Plan a trip to Campania

Picture this: afternoons... a local trattoria overlooking a landscape of white cliffs and a turquoise sea. In the background, the melody of the ancient song "Back to Sorrento" is playing. Giovanni, the handsome waiter, keeps filling your glass with chilled local wine while flirting, using his Italian charm, sprinkled with the local dialect...

Sound like a scene from a movie? A wonderful dream? In fact, this is a scene from a real vacation in the Campania region. Located in the southern part of the Italian boot, Campania is home to charming beaches with high cliffs, colorful caves, stunning villas, and ancient ruins. Small islands are nestled quietly off the coast, and picturesque towns adorn the tops of the cliffs above the shores of the blue sea. Restaurants abound, with bunches of red peppers hanging in their doorways to dry and fishermen's nets loaded with their catches. The southern countryside is dotted with farms and hospitable farmers who will be happy to treat you to home-made cheeses, olives, and olive oil. And, above all, the noble Mount Vesuvius reigns - the volcano that casts doubt on the future of the entire region by presenting a silent monument to its power, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The Campania region covers an area of approximately 13,670 square kilometers (approximately 8,495 miles). With a population of approximately five and a half million inhabitants, Campania is the most densely populated region of the country, and the third most populous after the Lombardi and Lazio regions.

Naples is the capital city of the region and is the crowded home of more than half of the region's residents. Naples is also the queen of pizza and Italian poetry and the hometown of Sophia Loren and Elena Ferrante. It is the second largest port city in Italy (after Genoa), and one of the most beautiful and challenging cities for tourists. Upon entering the city, both by land and sea, you will be greeted by the city's shabby and neglected appearance and the many convoys of containers that hide the view of the sea. But, after driving for a few minutes, the beauty of the city will come into view - a city that glides from the heights of the hills and seems to spill into the Gulf of Naples, the beautiful bay at its foot.

The Campania region is full of historical sites, picturesque towns, and ancient villages. The Vesuvius volcano looms over Naples and the surrounding area, and a visit to ancient Pompeii and the ancient town of Ercolano will illustrate its destructive ability.
A must-see is the Costiera Amalfitana, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, which leads to Positano and Amalfi and other magical towns along the way.

Other recommended places to visit are Ravello, which overlooks Amalfi and the islands; Vietri Sul Mare the town known for its ceramics, and the fishing village Cetara which boasts a magical beach. Palace-lovers will enjoy a visit to the Reggia Di Castera palace and its beautiful gardens. The castle of the nobleman Carlo Gesualdo, Father of the Madrigals, will be of interest to musicians and music lovers.

In the east, the Irfinia region located on the Apennines will remind travelers of the Tuscan landscape - hilltops covered in vines that attract wine-lovers. The Cilento area in the south is wilder and is home to many dairies that produce mozzarella cheese. In Beverelo, in the center of Naples, you can take a short boat ride to three islands in the Gulf: Capri, the island of emperors; Ischia, the island of the healing springs; and Procida, the fishermen's island.

The ideal time of the year to visit Campania?

The transition seasons, April to June and September to October, are considered ideal as the temperatures are generally mild and it is less crowded. Starting in mid-June, the tourist season begins and it lasts through August.
The Campania region is a great destination for a relaxing vacation in one of its coastal towns or a week-long trip combining R&R with visits to its many attractions and sites. Be sure to finish your day with delicious pizza and a glass of local wine or limoncello. Ahhh... a perfect vacation!