Irno Park and Pinocchio Park

The Irno River is such a part of Salerno’s identity that for some historians it gave the city its name (the opposite is probably true). Along its banks, in the stretch through the city near the mouth, so

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no two natural parks have sprung up, with different characteristics, but equally rich in greenery, public open spaces, and services.

The Irno Park occupies the area of an old brick factory – the Salid – and is a crossroads of industrial archaeology, spaces for culture, and botanical garden. An absolutely original and fascinating intersection. The factory’s chimney towers and is visible from afar and starts from the base of the old furnace, which is now intended to host exhibitions and events in an extremely atmospheric setting. The mill, on the other hand, houses the Teatro Ghirelli, home of the Fondazione Salerno Contemporanea.

The Irno Park then has a botanical space structured on seven thematic gardens, excellently maintained and cared for: the “garden of centenarians,” the “garden of medicinal plants,” the “garden of roses,” the “garden of fruits,” the “garden of aromatic plants of the Mediterranean,” the “garden of magnolias,” and the “garden of citrus trees.”

The adjoining park “Terme Campione” named after an ancient spa that once stood in the area, is commonly called “Pinocchio Park” because of the presence of a bronze statue of Pinocchio, created by 8217;artist Antonio Petti. The’main entrance is highlighted by a monumental fountain, a pergola of wisteria, palm trees and a system ofartistic lighting. The park is laid out along a main avenue from which all the secondary paths branch off, giving access to the lawn and the area designated for free activities. At the center of the’green oasis is a large amphitheater that hosts events and entertainment activities aimed at young children and a building with an architecture that is perfectly integrated with its surroundings with a refreshment areaanda multipurpose hall intended for various activities.