Campania Main | Description | Hotels | Map WHY CAMPANIA? Take in the unforgettable vistas of the Amalfi Coast On Ischia visit the internationally acclaimed La Mortella gardens Crowd onto the ever-popular island of Capri Visit the important city of Naples for excellent antiques shopping Walk in the steps of history at Pompeii and Herculaneum Shop in Positano or take in a concert in Ravello (pictured right: Positano) Facing the Tyrrhenian Sea with one of the most majestic coastlines in Europe, the region of Campania has been a magnet for tourists for over 2,000 years. From the glittering Bay of Naples to the enchanting island of Capri to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, visitors have been attracted to Campania by its astonishing natural beauty and its inviting climate. Equally impressive is its heritage of ancient ruins, for Campania is an extraordinarily rich repository of classical antiquity. Amphitheaters, triumphal arches, villas, bridges and tombs are numerous and remarkable. Built in the 5th Century BC, the spectacular temples at Paestum are among the best preserved examples of classical Greek architecture in the world. In 79 AD the lava from Mt Vesuvius buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum; the remains of both, complete with colorful frescos and mosaics, can be seen today. Because the surrounding volcanic soil is unusually fertile, the superb fruits and vegetables grown in the area are often described as sublime. The capital, Naples, is home to the National Archaeological Museum, containing one of the most important collections of its kind in the world. This vibrant city, with its beautiful setting on the Bay of Naples, has suffered a series of invaders, all of whom have left behind remnants of their civilizations, making Naples a fascinating city to explore. The islands in the Bay are linked to Naples by hydrofoil. The largest, Ischia, is volcanic and noted for its thermal springs and curative muds. Capri, with its wooded, mountainous landscape and breathtaking cliffs and grottos, is the most charming. Inhabited since the Stone Age, Capri was occupied by the Greeks before becoming the private haven of Emperor Augustus, who founded the world’s first archaeological museum to display the fossils and artifacts unearthed by his workers. The southern side of the Bay of Naples is formed by the Sorrento Peninsula, a mountainous area of semi tropical vegetation where pine trees, vineyards, citrus and olive groves, bougainvillea and oleander all flourish. The famous Amalfi Drive, which begins at Sorrento, a town perched on a cliff 165 feet above the sea, and ends at Vietri, a town known for its colorful ceramics, contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Here, towns cling to the mountainsides, with gardens and paths leading down to the sea. The serpentine road winds along wildly beautiful towering cliffs that drop into brilliant blue water, connecting the towns of Positano and Amalfi. Located in the mountains high above Amalfi is Ravello, one of the loveliest towns on the Amalfi Coast, known for its architecture, its gardens and its stupendous view. The cuisine of the region reflects Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Provençal, Spanish, French and to a certain extent, Austrian influences. Pizza, symbol of Neapolitan cooking, evolved in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Baked in hot, wood fired ovens, it contains few, but high quality ingredients, such as those found in pizza Margherita: fresh San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, fresh basil and a sprinkling of olive oil. Deep-fried mozzarella in carrozza (mozzarella in a carriage) is found on most menus. Other specialties are spaghetti alle vongole, with clams, garlic and olive oil; zuppa di cozzi, mussels in a hot pepper sauce; pasta al forno, various types of pasta baked with tomato sauce, mozzarella and other ingredients; a variety of eggplant dishes; and squid and octopus. Desserts include exceptional pastries, such as sfogliatelle, a crunchy pastry filled with ricotta or cream; pastiera napoletana, an Easter cake made with ricotta and flavored with orange; and zeppole, deep fried dough served with honey. The area produces famous wines harking back to Roman times; try the white Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino; the red Taurasi, excellent when aged; and Lacrima Cristi from Vesuvius and Falerno.