Once our Alilauro ferry docked in Sorrento, we rushed to the taxi area, hoping to catch a taxi. We needed to get to the Hertz Rental Agency ASAP (before it closed for lunch at 13:00).
Unfortunately, there were no taxis. This was a big surprise since taxis know the ferry schedule and should be happy for additional business.
After waiting 15 minutes, we decided to walk to the Hertz Agency (which closed for lunch from 13:00 - 1500). We dragged our suitcases behind us and finally arrived at Hertz. (On the way there, we asked another taxi for a ride, but he wanted 20.00 euros to go 2 blocks).
After speaking to an agent, we finally settled on an Opel Corsa with the license plate GL235AS. Since I had never driven in Italy, I opted to purchase additional auto insurance coverage as a precaution. The other basic insurance added 100.00 euros to my bill (the final total was 500.91 euros for 5 days).
While waiting for the car to be dropped off, I tried to stop by a few banks to get cash for our upcoming trip to Salerno and Castelmagno. My favorite local bank - Deutsche Bank - was out of euros! I had to find another bank. I settled on UniCredit, which charged me a 5.00 euro fee. I was happy to withdraw 200.00 euros and figured the credit union would reimburse the ATM charges.
My Blue Opel Corsa arrived a few minutes later, and I spent time taking photos and looking for damage. It was a manual car with Apple CarPlay (which I could not figure out how to connect to). I was disappointed that it lacked a rearview parking camera. It made parallel parking much harder. It also lacked accelerating power. I had to frequently downshift to make the car accelerate.
We started our drive to Salerno at around 13:00. We arrived at 14:20. It was a stressful drive, especially in Sorrento, as I had to contend with scooters, electric bikes, motorcycles, pedestrians, and other aggressive drivers.
Eventually, we reached Salerno and parked in the Area di Sosta Piazza della Concordia. Parking was being charged at 2.00 euros per hour, which seemed reasonable.
In Salerno, we walked along the main promenade to the old town to reach the Duomo. Along the way, we stopped for lunch at the Embarcadero restaurant, where we were seated outdoors with beautiful views of the seawall and the Tyrrhenian Sea. We ordered the following items:
- Drinks: Sparkling Water, 2 Cappuccinos
- Appetizer: Buffalo Mozzarella
- Main: Mix of Cheese and Salami (with apricot jam, bread, olives, and other snacks)
The cheeses and deli meats on the Cheese and Salami plate were exceptional, especially when paired with the delicious Apricot Jam.
After lunch, we followed a tour group toward Salerno's Duomo but needed help finding the Duomo. Eventually, we found it and paid the 7.00-euro-per-ticket entrance fee.
The main hall of the Duomo is beautiful and understated (but in a different league than the Duomos in Florence or Milan). However, Salerno Duomo's crypt was another matter; it was beautifully decorated with paintings throughout. We enjoyed walking around it.
After finishing at the Duomo, we wandered the streets of Salerno for a while before deciding to grab some gelato to cool off. We found a highly rated Gelateria nearby - Punto Freddo - and walked there. We ordered a few unique flavors, and they were pretty good, but in a different league than Fresco Gelateria in Sorrento.
With gelato eaten, we returned to our parked Opel Corsa and paid the parking fee (6.00 euros). Then, we started our drive to Castemezzano. The drive was much more manageable, though it took another 100 minutes to reach Hotel Dolomiti.
We temporarily parked our car near Hotel Dolomiti and brought our bags out. We checked into Hotel Dolomiti, and our hostess explained how and where to park our car (behind a blue line). We also made a reservation for dinner at 20:00.
We discovered that the famous Volo dell'Angelo (Angel Flight), a high-speed zip line that crosses the valley between Castelmezzano and the neighboring town of Pietrapertosa, was closed for the season. We wanted to try it out.
After resting in our room (on the 2nd floor), we rode the elevator to dinner on floor 0. We ordered the following items:
- Appetizer: Insalata Polpo, seppie and verdure (Octopus)
- First Course: Pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale
- Dessert: Tiramisu
- Drinks: 2 Hot English Breakfast Teas, Sparkling Water
Salerno Trip Report
Highlights
- Visiting Salerno's Duomo (especially the crypt)
- Walking the long, straight promenade along the waterfront
- Eating gelato at Punto Freddo
- Easy parking at Area di Sosta Piazza della Concordia
Lowlights
- Heavy rush hour traffic
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