If you, having heard the unique "southern" pronunciation of one of the inhabitants of Salerno (Campania), ask:
- Napoletano?
The questioned proudly, even a little offended, will answer:
- Not! I'm Salernitano!
It would seem that the difference is so minimal that the foreigner will not feel it, will not feel it: both of them “hiss” from Salerno to Naples and vice versa - a little over an hour. It's like that. And, nevertheless, if you do not want to offend the Salernitans, God forbid you to compare him with a resident of no less glorious Naples. Naples is Naples. Salerno is Salerno. So and only so, gentlemen.
To get acquainted with the history of the city of Salerno, it is not at all necessary to spend hours reading tourist guides and laying out routes. This city, unlike the diverse, noisy, at the same time dirty and clean Naples (yes, it’s dirty and clean), will fall in love with you immediately, provided that you like narrow old streets with wet linen drying right at your place overhead, and wide avenues, authentic crockery, hat, pastry shops. Or maybe you are the enemy of the metropolis and you like long walks along the streets that will invariably lead you to Lungomare, that is, the promenade? Then you have come to the address. Welcome to Salerno!
Actually, my dear readers, if you rephrase the well-known saying: "All roads lead to Rome," we can say with full confidence: "All roads in Salerno lead to the sea." This is what attracts Salerno countless tourists eager to splash around in the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
In Salerno, it's almost impossible to get lost. It will not be possible even for those who in Italy for the first time and in Italian know only mammamia and grazie. All local attractions are located close to each other and tourists can only click the camera shutters and sigh with admiration.
So where do you start?
Getting to the embankment is very simple: just say the magic word Lungomare. Public transport stops right near its central part. If you prefer to meditate under the morning sun or take a exercise - choose the time in the morning, when respectable locals and most tourists are still sleeping, and lyceum students gnaw at the granite of science. And if you want people to see and show themselves, evening is your time.
Climbing up from the main entrance to the promenade, you will see another attraction of Salerno - TeatroVerdi Theater. Enrico Caruso once began on his stage, and the theater backstage was considered one of the most luxurious in all of Italy.
As a rule, a repertoire for a month is not posted near the theater, so you can join the masterpieces of world musical art by first visiting the theater’s official website www.teatroverdisalerno.it
Very close - Villa Komunale - a wonderful park, somewhat reminiscent of the Roman Villa Borghese. Here you can relax from the hustle and bustle, sit in the shade of trees, watch how parents scooter their children out of school on scooters. By the way, about parking. You will have to take care in advance about where you will leave your car - whether in a public garage or parking lot. If it is a Friday night or weekend, get ready for the fact that you will spend a lot of time circling around the city in search of a place.
But back to our route. Being in the historical center (centrostorico), you will definitely see the Cathedral of St. Matthew, dating from the XI century. The relics of St. Matthew and the Salerno martyrs are stored in the cathedral. Near the tomb is the part of the column on which the martyrs were beheaded. According to legend, if you put your ear to the column, you can hear how the blood pulsates.
By the way, in this part of Salerno you will find a huge number of private shops, bargaining. For example, I accidentally discovered an old shop where hats were sold from generation to generation, making them according to the old method. You will definitely hear the story of the Salerno hatter.
And ahead of us is the most fashionable Salerno Street and the oldest pastoral. But about them - in the next series.
To be continued…
