The view of Salerno from the walls of the medieval castle, Castello di Arechi, is truly breathtaking. Perched atop a mountain at a height of around 300 meters, the castle was built in the 8th century and named after Prince Arechi II.

Getting there by public transportation proved to be quite a challenge – the regular bus we took was delayed by either 45 minutes or an hour and a half (I can’t quite remember now, and it’s not that important anyway), and then we had to navigate through the winding mountain roads at breakneck speed. Needless to say, it was quite an exhilarating experience!

Leaving the castle proved to be even more difficult – in fact, we didn’t even manage to leave! When we realized that we were going to be late for the last bus of the day, we decided to walk down the mountain instead. The problem was that there were no sidewalks on the winding roads, so we had to be extra careful not to slip or trip on the uneven ground. It was certainly an adventure that we won’t forget anytime soon.

But the views from the castle itself made it all worth it. Looking out over the city of Salerno from such a height was a truly awe-inspiring experience. The winding roads below us looked like miniature toy cars, and the buildings in the distance seemed to stretch out to the horizon. We could see the sea in the distance, sparkling in the sunlight, and the mountains on the other side of the city, rising majestically into the sky. It was a view that we will treasure forever.

As we stood there, taking in the beauty of the landscape, we felt a deep sense of connection to the history and culture of this ancient place. We could imagine the battles that must have been fought on these very walls, the people who had lived and worked and loved in this city over the centuries. It was a humbling experience, and one that we will never forget.