Overview
Among the most evocative places in Salerno, the Cathedral deserves pride of place. The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels, St. Matthew and St. Gregory VII, commissioned by Roberto il Guiscardo and built between 1080 and 1085, it is an incredible example of different architectural styles, which rather than being at odds with each other give the entire structure an incomparable charm.
The exterior of the cathedral is typical of Romanesque style, while the interior is filled with arches, columns, mosaics and sculptures ranging from the Middle Ages to Baroque. What attracts visitors is, first and foremost, the Byzantine bronze entrance door to the Cathedral, set in a medieval marble portal.
There are also many elements with symbolic value, such as the lion and lioness guarding the entrance and representing the Power and Charity of the Church, or the Bell Tower with its biblical symbols.
But the real masterpiece is the crypt of St. Matthew, of great artistic value, which houses the remains of the city’s patron saint.
Piazza Alfano I, 84125 Salerno SA, Italy
