Latest news with #Salerno


Times
3 days ago
- Times
The coastal city that shows off Amalfi without the crowds (or prices)
A thriving port city where elaborate pastel villas back a tree-lined promenade, Salerno is a down-to-earth introduction to the otherwise very swish Amalfi coast in Campania, southwest Italy. Its old town is a neat web of winding, narrow streets, steps and hills, where wine bars, pizzerias and boutiques all vie for your attention. Wealthier than Rome by the 11th century thanks to its strategic trading location, Salerno has prehistoric foundations and a Greek legacy, as can be seen at the well-preserved, Unesco-listed ruins of Paestum. 'Salernum' was founded by the Romans in 197BC, then ruled by the Byzantines, Normans and Napoleon, among others. It was here that the West's first medical school was founded in the 9th century and, in 1943, the base from which the Allies launched Operation Avalanche, their invasion of Italy. It's lively yet laid-back, with the grit of a working city, where fine food, local wines (a crisp white fiano, please), plenty of cycling and hiking, and genuine good value lie within a twisty drive of Amalfi's tumbledown towns. So, why battle busy Naples when Salerno, with its tiny airport, welcoming atmosphere and greater affordability, offers a far smoother gateway to this revered coastline? • Morning Explore museums and galleries• Eat at Vicolo della Neve• Afternoon Arechi Castle• Drink at Dolci Ricordi• Evening Salerno's 11th-century cathedral• Eat at Volta del Fuenti • Morning Take a cruise• Eat at Filtro• Afternoon Beach time• Drink at BAI craft beer• Evening Shopping in the old town• Eat at Embarcadero ● Salerno's story unfolds through the prehistoric, Roman and Hellenistic finds at the compact Archaeological Museum, with its ancient pottery and columns (free; while artwork spanning some 500 years, including a Madonna and Child by Andrea Sabatini, can be found at the hidden away Salerno Art Gallery (free; The Virtual Museum of Salerno's Medical School offers an immersive examination of Europe's first such institution (£4.25; while the medieval aqueduct is an engineering masterpiece. ● Take the No 19 bus or follow the twisting road on foot to reach the remains of the hilltop Arechi Castle. This looming stone construction, dating from the 6th century, houses a small museum within its thick walls, plus plenty of opportunities to wander the ramparts for the spectacular views of the Gulf of Salerno (£4). ● The understated stonework in the courtyard of Salerno's 11th-century cathedral belies an internal medley of marble, sculptures and frescoes. There is also a dazzling collection of gold-leafed Renaissance artwork, medieval artefacts and the city's famed carved ivories in the cathedral's Diocesan Museum (£6; ● Make the most of the city's great location with a few hours of beach time. Find your spot on Scaramella beach, backed by the promenade, amenities and mountains. Loungers are available to rent (£3.50) on the mixture of dark sand and pebbles that gives way to the shallow expanse of the Tyrrhenian Sea. ● As the heat of the day fades, shutters creak open on shop fronts across the old town, where, among some imported tat, there are some great local products. You might be tempted by zesty lemon goods, lace and leatherwork or affordable handmade ceramics, such as those at Sorrentino,which come carefully packaged for the journey home ( ● Pack swimmers and a towel for a six-hour cruise on board Euphoria from Salerno Molo Manfredi port to Positano and back. Bounce along the rocky coastline, taking in the likes of colourful Amalfi and Cetara, passing yachts, historic towers, luxury hotels and coves. Dive into the deep before tucking into the pasta lunch and glass of fizz on board (from £61pp; • 15 of the best tours of Italy for your next getaway Proof, if needed, that you should always ask a local for the best pizza place, this tucked-away trattoria was recommended by a waiter at a neighbouring bar. Ice was once sold beneath its exposed brick arches, but today there is a warm family feel. Renowned for its obscenely good hand-stretched dough, the succulent tomato-based mussel 'soup' and Salerno's signature scazzetta cake seal the deal (pizza from £6; It's near impossible to walk past this inviting wine bar on Via Mercanti without being lured in by its rows of bottles, ceiling covered with hanging ham legs, and outside tables. Ask its enigmatic owner, Ciro Ascione, for a board of freshly sliced prosciutto and Italian cheeses to accompany a local glass or two of fiano (wine from £5; The airy, whitewashed interior of this restaurant, where you can sample the local chef Michele de Blasio's innovative creations, has been chiselled into the side of a cliff and has just a hint of Bond villain lair. To see just why it's been awarded a Michelin star, choose the eight-course Riflessioni tasting menu; it features Campania's finest ingredients, with perfectly al dente ravioli and succulent lamb with pine nuts (tasting menu £166, mains from £30; Behind rustic forest-green metal shutters in the old town lies the café Filtro, the envy of all street corners. Opened in 2024, this minimalist neighbourhood