St. Matthew's Cathedral: the Cathedral of Salerno

About this activity

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels where the remains of St. Matthew are located is more commonly known as the Cathedral of Salerno. The name given to the Cathedral is due to the presence of the remains of St. Matthew that are kept here. The 11th-century Romantic-style cathedral enjoys the honorary title of Minor Basilica, being the city's main place of worship.

Why visit the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels

The Cathedral of Salerno is not only the city's main place of worship, but a magnificent building rich in history and exceptional artistic architecture. At first glance, one immediately notices that the Cathedral develops longitudinally through three naves. It then possesses the transept, three apses and a quadriporticus. But later one realizes that one is in front of a new and articulated construction: the crypt with the remains of the saint, has the shape of a hall and its space is marked by columns and apses that correspond to those of the upper transept.

But externally it is also very distinctive. The Romantic style in which it was built was later enriched by Baroque influences that accentuate its aesthetic taste. The tall bell tower is an example of Arab-Norman fusion and has as many as eight bells inside that call out to the faithful at prayer times. The hours during which the cathedral can be accessed are extensive and leave ample choice for visitors who want to enjoy the magnificence of the cathedral. A pipe organ and the curious treasure chapel make its visit even more intriguing.

Curiosities about St. Matthew's Cathedral

In addition to the remains of the saint to whom the cathedral is dedicated, there are also several other noteworthy sarcophagi in the cathedral: that of Margherita Durazzo and Duke William. In addition to the architectural beauty, it is also important to note the strong symbolism clearly visible already from the entrance to the church. A lion and her lioness nursing their cub welcome the visitor as a sign of the power and charity of the Church. The lintel features a trellis of vines and dates pecked by numerous birds symbolizing the high spiritual nourishment of the soul while a monkey and a lion placed at the extremes symbolize the opposition of heresy to truth.