Shoreline View
Salerno War Memorial, near the train station
Monument to the Sailors, Piazza della Concordia. This is actually next to the bus stop we came in to, but it was night and we didn't see it.
Harbor view with castle on the hill.
We are here for a total of eight days, so one thing I did this morning was buy a bus pass for each of us for a week. It was $22 for both and it was worth it. I mentioned before that Salerno didn't have a tram system but their bus network was extensive and we took full advantage of it. There was a stop close to our apartment which helped a lot.
Today is also Fe's birthday so what better place to take her than the local cathedral's crypt! You'll see. We took a bus downtown and then walked up to the Duomo (cathedral). It's a ticketed attraction but it also includes the Church of San Giorgio, which we toured first. This church was founded in the 9th Century and contains a lot of frescoes and paintings.
Entrance to the Church
Church ceiling
Altar
Looking up at the dome.
Closeup
Church organ from 1751 (restored)
After this, we walked a bit further up the hill to the Cathedral of Salerno.
Cathedral courtyard
View of the altar
Fe inside the church
14th Century tomb of Pope Gregory VII
The inside of the cathedral was beautiful, but the main thing here is the crypt which houses the relics of St. Matthew. It's not what I typically imagine when I think of the word "crypt".
Fe in the crypt
Another view
Don't forget to look up!
Tomb of St. Matthew. The bronze statue is by Michelangelo (there are two--one on each side).
Closeup of the statue
A look inside the tomb
Apse of the Holy Confessors
Fe and I
These ovals were windows onto urns housing remains of bishops and other Church officials.
This place really blew me away. It was beautiful--and we had the place to ourselves! Granted, we're here in February which isn't exactly tourist season but still. If you decide to visit Italy, I'd make sure you come here to see it.
The Cathedral opened up onto a little piazza where we had lunch. I'm sure it catered to tourists (there was a German couple near us) but it also had a local feel which I like. Salerno had another attraction within walking distance so we went a bit more uphill and back a different way.
The medieval aqueduct was begun in the 9th Century to bring water to St Benedict's monastery and was nicknamed Devil's Bridge due to a legend that it was built in a day with the help of demons.
Another view. It was hard to get to the structure until the 20th Century.
I could live in an apartment with an aqueduct view.
That was about it for today. We walked through town and back to the bus stop, then to our apartment. I'm really glad we used Salerno as a base. I had also considered Sorrento, which is better known, but it seemed more touristy and expensive so...
Tomorrow--another day trip. You might be able to guess where.
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