What to see around Naples

Staying longer than three days in the city of Vesuvius? There is plenty to see and do in and around Naples, as an extended stay is the ideal way to discover its region: Campania.

The famous Roman historian Pliny the Elder loved this region and coined the term "Campania illa felix" for its beauty and the fertility of the land. Historic cities, natural masterpieces and gastronomic gems await you around Naples.

The famous blue island in the Gulf of Naples has a long history as a tourist destination. Already in the time of ancient Rome, emperors loved to relax amidst the Mediterranean scrub and crystal clear waters. Of the twelve villas of antiquity, only three remain today: Villa Jovis, Palazzo a Mare and Damecuta.

The most interesting for a visit is undoubtedly the first one, which hosted the good retirement of Emperor Tiberius. To visit it on your own you will have to walk about three quarters of an hour from the central Piazzetta - Capri's central square - and spend about €6. Visiting hours depend on the season: in winter they are open from 10:00 to 16:00 while during the summer they are closed until 19:00.

The Roman legacy is not Capri's only attraction. Despite its small size, there are dozens of plans to choose from. The list below reveals the best attractions on the island:

• Saetta, Stella and Scopolo, the three faraglioni. Their name derives from the Greek "pharos" (lighthouse) because in ancient times bonfires were lit to signal the presence of the rocks to sailors. To admire them from a privileged position I recommend you book a table at the restaurant Terrazza Brunella (Via Tragara 24).
• Villa San Michele, a splendid residence built on the remains of a 10th century chapel. It was built by Axel Munthe, a Swedish doctor who fell in love with Capri. For more information on opening times and fares I recommend you take a look at the official website.
• Grotta azzurra, the most famous attraction on the island. It is a natural cavity about 60 metres long and 25 metres wide where the water takes on a magical hue. The entrance is tiny and therefore can only be visited with small rowing boats and if the sea conditions allow it. As usual, an individual visit costs about €14.
• Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island. From its summit you have a splendid view of Vesuvius and the Gulf of Naples. On clear days you can also admire the Apennines and the Amalfi coast and the mountains of Calabria in the distance. A chairlift connects the village of Anacapri with the summit. The cost of a return trip is around 12 €.

Capri is not an inexpensive island as most activities are fee-paying. A good way to save money is to choose an organised excursion to Capri from Naples. In this case, most expenses are included except for tips and optional activities. These trips usually last about 8 hours.

The Reggia di Caserta is the largest royal residence in the world. It was built by the will of Charles III of Spain with the intention of rivalling the Palace of Versailles. To achieve this feat, the king commissioned Luigi Vanvitelli, one of the greatest interpreters of the Rococo style, to carry out the work. The work was completed in 1845 by his son Carlo.

This enormous royal palace covers an area of 47,000 m2 and consists of five floors and four inner courtyards. From the outside, what stands out most are the spectacular fountains inspired by classical mythology. They cover a distance of 3 kilometres and the most famous is probably the Fontana dei Tre Delfini, a fountain with three large dolphins with grotesque features.

There are basically three types of tickets: a single ticket including the historic flats, the park and the English garden (about €14) and individual tickets for the park and the historic flats (about €10 in both cases). Getting there is very easy as it is only a few minutes' walk from Caserta's central station. For more information, check out the official website.

In 79 AD, Vesuvius buried Pompeii under a layer of ash. The eruption ended the history of a thriving city that exported olive oil and wine as well as being a holiday resort for the elites of ancient Rome. In the 18th century, after discoveries were made at nearby Ercolano, Charles III of Spain decided to fund excavations.

The survey begun by the king and subsequent probes brought the buildings of old Pompeii back to light. The archaeological site is very large and it is important to know which attractions are not to be missed:

• The Forum, the economic and religious centre of the city. The ancient shops are still there along with three temples dedicated to Venus, Jupiter and Apollo.
• House of the Faun, the residence of one of Pompeii's most prominent exponents.
• The Lupanare, where the desires of the flesh were satisfied. The brothel was spread over two floors and its walls were decorated with erotic representations. Some of these have survived to the present day
• Villa dei Misteri, the house of wealthy Roman patricians. Some historians believe that it belonged to Livia, the wife of Emperor Augustus. It is famous for a large fresco depicting a rite reserved for devotees of Dionysus.
• Orto dei fuggiaschi, the bodies of 13 victims of the eruption. Their flight was interrupted at this point and what we can see today are the plaster reproductions of their bodies. It is undoubtedly the most harrowing spot in Pompeii.

