A stopper at the end of the Amalfi Coast, Salerno spills down the ridges of Monte Bonadies to meet the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. It's a lively place that's South Italy through and through, packing in beer bars, family trattorias and a chart-topping centro storico old town that's laden with carved Baroque churches.

Historic explorations of the center can begin in the company of a Salerno tour guide, who can reveal the secrets of the 11^th-century Duomo of Salerno and the glorious ceiling frescos of the Saint George Church between the narrow lanes and alleys. Close by, escapes to the tree-lined Lungomare promenade mean sunset cocktails as the Med laps the shore. On the hill above town is the Castello di Arechi, packing in immersive archaeological museums amid its age-old corridors.

Salerno draws honeymooners and couples aplenty thanks to its proximity to the UNESCO-attested Amalfi Coast. Hop in a car and start to navigate the winding roads that delve into that and you can encounter clusters of citrus orchards, vineyards, and stunning towns like Positano and Erchie, not to mention the fabled isle of Capri.