At the foot of the Lattari Mountains, the historic center of Corbara is an intricate village of stepped houses that tells centuries of history. Narrow streets and stairways that follow the curves of the hillside lead to the discovery of ancient churches, charming courtyards and unexpected views.
Borgo Sala: between suspended alleys and a Lombard soul
Lying on the slopes of the Lattari Mountains, the historic center of Corbara is identified with the village Sala, a built-up area that preserves intact its original structure, whose morphology is reminiscent of the characteristic towns of the Amalfi Coast, of whose UNESCO area Corbara is an integral part. Here, the cluster of stone houses, connected by a maze of alleys and stairways, offers visitors an atmosphere suspended in time and evocative views ranging from the Sarno Valley to the Gulf of Naples, with Vesuvius in the background.
The name “Hall” probably comes from a Lombard term indicating a meeting place or administrative center, on the site that now houses the chapel of St. Joseph. The urban layout is extremely distinctive: the small, understated houses are arranged in tiers following the natural lines of the hill and are connected by steep stairways and narrow alleys. This configuration not only met aesthetic criteria but also practical ones, serving to channel rainwater from the mountains without damaging the houses. Houses often gathered around communal courtyards, evidence of a shared social life, while the main streets converged on Largo Roma, a small widening that served as the hub of the community.
The roots of the settlement go back to the dispersal of the inhabitants of nearby Nuceria Alfaterna in the 2nd century B.C. and the inhabitants of the Pompeii area after the eruption of 79 A.D., although the name “Corbara” appears in documents only in the 11th century. For a long time the hamlet remained linked to the confederation of Nocera hamlets, gaining true civil and religious autonomy only at the end of the 16th century. Despite the damage suffered from the bombings of 1943, when the Allies passed through Corbara forOperation Avalanche that kicked off the liberation of Italy, and from the 1980 earthquake, the town’s defiladed location from major traffic routes has allowed the historic center to maintain its ancient physiognomy.
Strolling through the historic center of Corbara: a “terrace on Paradise”
To visit Borgo Sala is to immerse oneself in an itinerary rich in history and art. In the heart of the ward, almost hidden among the houses, is St. Joseph’s Church, an 18th-century chapel that reflects an intimate religiosity. Moving on to the locality of Piazza, once the outskirts of the village, stands the Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle: built in the late 1500s, it represents the symbol of the community’s independence and houses valuable Baroque altars inside. Instead, climbing to the top of the cliff overlooking the town, the Church of St. Erasmus is worth a visit, appreciable for its panoramic location.
To enjoy the most impressive view, one must reach the Telegraph Lookout, an observation point that once housed a visual communication system. From this terrace, which can also be reached by car, the view embraces the entire valley; a scenery that in the 19th century deeply impressed the writer Guy de Maupassant, who called Corbara “a terrace on Paradise.” The surrounding landscape is shaped by terraces where the Corbara (or Corbarino) tomato is grown, a small berry variety with a bittersweet flavor that grows without irrigation and is the absolute star of the local gastronomy.
