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CAMPANIA TO VISIT

Hotel Ancora is a strategic base for visiting the most beautiful places in Campania.

Located just a few kilometers from the Pontecagnano freeway exit, it is centrally positioned between the Amalfi and Cilento coasts, making it the ideal starting point for your excursions. From here, you can embark on journeys to discover Amalfi, Capri, as well as Paestum, Pompeii, and Herculaneum.

To find ferry timetables for your preferred destinations, simply click on:

SALERNO/AMALFI

SALERNO/POSITANO

SALERNO/NAPOLI

Pontecagnano, Salerno AND SURROUNDINGS

PONTECAGNANO, not just a starting point!

Pontecagnano Faiano is a town with 25,953 inhabitants located a few kilometers from the city of Salerno. It is easily accessible both by private means (about 15 km) and by train or bus.

The municipality of Pontecagnano boasts very ancient origins. In fact, it is believed to have been inhabited since the Iron Age, to the extent that it houses the ruins of the ancient settlement of Picentia, which rebelled against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War, siding with Hannibal. However, it was destroyed by the Romans and gradually abandoned.

To this day, to commemorate the city’s long history, which flourished again under the Bourbons from 1800, you can visit the following archaeological sites:

  • Pontecagnano Archaeological Park: managed by Legambiente, it is a green area that includes part of the excavations of ancient Picentia.
  • National Archaeological Museum of the Picentino countryside: it houses materials found during the excavations of an ancient Villanovan settlement.
  • Necropolis of Pontecagnano.

Pontecagnano once again played a prominent role in more recent history when, in 1943, it was the scene of Operation “Avalanche,” planned to launch a real assault on Hitler’s troops. It was when the Allies landed on the Salerno coast, particularly in the Magazzeno area, which was strategically important due to its proximity to the airport and served as the center of the military maneuver that liberated Italy.

Salerno

A tour of Salerno could start from Corso Vittorio Emanuele to browse the shop windows and go shopping or from the beloved Lungomare, cherished by the people of Salerno, to reach the historic center, the vibrant heart of the city that carefully preserves all its traditions. Here, it will be difficult to resist the aroma of fish that wafts through the narrow streets of the old city, and you can taste the “cuoppo,” street food offered by the fishmongers themselves or by trattorias and restaurants in a paper cone that includes a variety of fried fish. Old Salerno is enriched by poems written by our fellow citizen Alfonso Gatto on the walls, artisan shops, restaurants, and churches.

The most majestic building is the Duomo, located in the heart of the historic center, which houses the patron saint, St. Matthew. If you happen to be in Salerno around September 21st, get ready for the grand celebration organized in his honor and don’t forget to try the typical dish served on this occasion: the spleen. From the Lungomare, you can also enjoy the fireworks at the end of the evening. Finally, the statue of the saint is carried triumphantly on shoulders up the stairs of the cathedral, following a series of other statues. This is a deeply felt event for the people of Salerno, who are profoundly attached to dear St. Matthew.

Garden of Minerva

Another place of interest with a heavenly panorama is the Giardino della Minerva, a botanical garden structured on four levels, offering a wide variety of plants and a bar where you can enjoy infusions prepared with products from the garden.

Learn more about the “Giardino della Minerva”

Castle of Arechi

A place that can be admired from all over Salerno and offers a panoramic view of the entire city is the magnificent medieval Castle of Arechi, now a museum and venue for cultural events. It can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Sundays, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Learn more about the Castle of Arechi

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