Tom`s travels: Salerno (25,26/09/2015)

I came to see my aunt,uncle and cousin for a few days since they recently transferred to Salerno from Padova. I wanted to see the city and a few attractions around so I decided to spend a few days there. On the 25th I got up really early, around 7am, since my cousin had to go to school and left the house at 8 wanting to walk all the way from their house to the city center along the shoreline. The view was great and I could see both the Amalfi Coast on one side and the Cilento on the other. About an hour later or 6km I reached the old town and headed straight for the Duomo. I entered through the Baroque pre-entrance with the so called Porta dei Leoni, or Gate of the Lions, which dates from the early beginnings of the Cathedral, 11th century. Entering I found myself in the entrance portico which is surrounded by beautiful 11th century (and a few ancient roman) columns and is dominated on the right by the amazing Arab-Norman bell tower from the same period. Under the arches running all around are several ancient roman sarcophagi of beautiful manufacture. The façade was modified in the Baroque style but presents a beautiful Bronze door made around 1099 in Costantinople. Once inside I saw the refurbished Baroque interior with a few Romanesque features remaining here and there, however I really appreciated the two Pulpits from the 12th century in beautiful mosaics and marbles. I then descended in the 17th century crypt with some very nice decorations and the remains of St Matthew.After the visit to the Cathedral, I headed to the Museum of the Diocesis, and with a student discount payed only 1€. The artifacts inside were really great; there was a whole room with many (there used to be 70) amazing ivory tablets from the 12th century depicting stories from the Bible which are the main feature of the museum. Most of them are kept in the museum, though some others are spread out across the world in many famous museums. Moving on I passed through some rooms containing medieval objects and then through rooms with paintings covering the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Exiting this splendid museum, I walked through the city center, passing by old palaces and houses, I reached the Giardino della Minerva a beautiful botanical garden built vertically up the hill. This used to be the botanical garden of the Medicine School of Salerno, founded in the 11th century and thus the oldest in the western world; today many plants which were categorized in that period are on display in this beautiful old hanging garden with small canals that water the plants descending down from the hill in the Arab way. Entrance with discount was 1,5€ and the views from there over the old town and port were great, surround by beautiful and diverse plants. After the visit, I descended down into town, and reached the Chiesa dell'Annunziata with a beautiful Dome that I had seen from the garden. I then continued on and reached the church of San Pietro a Corte which was unfortunately closed so I decided that I would visit it the next day. I still had some time so I decided to visit the Church of San Giorgio, which is considered to the most beautiful Baroque church in town, with some really nice paintings and decorations. It was then time to head back home for lunch so I waited for the next bus which would bring me there. The next day, after eating at home, I came back to the city center to finish my visit of the old town. First I went to visit the church of San Benedetto which dates to medieval times and still has some nice Romanesque columns inside. Right across the street is the Archaeological museum (entrance was 2€), hosted in what was once part of the monastery of San Benedetto. There are some interesting objects dating to the greek, etruscan and roman times recovered in the surrounding area, particular are the beautifully decorated vases. Once outside I walked a few blocks to reach the medieval aqueduct which cuts trough the city and then the small church of Sant'Agostino which had only some nice medieval columns. Then, right before 6, I headed towards the church of San Pietro a Corte; there a very prepared guide toured a family from Rome and I around the complex. The church used to be a Longobard Palace (the only remaining in the world) with still columns, arches and windows showing its precedent use. It was later transformed into a church in the Norman period and then again in the 16th century it was refurbished in the style of that period, when finally not long ago it was returned to its medieval state. Inside were some interesting pavements and mosaics dating to the Longobard period. Under the church is another religious complex which used to be roman baths first and then later an early christian cemetery and hypogeum with still some very nice longobard frescoes remaining. It was then time to head back home for dinner, having visited all the city center the last thig remaining was the castle overlooking the town. The next day I was finally able to see it when my aunt drove me all the way up the hill, though it was a cloudy and slightly rainy day. I started walking from the parking lot along the walls until I reached the castle entrance; a guy told me to buy the ticket at the bar, which cost 2€ with the student discount. I then walked up the stairs and started walking along the battlements and into the several rooms. Most of the castle's rooms have no rooms so it looks a bit in ruins but the walkways are new and it looks quite nice. The castle was first build as a Byzantine defensive system in the 6th century, it was later enlarged by the Longobard duke Arechi II (from which the castle takes its name) it was eventually conquered by Robert Guiscard in the 11th century thus becoming part of the Norman belongings. After a walk around and wonderful views over Salerno and part of the Amalfi Coast despite the weather, I got out and headed up another hill to where the Bastille was set. Unfortunately the tower was closed (I don't even know if its ever open) so I then decided to walk back down towards the city and then take the metro back home, 4 km later.