Founded
in the VIII century, almost certainly on the site of the ancient Etruscan
settlement Marcina, Vietri (80 m) is a pleasant little town, the main
town in the province of Salerno, which, together with the scattered wards
of Medina, Marina, Raito, Benin-casa, Albori, Dragonea and Fonti, has
a population of about 10,000 inhabitants. Located high up at the opening
of the valley carved out by the stream Bonea, Vietri is a popular seaside
resort which bases its greatest economic resource on tourism. However,
it also has a flourishing agriculture (vegetables, grapevines, citrus
fruits) and the traditional industry of decorative pottery. The highest
point in the town is dominated by the dome tiled with majolica and by
the tall bell tower of the parish church of San Giovanni Battista The
church, built in 1732, has an interesting XVI century polyptych. About
a kilometre to the west of the town is the beautiful beach of Marina
di Vietri,
watched over by the
Torre Crestarella.