Salerno & the Cilento - Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast - page 339

2 Museo Didattico della Scuola Medica Salernitana C1

3 Museo Pinacoteca Provinciale C1

Sleeping

4 Hotel Montestella D2

5 Ostello Ave Gratia Plena B1

Sant'Andrea (see 11)

Eating

6 Cicirinella C1

7 La Cantina del Feudo D2

8 Pasticceria Romolo G3

9 Pizza Margherita E3

10 Ristorante Santa Lucia B1

11 Sant'Andrea A1

12 Vicolo della Neve B1

CHURCH

Cathedral
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(Piazza Alfano; 10am-6pm) You can't miss the looming presence of Salerno's impress-
ive cathedral, widely considered to be the most beautiful medieval church in Italy. Built
by the Normans in the 11th century and later aesthetically remodelled in the 18th century,
it sustained severe damage in the 1980 earthquake. It is dedicated to San Matteo (St Mat-
thew), whose remains were reputedly brought to the city in 954 and now lie beneath the
main altar in the 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. Carry on through the huge bronze doors (similarly guarded by lions), that were cast
in Constantinople in the 11th century. When you come to the three-aisled interior, you will
see that it 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.
Throughout the church you can see extraordinarily detailed and colourful 13th-century
mosaic work.