Among the churches of the old town

Starting.Piazza Portanova, with the visit ofChurch of S.Pietro in Vinculis, home, originally of the homonymous Brotherhood, which was founded in the second half of the XVI to carry out assistance to prisoners. The most interesting elements are the main altar in polychrome marbles and the ceiling decorated by agiographic paintings of Saints Peter and Paul.

Not far from the smallChapel of Our Lady of Graces, built at the end of the 17th century to give comfort to the condemned to death who stayed in this place to turn to the Virgin the last prayers. Continuing on Via Mercanti, at number 46, we meet the ancientChurch of San Pietro de Grisonte(today referred to as theSan Rocco) presenting a rectangular plan with barrel vaults divided into paintings decorated with stucco and frescoes; on the sides of the 18th century altar, the statues of St. Rocco and Christ.

Continuing, through the ladders close toVirtual Museum of the Salernitana Medical School, you reach the square De Crescenzo, in the ancient district of San Giovanniello. Taking the characteristic alley Castel Terracena, which takes its name from the location of theCastle, exit in via S. Benedetto where you can visitMonastery of St. Benedictand theChurch of Sant’Apollonia, closed to worship but used as a space for cultural events. After turning right onto Via Sant’Alferio, you continue to walk on Via Bastioni and, cross the square of Portarotese you arrive off Plebiscito, where you will look forward toDiocesan Museum.

Not far from the Museum is the Church of the Morticelli,one of the four churches (together with the church of S. Salvatore de Fondaco, that of Sant’Anna al Porto and the chapel of San Filippo Neri), with octagonal plant present in the center of Salerno. Via Matteo della Porta leads into Piazza S. Tommaso d’Aquino, where is the formerMonastery of Santa Maria della Mercede(1692) which became, in the early 18th century, a cloistered convent for the mercedary nuns who practiced the rule of St. Augustine; today it is occupied by the offices of the Tar and the Tribunal for Minors. TheChurch of Santa Maria della Portaand San DomenicoIt was built in 1275 and is known for hosting St. Thomas Aquinas. It is divided into three spaces: the nave with four chapels decorated with fine paintings, the choir surmounted by the dome and the presbytery elevated by four steps.

Go down via Romualdo Guarna II and continue untilAbate Conforti square: on the right, the exConvent of Santa Maria Maddalenatoday the seat ofNational State Conviction T. Rate. On the left the homonymous climb will lead to the steps of Montevergine, close to the ancient walls. A cupoletta marks the entrance ofMonastery of Santa Maria de Monalibusof the 11th century, from 1716 Conservatory of Montevergine. Exit on Via De Renzi you can continue, via Santa Maria della Consolazione, up toChurch of San Filippo, which is not accessible today. Go back, along via Tasso, along the ascent Old Intendenza, you reach the ancientChurch of Santa Maria de Alimundo, in which, according to the historian Matteo Fiore, he would have been buriedMasuccio Salernitano.

The comfortable lift of via Tasso will lead in Piazza d’Aiello in the heart ofFornelle district, where is the church of Lombard origin dedicated toS. Trofimena which, it is said, was built to accommodate the relics of the saint transferred from Benevento. Via vicolo Santa Trofimena, you will arrive at via Portacatena.

On the right are the buildings of the Lanzalone middle school, which were once the seat of theConvent and Hospital San Biagioand those of the respectivechurch restored in Baroque times.

Continue in the direction ofVilla Comunale, near theTeatro VerditheChurch of Sant’Anna al Porto, so called to distinguish it from the other church dedicated to the saint, located in Via S. De Renzi (quertiere Canalone). The feast with procession dedicated to Sant’Anna is one of the most characteristic and appreciated by the citizens of Salerno and takes place on 26 July to alternate years in the area of the port and in the area of Canalone (where theChurch of Sant’Anna in San Lorenzo).