Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
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Sleeping
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Eating
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Sights
Duomo
(Piazza Alfano; 9.30am-6pm Mon-Sat, 4-6pm Sun)
You can't miss the looming presence of
Salerno's impressive cathedral, widely considered to be the most beautiful medieval
church in Italy. Built by the Normans in the 11th century and later aesthetically remod-
elled in the 18th century, it sustained severe damage in the 1980 earthquake. It is dedic-
ated to San Matteo (St Matthew), whose remains were reputedly brought to the city in 954
and now lie beneath the main altar in the exquisite vaulted crypt.
Take special note of the magnificent main entrance, the 12th-century
Porta dei Leoni
,
named after the marble lions at the foot of the stairway. It leads through to a beautiful har-
monious courtyard, surrounded by graceful arches, overlooked by a 12th-century bell
tower.
While the huge bronze doors (similarly guarded by lions) were cast in Constantinople
in the 11th century, the three-aisled interior is largely baroque, with only a few traces of
the original church. These include parts of the transept and choir floor and the two raised
pulpits in front of the choir stalls. Extraordinarily detailed and colourful 13th-century mo-
saics lace the church.
In the right-hand apse, don't miss the
Cappella delle Crociate
(Chapel of the Crusades), con-
taining stunning frescoes and more marvellous mosaics. The chapel was so named be-
CATHEDRAL
