Notes on Campania

Generations of travelers have flocked to Campania to visit some of Italy’s most iconic and unforgettable sights. These happen to be centered within a fairly small radius around the bustling, anarchic city of Naples, making it possible to see it all in about a week.

The classic Campania tour uses the incredible beautiful Sorrento peninsula as a point of departure, so that tourists in their spare time can relax in virtually car-free, postcard pretty villages like Amalfi, Sorrento and Positano; stroll among fragrant lemon groves; and rest their eyes on magnificent views of the sea and the dramatic coastline.

Enticing Daytrips

In just five daytrips, you can go island hopping to magical places like Ischias, Procida, Capri and Li Galli with the cute dolphin shaped island Gallo Lungo. Visit the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Spend a day at the royal palace in Caserta. Climb Mount Vesuvius that is considered one of the most dangerous vulcanos in the world due to its proximity to a modern metropolis. And explore the rich museums and charming chaos of Naples, where you can still get lost in a narrow alley beneath washing lines while humming the tune from Lady and the Tramp. That’s Amore.

Cilento National Park

The Cilento peninsula further south is like Sorrento minus 20 percent in terms of beauty and poshness. The beaches are bigger and better, however, and the few villages on the coast make a fantastic place for a relaxing family holiday in the sun. Major sights in this area include the ancient ruins in Paestum and Velia along with Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park. The whole area has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status for an outstanding cultural landscape.

The Hinterlands

With such a line-up of world famous tourist attractions, it’s hardly surprising that few travelers bother to visit the hinterlands and other provincial capitals like Salerno, Caserta, Avellino and Benevento. They simply don’t compare to the highlights mentioned above. Still, each province offers interesting discoveries and rewards for people who like to go their own ways.

Here are our notes on notes on Campania Italy with suggestions of what to see, do and eat in the area around Naples.