Salerno is one of the most beautiful towns of Southern Italy, situated on a gulf; with its ancient and glorious history, surrounded by amazing natural views it enjoys a constant mild climate. The historical urban core expands through a "net" of very tight medieval alleys, bordering with the modern down-town, in a sequence of monuments which attest the historical, cultural, artistic and social events of the city: the romanic Cathedral (XI century), the Diocesan Museum, the Longobard "Arechi" Castle. Salerno is also a starting point for several excursions and trips to the near Coast of Amalfi and of Cilento, to the ruins of Pompei and Paestum, to Naples, Capri and Ischia.

Divine: this is the most used adjective to describe the Amalfi Coast, a coastal stretch which links Positano to Vietri sul Mare, lying at the gates of Salerno. On its steep rocky slopes the Mediterranean bush, unique in the world for its variety and colours, blooms; perpendicularly below, under the steep slopes, the dark blue of presence. Here and there, villages of little house close to each other, surrounded by gardens and cultivated terraces, testify to the human presence and work. It is a presence rich in history and culture, which is still alive today.

Positano opens in the west, the wonderful stage of the Amalfi Coast. It was defined as "vertical village", and it really seems to be standing, leaning against the rocky wall, with its multicoloured houses which help each other to climb up the sky. The village is really unique and charming, capable of attracting the visitor's attention with a thousand suggestive and typical corners: it is the kingdom of the "scalinatelle" (which means more or less, flights of little steps), of alleys enlivened and coloured by the artisan's shops, of the restaurants specialized in sea food cookery.

Amalfi was the first of the four Sea Republics, from the chronological point of view, which in turn commercially and militarly dominated the Mediterranean Sea, until the discovery of America. Very important is the Cathedral, the works started in the 9th century, probably on the foundations of a preexisting chapel, but the building was modified again: in the 10th century it was enlarged, in the 13th century it assumed an Arab-Norman style, then it was retouched again in 1500 and in the following century, at last it was almost completely reconstructed in 1700, by interventions which lasted over thirty years. The Republic's Arsenal is a large building with charming stone halls with ogival vaults. What remains is about half of the building that once was a big Medieval shipyard and moreover the only one in the south of Italy. Among the many walks Amalfi offers, including its walks inside the city, a trip to Valle dei Mulini is a must. During the trip it is possible to visit the Paper Museum, situated in a 15th century paper mill.

Paestum. It is always a difficult task to write down the historical background of Paestum. The "Plain of Paestum", this is the name given to the land extension going from the foot of the hills to the sea. In about 600 b.c. the Greek, perhaps having already explored the plain and having assured themselves a fortified place near the sea, founded a city there which they called Poseidonia in honour to the god of the sea. At the same time, northwards, the inhabitants of Poseidonia built a sanctuary (the Heraion) near the mouth of the Sele, not only to honour their goddess Hera from Argo, but probably as defensive strategy against the Etruscans. This sanctuary became famous all over the Greek world, so that it became part of mythology.

The savage nature and the untouched environment of ancient innermost Cilento, mixed with the local culture, the local traditions, the local cookery, the sea villages along with a still healthy sea produces a charming mixture that everyone needs to taste. The ancient history started due to the karst ground nature of the area of Cilento and the consequent abundance of caves. The presence of primitive man is tangible to us even today, thanks to those instruments which have survived, both in coastal caves (between Palinuro, Camerota and Scario), and in inland caves along ancient paths over mountain-chains that surround all the Cilento National Park and Vallo di Diano (Castelcivita and Pertosa caves).