Quietly overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Salerno is the capital city of the Italian province of the same name. Salerno has a colorful history that dates back to prehistoric times and is currently divided into three distinct historical sections. The first of these sections is the medieval portion of the city, the second is the 19th-century section, and the third is the post-war section, where the majority of the population has settled and is characterized by its crowded apartment blocks.

History

During ancient Roman and Greek times, Salerno was an important and strategic port on the Mediterranean. Today it is a bustling historical city that mirrors the great center for learning, culture and arts that it became during the Renaissance under the guidance of the Sanseverino family in the 16th century.

Salerno played a great part in defense of Italy and Europe during World War II because it was used as a landing point for Allied forces during Operation Avalanche in 1943. The success of this operation led to the Invasion of Sicily during what became known as the Italian Campaign. After the peace negotiation between Italy and the Allied Forces in 1943, Emmanuel III, the King of Italy at the time, moved to Salerno, which became known as the seat of the "government of the South" for a period of six months.

Salerno Today

Today, Salerno has become one of Italy's most important cultural centers, where the patron saint is the Apostle Saint Matthew. The relics of Saint Matthew are safeguarded in a crypt at the Salerno Cathedral. Because of the importance of its port as a gateway to the Mediterranean, it is now one of Italy's main exporters of goods such as foodstuffs, construction materials, machinery, ceramics, and more!