The area of the province of Salerno has a unique cultural heritage in the world and an amazing landscape. It includes the Amalfi Coast and the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (180,000 hectares), the latter also recognized as biosphere reserve and first geopark in Italy, both UNESCO world heritage sites.
In addition to the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, also relevant are the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia (the ancient Elea), the Certosa di Padula, the underground complexes of the Caves of Pertosa and the Caves of Castelcivita. This wide territory embraces four regional parks, the Monti Picentini Regional Park, the Diecimare Natural Park, the Sarno River Basin Regional Park and the Monti Lattari Regional Park, a Government Natural Reserve, the “Ferriere” Valley, two Regional Natural Reserves named “Foce Sele and Tanagro” and the one of “Monti Eremita and Marzano”, and still two marine protected areas, Punta Campanella on the Amalfi coast and the one of Santa Maria di Castellabate and Punta Licosa on the Cilento coast, and finally the protected oases of Monte Polveracchio and Persano.
The province of Salerno covers an area of 4918 km² and includes 158 municipalities, the highest number among the provinces of Campania region. Due to the vastness of the territory it is one of the most heterogeneous provinces in Italy. The territory, largely hilly, is rich in waterways, the main of which is the river Sele, but its tributary Calore Lucano and other rivers like Tanagro, Bussento, Sarno, and Alento are also significant.
Among the important heights there are the Cervati (1898 m) and the Alburni massif with Mount Panormo (1742 m), belonging to the Lucanian Apennines; the Polveracchio (1790 m) and the Accellica (1660 m), belonging to the Campania Apennines. The largest valleys are the Vallo di Diano, Valle del Sele and Val Calore. The climate is generally characterized by warm winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature in January is 10.8 ° C while in July it is 24.5 ° C.
The magnificent coast of the province of Salerno going from Positano to Sapri is about 220 km long; the northern part is represented by the Amalfi coast, rugged and jagged territory, where the spectator can enjoy one of the most unique and scenic view in the world; the central part is flat and characterized by a wide, long and sandy beach, bordered by a lush pine forest, which extends for more than 50 km from Salerno to Agropoli, passing through Paestum; the southern part, the Cilento Coast, extends for about 100 km from Agropoli to Sapri and is characterized by the continuous alternation of harsh and rocky stretches to wide and sandy beaches.
The territory of Salerno is an extraordinary cultural and biodiversity laboratory, it is the place where the Mediterranean diet was born (Ancel Keys, Acciaroli, Pioppi), that gave birth to Parmenides and Zenone, among the greatest philosophers of antiquity, it was a Lombard principality and it is the place where the Medical School of Salerno originated, the first and most important medical institution in Europe in the Middle Ages (XI century).
The mission of Vita Salernum Vites Consortium is to promote, through the colors, scents and flavors of its territory and its wines, the true experience of a land devoted to beauty and the well-being of its communities, guests and friends.
Territory and Gastronomy
The province of Salerno is rich in products marked by a strong typicality such as:
Mozzarella di bufala campana (DOP)
Olio extravergine di oliva Cilento (DOP)
Olio extravergine di oliva Colline Salernitane (DOP)
Percoca giallona di Siano (DOP)
Pomodoro di San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino (DOP)
Ricotta di bufala campana (DOP)
Marrone di Roccadaspide (IGP) DOP in fase di istruttoria ministeriale
Fagiolo di Controne (Presidio SlowFood)
Fusillo felittese di Felitto (STG)
Cece di Cicerale (Presidio SlowFood)
Territory and Art
On the Amalfi Coast it is possible to visit the Cathedral of Amalfi, in Ravello Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, S. Maria de Olearia and Villa Romana in Maiori.
In Salerno, don’t miss the Duomo with its seven papal steps, the Giardino della Minerva, while in Cava dei Tirreni its Badia dates back to 700.
In the Cilento and Vallo del Diano there are the archaeological sites of Paestum, Velia (the ancient Elea) and Roccagloriosa, the village of Roscigno Vecchia, Antica Volcei, the Certosa di Padula, the underground complexes of the Pertosa Caves and the Caves of Castelcivita .
On the other hand, there are many castles scattered throughout the Salerno area that you can visit.
The main museums are:
Provincial Archaeological Museum of Salerno
Pontecagnano eco-archaeological park
Eboli Archaeological Museum
Ceramics Museum
Museum of the Amalfi Charter
Territory and Events
La fiera del crocifisso
Mostra della Minerva
Ravello Festival
Festa del Carciofo
Festival di Musica da Camera
Regata delle Antiche repubbliche marinare
Salerno Letteratura
Salerno Comicon
Salerno in Fantasy