coffee shop serves buttery house-baked pastries and healthy brunches while brewing the silkiest flat whites in town (mains from £8; • 21 of the best places to visit in Italy Choose from a vast array of bottled and draught Italian craft beers at this independent cavelike bar in the throng of the old town. Colourful seating outside makes for a fabulous spot from which to watch the world go by, pint in hand (drinks from £4; Pop down to the promenade for a waterfront table at this contemporary Mediterranean seafood restaurant. Start with the lavish seafood sharing platter, followed by linguine with clams, which pairs perfectly with wine selected by the sommelier. There's a buzzing rooftop bar for afters too (mains from £17; This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Best for shoppingLocated in the vibrant pedestrianised area of the city, close to the railway station, harbour and high street shops, this historic family-run hotel has rooms to suit all budgets. Choose the Terrace Room for a boudoir with an outside view over the terracotta rooftops and be sure to take advantage of the generous continental breakfast buffet (B&B doubles from £160; Sleep like a kingThis characterful apartment in the old town has centuries of history. The stylish interiors here complement the original exposed brickwork, wooden beams and restored floor tiles of what was an 8th-century royal residence. The well-equipped kitchens, shower rooms and floating double beds add a distinctly modern touch (B&B doubles from £59; The suites at this opulently restored 19th-century palazzo in Salerno's old town offer a wild ride back in time. The baroque-style rooms have chandeliers, frescoes and gold walls. Book a room with a balcony for city views before heading into the cool, calm embrace of nearby Salerno Public Gardens, which opened in 1874 (room-only doubles from £156; There are twice-weekly easyJet flights from Gatwick to Salerno Costa d'Amalfi airport. There is a 40-minute bus from the airport to the centre of town for about £4 one way. • How to escape the crowds on the Amalfi coast Walking is the best way to get around Salerno but there are also plenty of buses. If you're exploring Campania, including Pompeii, consider getting a Campania Artecard 3, which includes entrance to two big sites and public transport in Salerno and the wider region (£36; Henton was a guest of easyJet ( Vinto House ( Volta del Fuenti ( Embarcadero ( For more information see Have you visited Salerno? Share your memories in the comments


USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Trio of Gators among college prospects primed to boost pro stock after returning to school
There still remains the entire 2025-26 college basketball campaign before the next NBA draft, but that certainly has not slowed down the national sports media when it comes to making projections, despite the additional fact that the event is 11 months in the future. The latest to offer their prognostications is CBS Sports writer Cameron Salerno, who published his list of 10 college prospects primed to boost pro stock after returning to school for next season. Among those names were a trio of Florida Gators, in junior forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon (who also plays center), as well as recent transfer portal addition, sophomore guard Boogie Fland. Salerno's top-10 list focuses specifically on players who shunned the draft to return to college who project as potential first-round picks next summer. Of course, these predictions are predicated on the assumption that there will be improvements in performance this season. Thomas Haugh "While putting together my first mock draft of the cycle in April, I initially had Haugh as a potential first-round candidate before he decided to return to Florida. That was without even going through the draft process. I'm here to tell you: buy all the stock you can in Florida's star forward," Salerno begins. "Haugh shined during Florida's NCAA Tournament run because he does all the little things. He's a great offensive rebounder, can stretch the floor and makes winning plays. His archetype is one NBA decision-makers covet," he continues. "Don't be surprised if Haugh is a lottery pick next summer. He has a chance to be an All-America candidate if things go well." Alex Condon "Condon made the right decision to return to school after his play during the NCAA Tournament failed to improve his stock," Salerno notes. "Without a guarantee of going in the first round, Condon decided to run it back and solidified the best frontcourt in college basketball in the process. The two-way upside is what has my attention." Boogie Fland "The reigning national champions got a major boost to their repeat hopes by landing Fland. The Arkansas transfer got off to an incredible start in his freshman campaign before a thumb injury derailed his season during SEC play," he offers. "Fland is a dynamic playmaker who can score at all three levels and his move to Florida is a perfect match for both sides. He was trending as a potential lottery pick before the injury." Other college prospects primed to boost pro stock Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.


