Charming apartment in medieval Castel Terracena, Salerno

This charming, tiny apartment in the historical building of Castel Terracena in Salerno, is in the heart of the Medieval old town. Castel Terracena. the residential palace of Robert Guiscard, the Norman prince of Salerno (end of the 11th c.), is the oldest historical building in town.

In this palace the mother of the emperor Friedrich II Hohenstaufen, that was the daughter of Roger II, the Norman King of Sicily, spent some time.
A terrace, or better a covered balcony, is the most delightful corner of the house. A place where to enjoy your breakfast or to spend summer evenings by candlelight and a glass of wine. It overlooks an inner courtyard, one of the courtyards of the original Norman palace, where nowadays housewives chatter from balcony to balcony and where the washing flatters in the wind - this is the flair of the South.

The renovated apartment is furnished also with fine antiques. There is a living room (sofa bed for two people) and, in a recess at the window, there is a small corner for writing letters, with a glass table and shelves, containing guides about Naples, Salerno, Amalfi, Paestum... A corridor hides a pretty terracotta collection on glass shelves, with pieces from the nearby Vietri sul Mare pottery, and leads to a very small bedroom with french bed for one or two people (attention: it is 1.30 m wide!) with modern bathroom equipped with a shower.

The kitchen/dining-room is fully equipped and comfortably furnished. It is decorated with hand-painted terracotta tiles, designed by Vietri artists especially for the owner. These artists, the Fratelli Liguori, had an exhibition even at the Louvre. The covered balcony has a cast-iron table with 6 chairs, pot plants, candlesticks, two stone benches and a small antique marble washbasin.

Cleaning service during your stay is eventually provided at request and at further cost (3 hours = 30 euros). We demand that you leave the apt. clean on your departure.

As for internet, you could use an internet-key to be recharged with the various Italian providers: Vodafone, Telecom, Wind, etc. In case you do not have an internet-key, we could provide you one, but the cost of the recharge will be on you.

A 2-minute walk takes one through the romantic streets to Salerno cathedral, with its wonderful pillared inner courtyard (which boasts the same star-shaped rosettes as the terrace of your palazzo!); the noteworthy San Benedetto church and the archaeological museum, with its remarkable collection of 11th - 12th century ivory, are also nearby. The sea is also only a few hundred meters away - wander along the elegant beachside paths, bordered by palms, enjoy the lovely view of the Amalfi Coast and relax in one of the many bars, pizzerias or fish restaurants along the Corso Garibaldi...

Salerno is a convenient starting point from which to explore the Campania region: the town has less traffic and tourism than Naples and you avoid the overcrowded narrow routes along the Amalfi Coast. The famous excavations at Pompei are a mere 20 minutes away by car, Naples only about 45 minutes. In a good hour, you can also reach the Greek temple of Paestum, the romantic harbor town of Agropoli and the beautiful coastline in the Cilento natural reserve; Amalfi is about half an hour away, Positano and Ravello around an hour. During the summer months, when the Wagner festival is held (Richard Wagner was inspired to compose Klingsor here), the music town of Ravello becomes a 'magical concert hall looking down over the water'.

Castel Terracena is a suitable place to visit without a car: an easy bus or train trip will take you to Naples or to the famous excavations at Pompei; there are also organized trekking excursions: a 5-hour outing combines Amalfi, Positano and Agerola (information in the house). Those preferring a more relaxing holiday could take an organized day trip with the bus, along the fascinating steep Amalfi coastline. Since the coastal road is quite narrow, winding (1200 bends in 42 km) and rather overcrowded in summer, we recommend hiring a Vespa in the summer months, if you should wish to explore alone. It is possible to rent moterbikes (and boats) at the railway station of Salerno.

Basics:

Number of Bedrooms 1	Number of Bathrooms 1	Number of Offices 0
Surface Size 40 Sq. Feet	Suited for 2 people	Property Type Apartment or Condo

Availability:

Available from Monday, December 10, 2012 until Open
Minimum Stay 1 week(s)	Flexibles With Dates Yes	Comments on Dates you are welcome at any date