Holidays to Campania and The Amalfi Coast

• UNESCO World Heritage sites: Historic centre of Naples; C18th Royal Palace of Caserta and its Park; the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli and the San Leucio Complex; Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata; the Amalfi Coast; Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archaeological sites of Pæstum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula.

• The Sorrento School of Cooking: With a large number of Michelin starred restaurants, the Campania region is widely known for fine dining related to food preparation and natural ingredients. Learn to prepare a typical Mediterranean meal made up of four dishes.

• Villa Cimbrone Gardens: Visit Villa Cimbrone, a luxury hotel in Ravello, with views over the Gulf of Salerno. The hotel’s English-style garden is open to the public and includes a Temple of Bacchus, Roman statues and stunning views over the Amalfi coast.

• Most Scenic Drive: A truly spectacular drive along narrow windy roads and many hairpin bends with spectacular coastal views. Go by car or bus and travel south towards Amalfi or further. Pass the towns of Positano, Ravello, Amalfi, Praiano, Fiordo di Furore, Atrani and Minori – all serving as possible lunch stops.

• Capri: A perfect island destination at any time of year, Capri has a very pleasant climate from 50 degrees Fahrenheit in February to 74 degrees Fahrenheit in August, spectacular scenery, blue grottoes and a rich history dating back to the Emperors of Rome.

• The Royal Palace of Caserta: This former royal residence in Caserta was constructed for the Bourbon kings of Naples to rival Versailles. It was the largest palace and one of the largest buildings erected in Europe during the 18th century.

• Mozzarella di Bufala: Dine on Campania’s most famous cheese - Mozzarella made from Buffalo milk. The best way to eat it is accompanied by a salad or tomatoes, the so-called ‘caprese’, but also combined with cured ham (Italian appetizer) or white melon. 

• Limoncello: Sorrento and the Amalfi coast are well known for cultivating large lemons. Many local products are made from the citrus juice including the famous Limoncello - a very tasty lemon liqueur which makes for a great gift or souvenir.

• Paestum: Paestum has three of the best preserved Doric temples in Italy: the Basilica of Hera, the Temple of Ceres, and, on the southern end of the site, the Temple of Neptune built in 450 BC, the oldest and best preserved of the Greek temples in Italy.

• Pompeii and Herculaneum: Take a guided tour of these two archaeological treasures. The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum beneath a layer of ash and pumice several metres deep.

• Best beaches: The Amalfi coast is known for its spectacular cliffs, not its beaches. However the nearby villages of Minori and Maiori, just 6km south of Amalfi have long sand beaches with a handful of cafés and restaurants that mainly thrive in summer.

• Sorrento: This seaside resort is given historical depth by its wealth of Renaissance Palaces and Romanesque Churches. An ideal base for visiting the vertical charms of the Amalfi Coast – buses run frequently along the coastal road. Plus the elegant splendour of Capri is only a 20-minute ferry ride away.

• Naples: A thriving cosmopolitan city rich in architecture, history and art. The home of pizza and Neapolitan ice cream – what could be better?

• Positano: Possibly the coast’s most picturesque and photogenic town with steeply-stacked houses tumbling down to the sea and lined with wisteria-draped balconies, smart restaurants and fashionable boutiques.

Airports

The Campania region is served by one international airport, Naples (Capodichino). Alibus Shuttle is the fast connecting bus line between Capodichino Airport and the Naples city centre.

Campania Arte Card

The Campania Arte Card is an all-in-one pass to use for public transportation and sightseeing in the Naples region including skip-the-line admission to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum and major museums.