Things to Do and See in Salerno

Salerno, the capital of the province of the same name, features a modern area along the coast near the port. Be sure to visit the Cathedral of San Matteo, the city’s main cathedral, and the Church of San Giorgio, which is exquisitely decorated with precious furnishings and paintings. Also worth visiting are the Provincial Archaeological Museum, with an exhibition collection spanning from prehistory to the late Roman Imperial period, and the Diocesan Museum, featuring works of art and a rich collection of coins. The seaside resort towns of Amalfi and Positano are world-renowned. Positano is nestled among the cliffs overlooking the sea, with the three small “Sirenuse” islands just off the coast and the distinctive Emerald Grotto, rich in stalagmites and stalactites, whose name is inspired by the intense color that fills the entire cave thanks to sunlight filtering through the rock crevices. Atrani is one of the most picturesque and charming villages of the Amalfi Coast; Ravello, an elegant and refined town, with its cathedral and the splendid Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo; Minori, prized for its natural beauty and the 1st-century A.D. Roman Villa. As for the Cilento Coast, notable towns include Agropoli, Sapri, Scario, Castellabate, Marina di Camerota, and in particular Paestum—known as “The Plain of the Gods”—with the three best-preserved Greek temples in the world, which were actually dedicated to the goddess Athena.