Port review: Salerno

[epixx]

Although I much prefer Naples for its ready access to transportation and variety of offerings, we recently had a fantastic day on a cruise port stop in Salerno.

 

We disembarked the ship and took the first port shuttle (required) into Salerno, arriving just before 0800. We then walked for about 5 minutes to Molo Manfredi, where we caught the 0820 jet ferry (8 euros per person) to Amalfi and arrived 25 minutes later. The ferry ride was gorgeous.

 

After stopping in town for our obligitory cup of cappucino for fortification, we walked up the main street of town to find the entrance to the hike in the Valle delle Ferriere (http://www.valledelleferriere.it/p/blog-page.html). It begins just opposite of a paper mill museum, which we skipped because it didn't open until 1000. The hike is fabulous! It begins with an ascent adjacent to lemon groves and continues through the shade next to a flowing river, past ruins of old paper mills which were previously an economic foundation of the area. At a fork in the trail, we veered right toward Pontone through the Valle dei Mulini. Pontone is a charming town situated high above Amalfi with amazing views up the mountains and down to the water. From Pontone, we walked down, down, down hundreds of steps back to Amalfi, where we stopped for excellent pizza at at local Trattoria and were serenaded by an accordian trio. We strolled Amalfi town for about another hour and caught the 1410 ferry back to Amalfi (Piazza Concordia). The walk from Piazza Concordia to the port shuttle location took about 25 minutes.

 

I highly recommend this port activity for anyone looking for fabulous scenery and exercise!

[marymcgol]

Can you provide a little more information regarding the location of the ferry terminals. I thought the ferries to Amalfi and Positano left from the Piazza Concordia, but you referenced Molo Manfredi. We will be in Salerno in late September and plan to see the Amalfi coast by ferry and we want to be as efficient as possible given limited time. Thanks for your help.

 

Mary

[epixx]

Although more ferries depart from Piazza Concordia, the Molo Manfredi location is much closer to the cruise ship shuttle drop off point.

 

Look at the port map:

 

http://www.porto.salerno.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=7

 

Our ship docked at Molo 3 Gennaio, and the shuttle drop off point was close to the Manfredi Gate on the map.

 

Here's another view:

 

http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/maps/ITA_Port_of_Salerno_2702.php

 

On the above map, you can see how much closer Molo Manfredi (where the map says "Stazione Marittima di Salerno") is to the cruise ship dock, when compared with Piazza Concordia.

 

I do not know whether this includes all options, buy you can search timetables here:

 

http://www.travelmar.it/en/index

 

Have a great day.