Campania Region Holidays

The Bay of Naples and the Neapolitan Riviera

Located on the western coast of Italy, this region is famed for its stunning natural beauty, dramatic mountains, white washed towns and a rugged coastline. The name “Neapolitan Riviera” refers to the stretch of holiday coast from Naples in the north to Paestum in the south, and includes the islands of Ischia and Capri.

Naples itself is a vibrant and colourful city, the third largest in Italy, famous for wonderful food, impressive art and architecture and a fast pace of life.

Nearby Pompeii, buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, is the region’s top sightseeing attraction. The 30 mile drive by a narrow and twisting road between Amalfi and Sorrento is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful sightseeing routes, with picturesque villages clinging to the steep cliffs and breathtaking views out to sea. The region is known for excellent food. The pizza was invented in Naples and is made here in wood-burning ovens. Local dishes include Spaghetti Alle Vongole.

Naples

The City of Naples is cheerful and bustling, and the centre is compact and easy to get around.  The tourist district boasts impressive historical monuments, churches and piazzas, endless bars and cafes from which to people-watch, and streets full of fantastic shopping opportunities. Some of the most popular attractions include the Duomo, the Archaeological Museum, the Royal Palace and the Galleria Umberto. History-lovers should not miss a daytrip to the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.  Recommended trips outside the city include the delightful towns of Positano, Amalfi or Ravello, all accessible via the stunning drive along the Amalfi Coast, the popular resort of Sorrento, and the islands of Capri and Ischia.

Ischia

The island of Ischia, in the Bay of Naples, has a combination of wonderful sandy beaches, stunning volcanic scenery and natural thermal springs and health spas, making it one of the most popular health retreats in the world. Known as 'the green isle', Ischia holidays boast some spectacular mountainous landscapes, filled with vineyards, citrus groves and pine forests, and a rugged coastline dotted with sandy coves and bays.

Ischia sits to the north of neighbouring Capri and is located 30km from Naples, a 40 minute transfer by ferry or hydrofoil. It is a cheaper option than the more exclusive Capri, with a laid-back atmosphere.  Wonderful sandy beaches include Lido dei Maronti, Cartaromana and San Montano Bay, and away from the coast there are walks and hikes for nature and wildlife lovers.

Although the main coastal region can be busy in high season, most of the holiday island of Ischia is peaceful, rural and relatively untouched by tourism. The main town is Ischia, and encompasses the traditional fishing village of Ischia Ponte and the main port of Ischia Porto, housing most of the accommodation on the island. Although small, the island boasts fabulous fish and seafood restaurants and some chic bars and cafes. Ischia is well-connected by ferry to the mainland, so you can visit Naples, Sorrento or the pretty villages along the Amalfi Drive - Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.

Capri

Associated with holidaying VIPs since Roman times, Capri is very popular with day-trippers, who visit via ferry from the Naples and the resorts of the Amalfi Coast. Smart, stylist and expensive, the island juts steeply from the surrounding Mediterranean. Most accommodation is in the two main centres, Capri Town and Anacapri, while much of the rest of the island remains unspoilt and rural.

Emblematic of Capri is the Blue Cave, one of several caves flooded with an extraordinary blue light which comes from sunlight entering via two sources. Visitors access the cave via motor-boats or rowboats.