The Sun
11-07-2025
- The Sun
I went to beautiful Italian paradise that has new British Airways flights – and found pretty towns away from the crowds
I AM hanging upside down and soaring through the air at 75mph – but it's the scenery that's really taken my breath away. I'm at Cilento in Volo, a zip-line experience in the picturesque town of Trentinara, in south-western Italy. Sitting a little south of the Amalfi Coast, this area is stunning. 5 5 5 And I should know. After all, I have just taken it all in from a bird's eye viewpoint reaching thrilling heights of 985ft amid the coastal mountains, rolling hills and forests of Cilento National Park. And it's now easier than ever to reach this region, in the province of Salerno, with British Airways having recently added a new BA Euroflyer (Gatwick short-haul) route to Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport. Luckily, this slice of Italian paradise is not overpopulated with tourists like its widely known neighbours, Positano, Ravello and Sorrento. So when I'm back on solid ground, I'm able to take in the sights of charming Trentinara away from the crowds. Also known as the 'town of love', thanks to an ancient legend about doomed lovers, Trentinara has plenty to offer along its historic stone streets and winding alleyways (that are particularly appealing at sunset). Among them, you'll find the warmly welcoming Paolino 848 — a wine bar and restaurant serving platters of antipasto, cheese with truffle honey (a revelation), filled focaccia and hearty meatballs. I leave contentedly stuffed. Trentinara's hill-top position means its panoramic piazza offers unbeatable views over the Cilento Coast and the Gulf of Salerno. Just a 20-minute drive away is Paestum, a fascinating archaeological park and a must-see. 7 TOURIST DESTINATIONS - EVERGREEN LISTICLE Here, in what was once a major ancient city founded by Greek colonists before it was captured by the Romans, stand three of the world's best-preserved ancient Greek temples. I position myself alongside the columns of one of them, the magnificent Tempio di Nettuno, for a true sense of scale — and it dwarfs me. The columns somewhat remind me of those in the lobby of the Savoy Hotel & Spa Paestum, not far from here, where I am staying. Nestled among pine groves, just steps from the Tyrrhenian Sea, it's the perfect base for exploring. It even has its own Beach Club 93, with plush cabanas, loungers, a pool, bar, restaurant and a private, sandy beach. This 7,500sq ft sanctuary offers three temperature-controlled pools, a salt cave, ice room, Turkish bath and a number of treatment options. Within seconds in this space, I'm totally at ease Sipping a cocktail here at sunset, gazing out across the sea, I've never felt more content. Apart from when I'm in the hotel's Holos Spa. You'll hear dolphins This 7,500sq ft sanctuary offers three temperature-controlled pools, a salt cave (if you dip your head under the water you'll hear dolphins), ice room, Turkish bath and a number of treatment options. Within seconds in this space, I'm totally at ease. 5 For dinner, there's a relaxed eatery, Bistrot Olivella, as well as a stunning Michelin-starred restaurant, Tre Olivi, which focuses on delicious ingredients from the hotel's impressive kitchen garden — my dining experience is unforgettable. If you'd rather head out for food, the nearby La Dispensa di San Salvatore offers farm-to-table dining featuring the freshest fare from the San Salvatore farm. In the kitchen, Italian nonnas, make seasonal, sustainable dishes as their own mothers and grandmothers once did. Nonna Lucia walks out to the sunny dining terrace where I'm sat and it's here, at the end of a group table, that she makes and shapes the fresh pasta that I'll soon be savouring (along with bowls of fresh salads, helpings of the finest buffalo mozzarella and wines including San Salvatore's award-winning Vetere rosé). This is Italian food made with passion, freshness and authenticity. No visit to Cilento is complete without a trip to the enchanting hilltop town of Castellabate. Alleyways and cobbled streets weave through its ancient walls and its famed terrace offers panoramic views across the coastline and nearby villages. 