors that will be glad to offer you a slice as you make your way through the narrow streets or stop in at any one of the fine restaurants that offer this wonderful delicacy as their specialty!

Beaches

The Port of Salerno (Sand beach) Location: Situated between the Porto di Salemo and Golfo di Salemo Nestled just off of the Mediterranean Sea, there is mile after mile that stretches endlessly along the coast of Salerno. Here there is a port, which not only serves as a place to welcome tourists who come by ferry but also provides a pier for visitors to walk along and people-watch when they are not basking in the glorious sun on any part of this beach. Of course this Mediterranean setting is the perfect backdrop for water activities, a game of beach volleyball, or a day spent just relaxing and unwinding!

Sights & Activities

Sights around Merchant Street

The 11th century Duomo Cathedral, the medieval aqueduct and the Bell tower built in the 1100s can all be seen around the area of Merchant Street. If you're going to see one then why not see them all?

Amalfi Coast Tours

Simply book a charter yacht or boat to take you across the Amalfi coast. This is a great idea for a day out and you will get to see Naples, Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi from the Sea.

Film Festival

If you're travelling to Salerno in July then you shouldn't miss the Giffoni Film Festival. This is just one of three held annually and is your chance to see what's up and coming in film.

Ravello Beach

The town of Ravello, in the Salerno province is home to some of Italy's best beaches, right on the Amalfi coast.