According to Phonecations, the Campania region is a region in the southern part of Italy. The capital Naples, the volcano Vesuvius and the ancient city of Pompeii are among the main attractions of the region. There are quite a few inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the Campania region. This has everything to do with Campania’s long and eventful history. There are beautiful historical sites in the region. Think of the Herculaneum, the Paestum and the Arch of Trajan. If you prefer to discover nice small villages, you should be on the Amalfi Coast or visit the island of Capri.
The Campania cuisine has produced some of the most famous Italian dishes, such as pizza was invented in Italy, the caprese salad comes from Capri and the fusilli pasta is typical of the region.
Top 10 things to do in Campania
#1. Amalfi Coast
Once upon a time, Amalfi was one of the richest and most important republics of present-day Italy. Together with the republics of Pisa, Genoa and Venice, Amalfi ruled much of present-day Italy and this part of the Mediterranean. This special period of growth and wealth has made the Amalfi and the rest of this coastline one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. During the time of the Amalfi Republic, beautiful castles, churches and villas were built that can still be admired in their full glory. The Duomo of Amalfi and Vila Rufolo. Are there good examples of this? Amalfi, Ravello and Positano are among the most beautiful villages of the Amalfi Coast.
#2. Naples
Naples is the largest city and the capital of the Campania region. It is the third largest city in Italy in size. Naples isn’t a typical Italian city, it’s a bit rawer than most cities in the country, making it a city you’ll immediately fall in love with or never want to come back to. A large part of the historic center of Naples can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Some sights such as the church of Santa Chiara and the Castel Nouvo are included. If you want to discover the raw edges of the city yourself, you should take a walk through the Spanish Quarter and visit the market. The main attraction of Naples is the Archaeological Museum.
#3. Capri
The island of Capri can be found in the Bay of Naples and is known as the jet set destination of Campania. Several ferry services depart daily from Naples and other coastal towns to the island, which is overrun by tourists every day. All tourists arrive at the Marina Grand and from there they spread across the island. The most famous attraction of the island is the Grotta Azzurra, this cave with a narrow entrance can only be reached by sea and has a special blue color. Other attractions include Via Krupp, the Gardens of Augustus and the Villa San Michele museum. A special detail is that the famous Caprese salad is named after this island.
#4. Pompeii
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is the most famous victim of the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. At the time of the eruption, about 20,000 people lived in the city, most of whom died from the layer of ash that covered the city. The city was rediscovered in the sixteenth century and archaeological excavations have been carried out since the eighteenth century. Meanwhile, most of the city has been uncovered and Pompeii is the most visited landmark of the Campania region with two and a half million visitors a year. The most important historical finds of Pompeii can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Naples.Book a tour of Pompeii
#5. Vesuvius
Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland. The other volcanoes in Europe that are still active are located on islands. Vesuvius has a diameter of eight kilometers and is almost thirteen hundred meters high. The last eruption of the volcano was in 1944, the last major eruption was in the seventeenth century. The most famous eruption of Vesuvius occurred in AD 79 when the city of Pompeii and Herculeum disappeared under the volcano’s ash, lava and mudslides. Today, Vesuvius is an important tourist attraction. Daily excursions to the volcano are organized from Naples and other surrounding places. The last part to the volcano crater has to be done on foot.Book an excursion to Vesuvius
#6. Herculaneum
The former city of Herculaneum was completely covered with ash and mud during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, just like Pompeii. Unlike Pompeii, the layer was not first covered with ash, but with mud. Dense means that Herculaneum is less well preserved. Still, it is interesting to also see this historic city because the structure of Herculaneum is very different from that of Pompeii. For example, you will not see any car tracks and crossings in this city. Your visit to this ancient Roman city ends with a walk through ancient cellars that now look like a mass grave. The most important archaeological finds can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Naples.Buy your entrance ticket online here and skip the line!
#7. Palace of Caserta
The Palace of Caserta is the former residence and work palace of the kings of Naples and Sicily. The palace was built in the second half of the eighteenth century and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. The immense palace with more than twelve hundred rooms, of which more than forty rooms are completely decorated with frescoes, is considered the most beautiful in Italy. The castle was built in the Baroque style, but there are also rooms in Rococo and Neoclassicism. The gardens of the palace cover an area of about one hundred and twenty hectares. The gardens are laid out in the Baroque style and clearly inspired by the gardens of Versailles.
#8. Benevento
The city of Benevento is perhaps a little out of place on the list of most beautiful sights in Campania as the city has been voted Italy’s fog-living city several times. Despite this dubious title, there are a number of sights in Benevento that are definitely worth a visit. The Arch of Trajan is probably the best example of this. Built in the second century AD in honor of Emperor Trajan, this arch has survived the centuries well. Other attractions include the Roman Theater and Santa Sofia.
#9. Sorrento
The city of Sorrento is located next to the city of Naples and is part of the metropolitan area of Naples. Sorrento was one of the first tourist destinations in Italy and has never lost that attraction for tourists ever since. If you walk through the narrow streets of the town in the summer months you will have to make your way between the tourists and the souvenir shops. Sorrento’s main attractions are the Correale Museum, Sorrento Cathedral and the Marina Grande. The main shopping street is Via San Cesareo.
#10. Paestum
In the southeastern part of Campania just far from the city of Salerno is the ancient Roman city of Paestum, also known as Poseidonia. The remains of this ancient city are part of the Cilento National Park, which can be found in its entirety on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Paestum was discovered by accident at the end of the eighteenth century and is considered one of the most important archaeological finds in all of Italy. The old parts of Paestrum date back to the time of Greek rule. The main attractions in Paestum are the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Poseidon and the Tomba del Tuffatore.
