Complesso monumentale di San Pietro a Corte

About the museum

The San Pietro a Corte complex tells the story of Salerno from the Roman age to the 18th century, and is the only surviving remnant of the ancient palace of the Lombard prince Arechi II. In the 8th century, on the remains of a Roman bath building already reused as a place of worship and burial in early Christian times, Arechi had a chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul built, linked to his residence and used as a reception hall.

In the following centuries the building was transformed several times. After the Norman conquest of 1076 the underground space, known as the hypogeum, housed an oratory decorated with frescoes of Byzantine influence from the late 12th century; the upper hall served for meetings of the city parliament and for graduation ceremonies of the Scuola Medica Salernitana (Salerno Medical School). From the 16th century it became a commendatory abbey and in the 18th century, under the Pignatelli family, altars and paintings were redone and the small chapel of Sant’Anna was built.

After its suppression in the 19th century the building fell into disuse and was even used as a military depot during the First World War. From the 1970s the heritage authority (Soprintendenza) began excavations and restorations, and in 2010 the upper chapel, the hypogeum and the chapel of Sant’Anna were reopened to the public. The complex now comprises four buildings: the hypogeum, the former palatine chapel, the bell tower and the chapel of Sant’Anna.

Highlights

• Hypogeum with traces of Roman baths and 12th-century frescoes
• Former palatine chapel of Arechi II, a unique example of Lombard civil architecture
• Early Christian tomb of Socrates in the frigidarium of the baths
• High altar with the Madonna in glory between Saints Peter and Paul
• 18th-century chapel of Sant’Anna

Operated by

Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Salerno e Avellino

Visitors per year

approx. 31,194

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

No accessibility information is published.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The complex is in the heart of Salerno’s historic centre, in the Larghetto San Pietro a Corte.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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