Salernum

Salerno
Comune
Comune di Salerno
Panorama of Salerno
Flag Coat of arms
Salerno within the Province of Salerno and Campania
Salerno Location of Salerno in Italy
Coordinates: 40°41′0″N 14°46′0″E / 40.68333°N 14.76667°E / 40.68333; 14.76667Coordinates: 40°41′0″N 14°46′0″E / 40.68333°N 14.76667°E / 40.68333; 14.76667
Country	Italy
Region	Campania
Province / Metropolitan city	Salerno (SA)
Founded	197 BC
Government
• Mayor	Vincenzo Napoli (acting) (PSI)
Area
• Total	58.96 km2 (22.76 sq mi)
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population (30 November 2014)
• Total	133,199
• Density	2,300/km2 (5,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Salernitani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	84121 to 84135
Dialing code	089
Patron saint	Saint Matthew
Website	Official website

Salerno ([saˈlɛrno]  listen ) is a city and comune in Campania (south-western Italy) and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Salerno was an independent Lombard principality in the early Middle Ages. During this time, it became the site of the first medical school in the world. In the 16th century, under the Sanseverino family, among the most powerful feudal lords in southern Italy, the city became a great centre of learning, culture and the arts, and the family hired several of the greatest intellectuals of the time. Later, in 1694, the city was struck by several catastrophic earthquakes and plagues. After a period of Spanish rule which would last until the 18th century, Salerno became part of the Parthenopean Republic.

In recent history the city hosted the King of Italy, who moved from Rome in 1943 after Italy negotiated a peace with the Allies in World War II. A brief so-called "government of the South" was then established in the town, which became the Capital of Italy for some months. Some of the Allied landings during Operation Avalanche (the invasion of Italy) occurred near Salerno.