Salerno, we start again with 'dehors' and 'beverage tables'

Per extension and breadth, it could represent the appendix of extra space for those commercial activities, bars and restaurants in particular, which are grappling with measurements of the square footage to comply with health protocols in view of a reopening. The Salerno seafront, a destination for tourists, vacationers and visitors, has always been the jewel in the crown of the city that is invaded, peacefully, on sunny weekends. Above all, the stretch that goes from Piazza della Concordia to the beach of Santa Teresa. The beach at the foot of what will be Piazza della Liberta' is a meeting place for young people and children who entertain themselves on the wooden steps, enjoy an ice cream or have a drink. Not far away, there is a kiosk bar, one of the very few activities on the seafront. In fact, for the most part, the Salerno nightlife is hosted by the nearby Via Roma and Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

“Certainly, experiencing the waterfront is a beautiful thing and it was already done before. Now, reliving the waterfront and, in general, the outdoor spaces, for me, could be a positive thing”, the councilor for Productive Activities of the Municipality of Salerno, Dario Loffredo, tells AGI, claiming that “the Administration, with a pioneering intervention by Giusta compared to the Government, has planned an expansion of all the outdoor spaces of bars and restaurants”. But, he specifies: “No area will be excluded, but always in compliance with the existing rules of Customs, Harbor Master's Office, state property and the ASL”. Along the seafront promenade, even before the outbreak of the pandemic, some establishments had asked and obtained the green light from the City Hall to place outdoor seating because “the current municipal regulation already provides for the presence of tables for beverages”, explains Loffredo. Meanwhile, on the table of the mayor and councilors, there are several hypotheses to support bars and restaurants. In addition to the expansion of outdoor spaces, which must comply with the Highway Code regarding pedestrian crossings, there is also the provision of making working hours flexible, based on changes in people's habits.

“The waterfront can represent an opportunity for the new scenarios and new market developments that will open up,” Ottavio Sorrentino, owner of the restaurant 'Sala Varese' overlooking the Trieste waterfront, reveals to AGI. The entrepreneur from Salerno looks “at other European cities on the sea” and hopes that “those spaces on the waterfront can once again become representative of the identity of a seaside city.” He also proposes that the restaurateurs themselves “take care of the hygiene and cleaning of the occupied areas, taking care of their aesthetics based on uniform guidelines for everyone.” Some doubts are expressed by Mario Ventura, owner of the Emanuel Cafe' on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a pedestrian shopping street a handful of meters from the waterfront. “We have to imagine being able to carry out our work in maximum safety. And, beyond the Covid-19 schemes, the seafront would have to be crossed if we wanted to serve our customers”, he underlines to AGI speaking of the conformation of the road that runs along the coastal strip which is accessible to vehicles for two lanes and, then, becomes pedestrian going towards the sea.

San Giorgio, under the yoke of usury for five years: "They took everything from me, even my dignity." July 28, 2025 - 07:38

“For me, it’s not the best because there are other health and hygiene issues, we have to respect the ASL rules, we have to cross the street with full plates and glasses,” he explains, stressing that “the rush to reopen must not make us make huge mistakes.” He admits, however, that “as an outlet for young people, the Santa Teresa seafront and beach are a good solution, but ad hoc events should be recreated, which is not possible at the moment, and we cannot think of moving restaurants to the seafront. There are the squares, Flavio Gioia and Portanova, potential places to host groups.” For Ventura, who is president of Fipe Confcommercio of Salerno and the province, “we have to be good at imagining the work of the future, to restore dignity to everyone, see the most affected areas such as discos and cocktail bars and the nightlife. It may be that discos, this year, rather than clubbing, will have the possibility of setting up tables and organizing dinner shows”. The need, according to him, is to get everyone going again “respecting the rules” because “we want a lively city”.