Vietri sul Mare is one of the most important villages in the province of Salerno.
Hidden in the best secluded place of the homonymous gulf, just in the west of the main-town and at the beginning (from the south) of the "Coast of Amalfi" of which Vietri can be considered as the "first pearl".
The city center, dominated by " S. Liberatore mountain", lies on a narrow land, similar to a terrace on the sea and it is dominated by the main church ( St. John's), important monument in the village, built in the 17th century, surmounted by an elegant dome in majolica.
Down the village you can see a tower built in the 16th century to defend Marina from the invasions of the Saracens.The origins of Vietri, according to the best known historiographers, can be considered as deriving from the ancient" Marcina": Etruscan city mentioned in the Geography by Strabone. It extended from Marina to Vietri. They think of its trading function like a " Port of call" of the famous "Nuceria".
The latest archeological ruins found in Vietri, have revealed the presence of archaic tombs with pieces of pottery in Corinthyan style, Roman baths in Marina and a "murus reticolatum" on the seaside of "Fuenti" covered with seawater.Its fame is worldwide because of its Majolica factories. It's an activity dating back to the middle ages, unproved during the following centuries by looking for original elements without disowning its identity. Thanks to its characteristics and his history, Vietri can be considered one of the most important centers in the traditionally artistic ceramic production.
For these centers a recent national law provided a particular trade-mark to safeguard its image and its production. (D.O.D. mark)
