Norman Salerno

The Archdiocese of Salerno, on the occasion of the Millennium 2027, intends to enhance its monumental and artistic heritage from the Norman era, making available the active expertise in its cultural institutions not only to offer additional services specifically tailored for the celebratory occasion but also to provide a broader audience the opportunity to know the vitality of Salerno's cultural and religious traditions. These are indeed deeply rooted in the medieval history of the cathedral, particularly during the Norman period, when Robert Guiscard helped revive the cult of Saint Matthew as the patron saint of the city, supporting the construction of the new building around 1080.

Planned Initiatives:

-CONFERENCE
At the request of the Normandy Region, through Francesca Marocchino, a public conference by Maddalena Vaccaro on "Salerno in the Norman Age" will be organized at the Diocesan Museum "San Matteo", with a thematic visit in the museum halls.
Period: May 16, 2027, at 5:00 PM (to be confirmed for space reservation)

- GUIDED TOURS
The Diocesan Museum "San Matteo", thanks to collaboration with the University of Salerno, will organize regular guided tours to explore the history, monuments, and works from the Norman era that are part of the city's monumental artistic heritage.
In general, a fixed day and time will be established (e.g.: Friday, at 10:00 AM), with open participation.
Period: from March to Saint Matthew and during all major collective events in the city (Luci d’artista, Salerno Literature...).

The guided tours dedicated to Norman Salerno aim to provide a unified path through some of the most significant monuments of the medieval city, following an itinerary that brings together architecture, visual arts, and political patronage.
The starting point is the San Matteo Diocesan Museum, where the extraordinary collection of medieval ivories allows for a deeper understanding of the figurative language and cultural richness of Salerno in the 11th and 12th centuries, highlighting the relationships between local artistic production and the circulation of models from the Byzantine, Islamic, and Latin areas.
The path continues at the Salerno Cathedral, the center of the urban refoundation promoted by the Normans and a symbol of the encounter between Mediterranean artistic traditions, Lombard culture, and new demands of dynastic power.
The itinerary concludes at Palazzo Fruscione, a testimony to the later phase of Norman presence and the urban transformations that affected the city between the 12th and 13th centuries. Through these three places, visitors can understand the transformation of medieval Salerno as a politically, religiously, and culturally important center in Southern Italy.

- EVENTS RELATED TO LITURGICAL FEASTS
May 6, 2027 Feast of the Translation of Saint Matthew and related events
Celebration in the Cathedral of the Solemn Pontifical with rituals that revive medieval traditions: the offering of "columbri" (floral tributes) to the Patron Saint and the ritual of collecting manna, which involves the exceptional opening of the tomb's grate for extracting the liquid with a tube while singing the "Te Deum".

September 21, 2027 Feast of Saint Matthew and “Mattean Days”:
The cultural initiative takes place in the week of September leading up to the feast on September 21, as part of the cycle of solemn Patronal celebrations. The liturgical initiatives, which involve the entire city and numerous visitors, focus around the time of the feast, and beyond the solemn Masses, include the Rite of collecting manna, the exhibition of precious reliquaries normally not visible to the public, and the traditional and engaging procession through the city center with the simulacra of Saint Matthew, Saint Joseph, Saint Gregory VII, Saint Gaius, Saint Antha, and Saint Fortunatus.

All these initiatives and any new programming will be promptly communicated through the Diocese's communication channels.

Practical Information:

For everyone

Free