Salerno (ancient Salernum), city and port, southern Italy, capital of Salerno Province, in Campania Region, on the Gulf of Salerno. Industries include the manufacture of machinery, foodstuffs, and textiles. A university (1970) is here. The city was celebrated in the Middle Ages for its medical school. Salerno was originally a Greek settlement and became a Roman colony in the 2nd century bc. It became an independent principality in the 9th century ad. Falling under Norman control in 1076, Salerno flourished under the reign of the Norman adventurer Robert Guiscard. In 1943, during World War II, American forces made a major landing south of Salerno. Population (2001 estimate) 141,724.