Duomo di San Matteo
One of the differences an American sees in Italian culture is the value of what is old. In America, so much is new, mostly originating in the 19th-21st centuries. Thus, when you see a duomo (cathedral) that dates back to 900-1100 AD, it is something to behold. San Matteo's remains were transported to Salerno around 1000 AD, and this duomo (many times rebuilt, but the original "layers" are still very visible) holds his crypt. There is a rich beauty to Italian architecture, not only in its age, but its design, color, use of materials, and incredible attention to detail. Mosaics, for example, are stunning, using little bits of stone and glass.
The Duomo is in perhaps the oldest part of Salerno, an area that has recently been renovated, from a run down area to a place now where families passegiata on Sundays, and there are shops open. Perhaps most interesting, the Duomo di San Matteo is still used today, for masses, for festa celebrations, and for weddings. In fact, the day I visited (Sunday, 13 Aprile, 2008), there was a wedding taking place.
When I hear the four main New Testament writers ("Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John")," I always thought of them as existing only in the Bible. I would not have guessed that the remains of at least one of these saints is known, and, as we would say in America, "accessible." The details of much of St. Matthew's life is unknown, but in addition to his role in spreading Christianity, he worked as a publican, and died as a martyr shortly after the death of Christ. In Hebrew, the name "Matthew" is ancient, meaning "gift from God."