Pontecagnano Faiano (also known simply as Pontecagnano) is a town and ''

comune A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...

'' of the

province of Salerno The province of Salerno () is a province in the Campania region of Italy. It has 1,054,766 inhabitants as of 2025. Geography The largest towns in the province are: Salerno, the capital, which has a population of 131,950; Cava de' Tirreni, Bat ...

in the

Campania Campania is an administrative Regions of Italy, region of Italy located in Southern Italy; most of it is in the south-western portion of the Italian Peninsula (with the Tyrrhenian Sea to its west), but it also includes the small Phlegraean Islan ...

region of south-west

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. The area dates back to Roman times when the city of Picentia stood in its place and was destroyed by the Romans after the

Second Punic War The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of Punic Wars, three wars fought between Ancient Carthage, Carthage and Roman Republic, Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For ...

Geography

Located in the south-eastern suburb of

Salerno Salerno (, ; ; ) is an ancient city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Campania, southwestern Italy, and is the capital of the namesake province, being the second largest city in the region by number of inhabitants, after Naples. It is located ...

, the municipality is formed by the towns of Pontecagnano (the main center and municipal seat), Faiano (a small hill town, secondary seat), and by the villages of Baroncino, Corvinia, Magazzeno, Pagliarone, Picciola, and Sant'Antonio a Picenzia. It borders with

Battipaglia Battipaglia () is a municipality (''comune'') in the province of Salerno, in the Campania region of southern Italy. The town is renowned for its production of buffalo mozzarella and is one of the most productive agricultural centers in the Sele ...

, Bellizzi, Giffoni Valle Piana, Montecorvino Pugliano, and

. The town of Pontecagnano is the municipal seat and the most populated settlement of the ''comune''. It is situated close to the urban area of

and a few kilometers from the coast. The village of Faiano, the co-official administrative seat, is located a few kilometers from Pontecagnano on the hills, on the road to Montecorvino Pugliano, next to the

Monti Picentini image:Monti Picentini.jpg, 300px, Rocky limestone landscape in the monti Picentini. The Monti Picentini is a mountain range and national park in southern Italy, part of the Apennines, traditionally part in the Campanian Apennines. They are includ ...

. It is locally known for its abundance of water sources. The civil parishes include Magazzeno (by the coast), Picciola (close to the airport of Salerno), Sant'Antonio a Picenzia (close to Pontecagnano), and Baroncino (between Pontecagnano and Faiano).

History

The area of Pontecagnano was settled as early as the

Copper Age The Chalcolithic ( ) (also called the Copper Age and Eneolithic) was an archaeological period characterized by the increasing use of smelted copper. It followed the Neolithic and preceded the Bronze Age. It occurred at different periods in dif ...

(3500-2300 BC), as evidenced by archaeological excavations that have uncovered two sanctuaries and two necropolises. In the 9th-8th centuries BC, remains belonging to the

Villanovan Culture The Villanovan culture (–700 BCE), regarded as the earliest phase of the Etruscan civilization, was the earliest Iron Age culture of Italy. It directly followed the Bronze Age Proto-Villanovan culture which branched off from the Urnfield cult ...

, the predecessor to the

Etruscans The Etruscan civilization ( ) was an ancient civilization created by the Etruscans, a people who inhabited Etruria in List of ancient peoples of Italy, ancient Italy, with a common language and culture, and formed a federation of city-states. Af ...

, have been found. The Etruscan center, possibly called Amina, emerged in the 6th century BC. At the height of its power, it ruled over the land extending from

to the Sele River. The town was known for a temple dedicated to the Argive Juno, which was reputedly built by

Jason Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greek mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece is featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was married to the sorceress Med ...

. In 268 BC, the Romans established a new town called Picentia in the area to accommodate a nucleus of deported Picentini. Pliny 3.9 During the Middle Ages, the area declined in importance, and much of the population migrated to higher, more defensible areas such as Faiano. In more recent centuries, Pontecagnano Faiano saw significant development, particularly in agriculture and industry, benefiting from its proximity to Salerno.

Economy

Pontecagnano Faiano has a diverse economy based on agriculture, industry, and services. The fertile plains in the surrounding areas support the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, and olives. The town has also developed an industrial sector, particularly in the production of construction materials and metalworking. The commercial sector is growing, driven by its proximity to Salerno and the increasing number of businesses in the area.

Landmarks and culture

The town is home to several historical and cultural landmarks: * National Archaeological Museum of Pontecagnano, which houses artifacts from the Etruscan and Roman periods. *Church of St. Benedict, a historic religious structure. *Villa Pignatelli, a noble residence. * The ruins of Picentia, which include remnants of the ancient Roman settlement.

Transportation

The town is well connected to nearby cities and regions: *The Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport, located near Pontecagnano, facilitates air travel. *The town has a railway station on the Battipaglia-Salerno line, providing train connections to major destinations. *The A2 motorway and other regional roads ensure easy access to Salerno, Naples, and other parts of Campania.

References

External links

Official website
Cities and towns in Campania Villanovan culture {{Campania-geo-stub