5 It's from the nearby postcard-pretty fishing port, San Marco di Castellabate, that I take a boat trip along that coastline — calm turquoise waters, alluring beaches and haze-kissed mountains. San Marco's picturesque sister town, Santa Maria di Castellabate, is worth seeing too. I can safely say this extraordinary region of southern Italy has wowed me on all fronts from every angle. Even upside down.


USA Today
30-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
Disney cruise ships have overboard detection systems. What are those?
Two Disney Cruise Line passengers were rescued over the weekend after a child went overboard and her father jumped in after her. The June 29 incident took place during a Bahamas cruise on the Disney Dream ship. "The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson previously told USA TODAY in a statement. "We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols." Child reportedly fell overboard on Disney cruise. Her dad jumped in after her. Disney ships are equipped with overboard detection systems, which are specifically designed for such instances. Here's what to know. What are cruise overboard detection systems? The technology is aimed at cutting down on response times by notifying crew as soon as a person goes overboard. At least one such system utilizes thermal cameras and micro radars to detect these types of incidents. The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 requires that passenger vessels operating in the United States "integrate technology that can be used for capturing images of passengers or detecting passengers who have fallen overboard, to the extent that such technology is available." How many cruise ships have overboard detection systems? While Disney's entire fleet is equipped with overboard detection systems, many other cruise lines have not previously disclosed that information. Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's leading trade group, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how many ships have installed the technology. Brian Salerno, then CLIA's senior vice president of global maritime policy, told USA TODAY in 2023 that there weren't any reliable products of that kind available at the time the CVSSA was passed. Multiple companies have worked to develop more dependable technology in the years since. He said a number of ships had installed them but declined to name specific lines. Cruises see a fair amount of overboards: Are ships equipped? How common are cruise ship overboard incidents? There were 212 overboard incidents involving passengers and crew around the world from 2009 to 2019, according to statistics compiled for CLIA by consulting firm G.P. Wild (International) Limited and reviewed by USA TODAY. Just 48 people were rescued. There have been other such incidents in recent years on a number of ships, including those operated by Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line and more. "I'll stress that people don't just fall over the side," Salerno previously said. "There are railings and they're pretty high. It's almost always the result of an intentional act."


