Free tour of Salerno's historic center in Italian and Spanish
Hi! My name is Manuela, and I love sharing the history and beauty of my city with those who want to discover the wonders of my homeland. I love meeting and learning about new people and cultures, which is why I've traveled extensively throughout Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and I hope to continue doing so whenever I can! I studied ancient languages and literature and am a licensed tour guide for the Campania Region. I love the sea, but I also enjoy long walks in the mountains and the surrounding hilltop villages, rich in history and tradition. I've lived abroad for a few years, particularly in Spain and Ireland, where I studied and worked as an Italian language teacher. I've been living and working in my hometown for a few years now, and I can't wait to share my experience with you!
Pickup
I'll be at the entrance to the maritime station, on the stairs leading into the building. I'll be wearing sunglasses and carrying a white canvas bag.
Description
I will take you through the most significant places in the city and you will be surprised and enchanted by so much beauty!
Our itinerary will last about two and a half hours. We'll start from the modern Piazza della Libertà, where we can admire the new maritime terminal, designed by the brilliant Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.
We'll continue along the Trieste waterfront to enjoy a panoramic view of the gulf. We'll enter the historic center, walking along its main thoroughfare, Via dei Mercanti, the city's ancient commercial hub. We'll then reach the Cathedral of San Matteo, a Romanesque masterpiece founded in the 11th century by the Norman prince Robert Guiscard. We'll explore its magnificent colonnaded cloister and splendid Baroque crypt. Next, we'll visit the Baroque church of San Giorgio and then the Lombard complex of San Pietro a Corte, the former palatine chapel of Prince Arechi's palace.
We will head to the upper part of the historic center, where we will visit the ancient medieval botanical garden of the Salerno Medical School, the Giardino della Minerva, from which we can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the sea, strolling among its ancient terraces filled with medicinal plants.
On the way down, we'll pass Largo Abate Conforti, a small square framed by historic buildings and a beautiful fountain. We'll end our tour in Piazza Flavio Gioia, a former fish market and now a shopping area that marks the entrance to the more modern part of the city center.