|
The laundry hung out to dry, the opera, the Mafia, football, pizza and family… The clichés are indeed true. This is all part of daily life here among the locals in Campania. The region has a very special character, which has earned it the title of the ‘real Italy’. The landscapes here are diverse and truly unforgettable. There are mountains — where bears are still to be found — original Italian countryside, the steep coast and the volcano Mount Vesuvius. One of the many attractions of Campania is Pompei, the Roman city which in 79 AD was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The city was well preserved after the eruption, being discovered once again only in the 17th century. Some of the many things you’ll find here are a forum, temples, mural paintings (frescoes) and theatres, all more than enough to keep you occupied the entire day learning how the Romans used to live. The town of Herculaneum (Ercolano), which previously used to be an exclusive residential neighbourhood, has archaeological sites from Roman times for you to discover. You’ll find different buildings here which are even better preserved than those in Pompei. It goes without saying that Naples, the capital of the south, is also worth visiting. It is a chaotic, noisy and exuberant city, one of the most densely populated in Europe. It is a splendid old city, the atmosphere is sublime, and the archaeological museum is not to be missed. The Amalfi coast, located to the south of Naples, has been called the most beautiful of all the Italian coasts. You will have a view of the idyllic islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida, and you can visit various picturesque towns in the area. You can visit the island of Capri from the seaport of Sorrento, arriving in the Marina Grande harbour. It is a small, charming island and a ‘jet-set’ resort. Many writers and artists stay here, finding the beautiful natural scenery and vegetation a source of inspiration. Capri has a rough coast and a hilly interior. The highest mountain on the island is Monte Solaro (589 m). It is a walk of around ten minutes to go from the city of Capri to the top, where you’ll find a breathtaking view of the sea and the Faraglioni, the two famed cliffs of Capri. Ischia, the other island, has beautiful flora and is in full bloom in the preseason. You can go to the highest point here as well, to the volcano Monte Eponei (788 m) for an incredible view. The coast of Ischia is also ideal if you want to go snorkelling.
Places of interest
- The Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, one of the most important archaeological museums in Europe with artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
- Spaccanapoli, the old city of Naples with narrow alleys and nice town squares.
- Mount Vesuvius (1277 m), where you can admire the volcano from a distance or from the very edge of the crater, and from where you’ll have a great view of the Bay of Naples.
- Ravello, a nice, romantic city on the Amalfi coast, with a beautiful cathedral.
- Grotta dello Smeraldo, a sea cavern a little to the west of Amalfi.
- A boat trip to Grotta Azzurra on Capri.
- A cable-lift from the harbour to the capital city of Capri.
- Health resorts such as Forio and Ameno on Ischia.
- Paestum, an archaeological complex including beautiful temples and a national museum.
|
More regions of Italy, Abruzzo/Molise, Aosta Valley, Apulia, Calabria/Basilicata, Trentino/Dolomites, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli/Julian March, Lakes of Italy, Liguria, Marche, Campania/Naples, Lazio/Rome, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany/Elba, Umbria, Piedmont, Veneto/Venice
|
