Cittadella giudiziaria, Modern judicial complex in Salerno, Italy.

The Cittadella Giudiziaria is a modern judicial complex in Salerno composed of six interconnected buildings set on a black stone foundation. The structures follow rationalist design principles with clear organization and internal courtyards that create logical pathways linking the different functional areas.

The first plan for a judicial citadel dates to the 1980s, when the city proposed an eastern site. After Vincenzo De Luca became mayor in 1993, the project moved to the disused goods yard in the city centre. An international competition in 1999 chose David Chipperfield, ahead of Miralles-Tagliabue and Dominique Perrault. Work began in 2003, stopped for unplanned groundwater and the contractor's 2008 bankruptcy, and was completed in 2019.

Lawyers and visitors use the wide corridors to gather and discuss cases before hearings, transforming the open plazas into informal meeting spaces throughout the day. The color scheme of green, red, and ochre breaks from the severe look of traditional courthouses, making the space feel more approachable to ordinary people.

The site is accessible on foot, with wide level pathways between buildings that accommodate those with limited mobility without difficulty. Different areas are clearly marked with signage, allowing visitors to find the correct courtrooms easily.

A sculpture titled Faro della Giustizia by Ben Jakober and Yannich Vu stands at the main entrance, merging contemporary art with the rationalist architecture. This piece was specifically created to visualize the concept of justice and shapes the first impression of arriving at the site.