Salerno is a city and comune located in the Campania region of southern Italy. It serves as the capital of the province of Salerno and sits on the Gulf of Salerno along the Tyrrhenian Sea. As of 2025, it has a population of 125,958, making it the second most populous municipality in its region after Naples.
The city's origins are likely linked to Magna Greece, supported by archaeological evidence such as a 6th-century BC Etruscan-Campanian necropolis. Historically, Salerno was home to the Schola Medica Salernitana, one of Europe's earliest medical institutions and a precursor to the modern university system.
From February to August 1944, Salerno served as the seat of the Italian government during World War II. During this period, King Victor Emmanuel III resided in the city following the Armistice of Cassibile. It was also the site of the "Salerno turn," where the Italian Communist Party agreed to join a national unity government.