Things to do in  Campania

The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is a top attraction on the island of Capri, located in Italy’s Bay of Naples (Golfo di Napoli). To enter this sea cave, named after the bright blue light filtering through the water via an opening in the rock below sea level, you must board a small rowboat and duck through a low opening. Once inside, you’ll have time to snap a few photos of the glowing turquoise water and—if you’re lucky—listen to a rower perform a quick Italian serenade.

Ancient and sprawling, the city of Pompeii offers glimpses of a distant past. Rather than viewing museum displays behind glass, you’ll stroll the cobbled streets, see ancient graffiti, and likely be struck by the similarities to a modern city. From restaurants to public bathrooms to amphitheaters, ancient Romans followed many of the habits we do today. Wandering this almost 2,000-year-old city is a way to remember that people from all ages share commonalities.

The culprit behind Pompeii’s burial in AD 79, Mt. Vesuvius is one of Europe’s most infamous active volcanoes. While it’s currently enjoying a long dormant spell, scientists are constantly monitoring its seismic activity to avoid history repeating itself, and to reassure locals and visitors alike. Today, Mt. Vesuvius is a popular tourist attraction in southern Italy, and travelers often combine a trip to Pompeii with a visit to see the volcano that buried it.

The coastline of Capri is dotted with unique sea caves, and though the Blue Grotto may be the most famous, the White Grotto is one of the most spectacular. Named for the white stalactites that hang from its roof and the layers of calcareous material that coat its sides, this cavern is a popular stop on boat tours of the island.

The ruins of this ancient Roman city, now the Herculaneum Archaeological Park, live in the shadow of their more famous neighbor, Pompeii. However, many enthusiasts consider this smaller site—one of Italy’s oldest UNESCO-listed spots—to be equally engaging. Following the AD 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (Monte Vesuvio), Herculaneum was buried in a thicker layer of volcanic debris than Pompeii, leaving its ruins remarkably well preserved, including intact home interiors with furnishings, jewelry, and even food.

Giuseppe Sanmartino’s unbelievably realistic sculpture, Veiled Christ, is the unfailing draw to Sansevero Chapel (Museo Cappella Sansevero). The Naples chapel is a riot of baroque sculptures, religious art, and Masonic-inspired design. In an underground chamber, allegedly preserved human circulatory systems display local taste for the occult.

Tiny Ravello, an idyllic village along the Amalfi Coast, has a long history and vibrant cultural life. Founded by the Romans in the sixth century, this picturesque clifftop town draws today’s travelers with its sea views, villas, and gardens. Home to Villa Rufolo—so beautiful that it inspired new music by German composer Richard Wagner—and Villa Cimbrone, known for its panoramic gardens, Ravello is an elegant respite from the crowds along the coast.

The grand semicircular Piazza del Plebiscito is named after the referendum that united southern Italy with Piedmont under the House of Savoy in the 19th century. A miraculous swath of peaceful public space in raucous Naples, the piazza is the site of two top monuments: The Royal Palace and San Francesco di Paola Church.

It’s Christmas all year round on Via San Gregorio Armeno, in the heart of Naples’ charmingly chaotic historic center. This unique alley, one of the most popular attractions in the city, is lined with artisan workshops showcasing displays of the handmade figurines used to populate the city’s elaborate traditional nativity scenes.

The Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta), famous for its massive size and opulent style, is a triumph of late Italian Baroque architecture. The largest royal residence in the world, the palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shares a number of features with the Palace of Versailles and is one of the most-visited monuments in southern Italy.

The Path of the Gods (Sentiero Degli Dei) hiking trail skirts the peaks above the Amalfi Coast, rewarding you with spectacular bird’s-eye views of the coastline and Mediterranean Sea far below. There are several different possible routes, but most travelers walk it as a 1-way downhill hike from Agerola to Nocelle, where you can follow a formidable array of steps down to Positano.

Though Italy is known for its Roman ruins, much of the southern part of the peninsula was part of Magna Grecia, the Greek Empire, long before the Roman conquest. Vivid testimony of this ancient Greek occupation can be found at Paestum, with a trio of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, dating as far back as the sixth century BC.

You can hardly turn over a spade of soil in any Italian city without uncovering centuries of history, and Naples is no exception. Beneath the teeming modern center, Naples Underground (Napoli Sotterranea) takes you through the remains of the ancient city’s infrastructure covering almost two millennia.

One of the most important gulfs in southern Italy, the Bay of Naples (Golfo di Napoli) is home to the vibrant city of Naples, the resort town of Sorrento, and the lovely islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Mount Vesuvius looms over the coastline, a dramatic reminder that ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum are also located here.

Capri may be the favorite among the yacht set and Ischia a popular spa destination, but the authentic atmosphere and few tourists on Procida make this sleepy island in the Campanian Archipelago a singular delight. Visit its colorful fishing village, pristine beaches, and picturesque coastline on a day trip from Naples or Ischia.