9 of the Most Beautiful Destinations in Southern Italy

The former capital of the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which reigned over Southern Italy for five centuries, Naples is not for the faint of heart—it seduces with gut-punching beauty.

The city faces an entrancing bay at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius (Monte Vesuvio), an active volcano draped in fertile wineries, and sits less than an hour from the Amalfi Coast and Capri, two of the most picturesque spots in Southern Italy. “See Naples and die,” so the local saying goes, for once you’ve seen such a place, you can pass readily to the next life.

Come summer, loads of travelers head to the Amalfi Coast to live out their Italian vacation dreams. Here, they seek out picture-perfect honeymoons, jet-setting holidays, and celebrity-worthy boat cruises. But in a setting that’s often so crowded, follow our Southern Italy travel tips and search for places of unexpected beauty.

For example: Vietri sul Mare, a lesser-known Amalfi Coast destination, produces whimsical ceramics; the Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve has gorgeous hikes; and the Path of the Gods (Sentiero Degli Dei) hiking trail winds past divine panoramas and idyllic towns you’ve probably never heard of, such as Agerola and Nocelle.

Of all the islands in Southern Italy, Capri is the most shamelessly beautiful, striking celebrity poses with yacht-lined harbors and designer hotels and shops. View the panorama from the Gardens of Augustus, public botanical gardens on the south side of the island, and you won’t see a villa or bougainvillea bush out of place.

Handily, this stunning Southern Italy tourist attraction is ideal for a day trip from nearby favorites such as Naples and Sorrento, so hop on a boat and, upon arrival, visit the electric-blue Blue Grotto, ride the chairlift to the island’s highest point atop Monte Solaro, and swim in a secluded sea cove or two.

Most Southern Italy itinerary recommendations sit south of Naples and Cilento is no exception. Less showy than its northern neighbors, Cilento is an underrated coastal region beloved by in-the-know Italians rather than tourists.

The Archaeological Park of Paestum (Parco Archeologico di Paestum), with some of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples in Italy, is the most popular attraction (and an untouristed complement to the Pompeii and Herculaneum archaeological sites), though local buffalo mozzarella farms are a close second. The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is laced with beautiful hiking trails; and the enchanting village of Acciaroli is said to have inspired Ernest Hemingway’s novella, The Old Man and the Sea.

The “heel” to Italy’s “boot,” Puglia is increasingly in the limelight of Italian travel destinations. And for good reason: The region is Southern Italy in miniature, thanks to scenic coastlines, baroque architecture (and the singular trulli buildings), whitewashed hill towns (hello Itria Valley!), and olive groves and wineries everywhere.

Choose a base of exploration such as Lecce, nicknamed the “Florence of the South” for its distinctive baroque architecture, and you could easily spend weeks basking in the region’s beauty.

Everything seductive about Sicily—the mesmerizing sea, Greco-Roman ruins, views of Mt. Etna’s active volcano—is found in Taormina, an exquisite town overlooking the Ionian Sea on the island’s northeastern coast.

Recently the setting of the notable TV series The White Lotus, Taormina has for centuries drawn travelers in search of its ancient Greek Theatre, a spectacular outdoor space framing views of the sea and Etna that still hosts concerts, plays, and operas today—and a must-see sight in Southern Italy if there ever was one.

Salina may be the second-largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Sicily’s northern coast, but it’s also the greenest. Unlike its rugged, fuming cousins (Stromboli, a smaller island, is an active volcano), Salina has freshwater springs, enabling the few residents to grow Malvasia wine grapes, olives, and famed capers.

Each island has particular charms, but once you boat to the cute port town of Santa Marina, and walk along the perfectly manicured Via Risorgimento, you'll see why Salina is the prettiest.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting the Aeolian Islands, Italy

A small island across from the Sicilian mainland, Ortygia is the timeless Old City of Syracuse—and its most beautiful corner. Crossing the Umbertino or Santa Lucia bridges and heading into the district makes for one of the most enthralling walks in Southern Italy.

While Ortygia may not have the wild glamor of Palermo, or the major ruins of mainland Syracuse, it does have beautiful sandstone-colored architecture, temples and fountains dedicated to Greek gods, and one of Sicily’s most famed markets, a near-daily riot of soulful sights, sounds, and smells.

If you stop by only one place to explore Southern Italy’s beauty, make it the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi), a collection of monumental temples and other Greek ruins dotting hilltops above a valley lush with almond trees, and among the best-preserved examples of Hellenistic architecture anywhere.

This vast archaeological site once formed part of the ancient Greek city of Akragas, and is highlighted by the spectacular Temple of Concordia, which, after sunset, becomes illuminated in a spectacular light display.