GOLFO DI SALERNO

 "Marcinae oppidum illud est, quonunc dicitur vulgo Veteri" - Filippo Cluverio, 1642 The first part could derive from the personal name Marcius with the addition of the suffix "-anus" which indicates belonging to the feminine, therefore "-ana". The specification indicates proximity to the port. The existence of an ancient city there is clear confirmation in the denomination "locus Veteri" assumed by the Vietri territory in Lombard period and which eans old or ancient city. The term bears memory of a previous settlement, attributable to the old Etruscan and Samnite Marcina.  The Amalfi Coast in pre-Roman times belonged to Etruscan jurisdiction, as reported in the “Geography”  of Strabone: the hilly area depended on the city of Nuceria Alfaterna, the maritime area ox n the city of Marcìnae. The Vietri area, with the anchorage of Fuenti, had a sheltered port, a unique landing place, since the beach of nearby Salerno, near the mouth of the Irno, wa...

Paestum was a major ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Magna Graecia (southern Italy). It was established by Dorians. After its foundation by Greek colonists under the name of Poseidonia, it was eventually conquered by the local Lucanians and later the Romans. The Lucanians renamed it to Paistos and the Romans gave the city its current name. The city is famous for its Ancient Greek fresco as well as three ancient Greek temples of the Doric order, dating from about 600 to 450 BC, all of which are in a remarkable state of preservation. The city walls and amphitheater are largely intact, and the bottom of the walls of many other structures remain, as well as the cobblestone roads that still cross the city. However, the necropolis nearby holds one of the most spectacular treasures of all that are to be found in Paestum. The “Tomb of the Diver” has the only preserved fresco, or wall painting, from the Greek classical period anywhere in the entire world. The tomb may sh...

At the time of the transition between prehistory and history, the Etruscans (or Tirreni) built a high civilization in the heart of Italy, long before Rome, laying the foundations for the future rise of Europe. Starting from Tuscany, they expanded southwards until they reached Campania, colliding with the colonies of Magna Graecia. Tirreni was an exonym used by Greek authors to refer, in a generic sense, to non-Greek peoples, and to barbarian pirates. It is also the name with which the Greeks called theyr enemies Etruscans, Nuceria Alfaterna (Nocera), Marcìna (Vietri sul Mare), Irnthi (Fratte), Amina (Pontecagnano) could have formed an Etruscan urban confederation derived from the inclusion in the large area between Sorrento and Poseidonia (the Roman Paestum) to prevent its complete Greekization like the Italian southeast. Anyway, with the battle of Cuma in 474 BC (naval clash fought between the Siceliot Syracusan and the Etruscan fleets), the Syracusan put an end to the Etruscan expans...

The toponym Salernum, rather than from the traditional "salum", that is sea, derives more probably from the prelatin hydronymy base "sal", that is channel, watercourse, or, rather, marsh (Sal-ernum, place of marshes, once existing near the it costs). Regarding the origin of the name, among other hypotheses, Antonio Mazza wrote that Patriarch Noè came twice to Italy, and the second time he lived there for thirty-three years; that falling in love with the waters of the Irno river, he ordered his eldest son to embellish its right bank with a city; that out of devout obedience Sem threw the first stone and, after several years, Salt son of Arfaxad, and great-grandson of Noè, accomplished the noble city, giving it his name coupled to the Irno. Thus removing the contradiction between the acts of SS. Martiri Fortunato, Gaio e Ante, and the name Salerno: Sale, Mazza says, "filium Arfaxad, Noe pronepotem Salernum condidisse, illique nomen dedisse: nec contradiclionem im...

Much has been written about the foundation of Salerno "a little above the sea", without however having certain proofs to support the various theories. Locally Salerno was born after. After Paestum (around 600 BC), after Nuceria (6th century BC), after Vietri, after Pontecagnano (between the 9th and 8th centuries BC) MAP. So the history of the city can be read only under the lens of different previous circumstances. We too will try to give our interpretation, starting from some assumptions: With all probability there were  -in the same area- italic villages and hamlets called "Salernum" older than the Roman castrum and oppidum; the Vietri/Salerno area is particularly favored by an excellent geographical position, which allowed it, in ancient times, to dominate the trade that took place in the gulf between Campania and Lucania on the sea routes connecting the Levantine markets and those of the western Mediterranean, and then ensured them; the historical city extends f...

Salerno is stretched between the sea and the hills. The whole area it's full of smell and colours that will allow you to get lost and immediately you feel you are part of history. The city has seen several populations pass over the centuries: Etruscans, Romans, Lombards, and Normans that chose it as the capital of their southern Italy kingdom. Just as the walls of the ancient city remain in place to bear witness to history, so in the blood and habits of today's inhabitants there remain traces of that past that has contributed to making them as they are today. The old centre of Salerno is a great place, with character and authenticity to spare. It is all fairly compact and close to the dock station. When you arrive, make sure to set aside some time to wander around this historical fascinating area, almost pedestrian, much quieter and less touristy than Naples. Be ready to relaxed walk 5 km through and discover a unique charm of ancient beauty and even more interesting shops. The...