Forbes
26-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
San Matteo Pizzeria E Cucina Sets A Standard For Neapolitan Food In New York
Neapolitan pizzas and panuozzi from Salerno are textbook examples of San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina's ... More cooking.I have refrained from getting into the food media's never-ending harangues over the best pizzas in any city because they have as much credibility as descriptions of twenty different brands of chinos. If, however, there are first-rate pizzas to be found within a restaurant that is also serving excellent Italian food across the board, I'm happy to heap praise on both. Remarkably, a ten-year-old trattoria on New York's upper east side named San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina has evolved so that it probably should switch its name to San Matteo Cucina e Pizzeria, for the Italian food, from antipasti through main courses is among the most robust and delicious in the city, thanks to Fabio and Ciro Casella, whose bonafides begin in their native Salerno. Moving to New York in 1999, Fabio worked at the fabledDean & DeLuca and Mike's Deli of Arthur Avenue before striking out on his own with his brother to open San Matteo Pizza & Espresso Bar in 2010 on 90th and Second Avenue, then the current restaurant on 81st in 2015 (with another on East 89th Street). Once a staple of Italian-American restaurants in New York, potato croquettes return at San Matteo ... More Pizzeria e Cucina Back then the siblings helped revive an interest in southern Italian food, particularly Neapolitan, including the puffy crusted, soft-centered pizzas invented in that city, which transcended the thin-crusted anomalies that ruled New York for years. To get right to the point, yes, San Matteo's pizzas are as close to those of Naples as you'll find in New York––with a yeasty, flavorful crust with real chew, charred bubbles and toppings that make sense, from a classic Margherita to a Paesana with tomato sauce, housemade mozzarella, eggplant cubes and basi,l and Cetara with tomato sauce, mozzarella, capers, oregano, black olives, Sicilian anchovies, garlic and basil. They also make wonderful calzones and panuozzi, a specialty of Salerno, made with baked pizza dough, sliced and stuffed with a variety of ingredients including roast porchetta, mortadella, prosciutto, broccoli di rabe, buffalo mozzarella, marinated eggplant, arugula and roasted peppers. Potato gnocchi in a rich cheese and tomato casserole. Were you able to resist ordering a pizza as a first course, I highly recommend the luscious, cream-centered burrata and prosciutto or the crocche di patate––potato croquettes of a kind that used to be on so many Italian restaurants, now here revived, with a crispy fried crust and velvety interior. Of course the potato gnocchi alla sorrentina are housemade, of the right, tender texture and cuddled in a tomato and eggplant sauce, while other options include tagliatelle with mushrooms, spaghetti cooked in a pouch, and rigatoni with a convincing bolognese sauce rich and complex with vegetables and meat. A massive tomahawk steak is some of the best beef in the city. Main courses revert to traditional fare like chicken parmigiana (another dish now back in favor everywhere), but Fabio recommended a tomahawk steak, which I could see dry aging in the restaurant's refrigerated cabinet. I'm always hesitant about the bravura show of the naked rib at the end of a massive sirloin, but the meat, perfectly charred and cooked medium-rare, was some of the best beef I've eaten in ages, at a time when high-end steakhouses all (falsely or otherwise) promise dry-aged USDA Prime with very little marbling or flavor. This tomahawk specimen had a minerality, a sanguine sweetness and a rich fat content that I recall from the days when the Prime grade really meant something. The steak is huge and four of us––albeit after pizza and pasta––managed to consume only about half the thick, rosy slices; the rest came home with the bone. For dessert there's a generous tiramisù, but even better is the cream-centered lemon cake. San Matteo has a modest wine list fit for a trattoria, with plenty of bottles under $100. Storefront pizzeria decor gives San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina a no-frills ambience. There's not much to say about the décor, which more resembles the average pizzeria than a stylish trattoria. Try to get one of the two tables by the window overlooking the avenue. The Casellas have done well with two New York units of San Matteo, and this year will be selling their pizzas at the upcoming U.S. Open. Plans are in the works for a gelateria in the neighborhood and maybe San Matteos in other cities. I really hope they don't expand too much or too quickly. Food this good takes very careful monitoring, and there are only two Casellas to make sure. But for now, San Matteo has given the upper east side the kind of Italian food so often copied and raved about downtown and in Brooklyn of a kind that go on and off those endless lists. San Matteo should be around for a very long time. SAN MATTEO PIZZERIA E CUCINA 559 Second Avenue 212-861-2434 Open daily for lunch and dinner.