Sarno

Sarno is a town with 31,032 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) in the province of Salerno in the Campania region. The residents of the community are called Sarnesi; the saint is Saint Michael.

Geography

It lies at the foot of the Apennines to 30 m slm. Near the river Sarno, who at Pompeii flows into the Mediterranean later arises. Neighboring municipalities are Quindici (AV), Siano and Bracigliano.

History

In the village is a medieval castle, which belonged to Francesco Coppola, who played an important role in a conspiracy of the barons against Ferdinand II of Aragon, who had brought the beginning of the 16th century Sarno, along with much of southern Italy under his control. Walter III. of Brienne is buried in the church of S. Maria della Foce, which was newly built in 1701. The travertine, which is found in the springs of the Sarno was used for the construction of Pompeii. Before Sarno was incorporated into the Kingdom of Naples, it made a county ruled by the families of the Orsini, Coppola, Suttavilla and Colonna.

May 5, 1998 landslides destroyed large parts of the community and part of the neighboring towns Quindici, Siano and Bracigliano. Here, 161 people died.