For more information, I recommend you read the post that illustrates what to see and do in Pompeii. If you have little time to organise your visit, I recommend booking an excursion to Pompeii from Naples. A bus will pick you up from your hotel or a central location in the city and take you to the archaeological excavations in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus.

About forty minutes by train from Naples is the second city of the region: Salerno. In the last years it has grown a lot from a touristic point of view and there are many reasons: it has a long history and it is halfway between the Amalfi Coast and the Cilento.

To make it easier for you, I have prepared a short route that starts at the train station:

• Lungomare, the promenade that connects the historic centre with the beach of Santa Teresa. It is completely pedestrianised and adorned with hundreds of trees and plants.
• Cattedrale di Santa Maria degli Angeli, Salerno's main church. Although it looks plain from the outside, once inside it changes completely. The Duomo is located in Piazza Alfano I and can be visited every day from 8.30am to 8pm (weekdays) and from 8.30am to 1pm and from 4pm to 8pm (public holidays). The entrance to the crypt - where the mortal remains of St. Matthew are kept - costs 1 €.
• Giardino della Minerva, a botanical garden created in the 18th century by Matteo Silvatico, exponent of the famous Salerno School of Medicine. Here, professors taught students the properties and uses of each herb. You can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 7.30pm. The whole ticket costs 3 €.
• Resilienza, a pizzeria that follows the km 0 philosophy. I recommend you try the "Cetarina" (with organic tomato, garlic, oregano and Cetara anchovies) or a "Resilienza" (with parsley pesto, Cetara anchovies and Fior di Latte, a fresh cheese similar to buffalo mozzarella). In spring and summer you can eat in the outdoor garden. It is located in Via Santa Teresa 1
• With a full stomach, you can head for Arechi Castle, a medieval fortress overlooking the town and the gulf. Its golden age coincided with the reign of the Lombard duke of the same name who improved this defensive structure of Byzantine origin. Inside is a museum with a collection of weapons, ceramics and coins. It can be visited for €4.
• Acquedotto Medievale, the conduit that carried water to the Monastery of San Benedetto.
• Before returning to the station you can make a detour back to the promenade. Here you'll find Bar Nettuno, an institution for ice cream lovers. You will find it at Lungomare Trieste 136.

The archaeological park of Herculaneum is less known than that of Pompeii but it is no less fascinating. There are several differences between the two sites. Firstly, Herculaneum was smaller and overlooked the Mediterranean. Secondly, the eruption had two different effects: while Pompeii was buried under 8 metres of stones and ash, Ercolano was buried under 25 metres!

The excavations were much more complicated and yet archaeologists have unearthed a few finds. The most famous is the Villa dei Papiri, an ancient library that housed Roman manuscripts. Private residences such as Casa dei Cervi, Casa di Aristide and Casa dell'Albergo are also well preserved.

If you choose an excursion to Herculaneum from Naples, you will be accompanied by a guide who will reveal the secrets of the site. After about two hours, the bus will take you to the large square at the end of the Ercolano-Vesuvio Provincial Road. Here begins the trail number 5 "Il Gran Cono del Vesuvio".

The trail runs along the lower edge of the crater and is a natural viewpoint overlooking Monte Somma, the Gulf of Naples and the islands. The first part is probably the most challenging but don't worry, you don't have to be an athlete to climb. After this stretch it becomes a pleasant walk. The route is circular and to complete it you will need to spend at least 3 hours.

At the back of Amalfi lies a large green area known as the "Valle delle Ferriere". The name derives from the ironworks that once occupied the area and supplied iron to the Marine Republic of Amalfi. The walk takes you through woods, streams and terraces with olive groves, vineyards and citrus groves.

The starting point is Piazza Flavio Gioia, a stone's throw from the Old Arsenal of the Republic of Amalfi. After passing through the old town, the walk follows the banks of the Canneto stream and heads into the mountains until it reaches an old aqueduct. From there you can make your way back.

The excursion does not require too much effort and takes about 3 hours.

A few kilometres from Naples, at the foot of Monte di Procida, lies asmall lake of lake origin. This is Lake Fusaro, a body of water connected to the sea by two canals. In the middle is a small island that houses the Casina Vanvitelliana, the Gran Restaurant, some pavilions and a park with typical Mediterranean vegetation.

The Royal Casino dei Borboni - nicknamed Casina Vanvitelliana - is a late Baroque building designed by the architect Carlo Vanvitelli. The main building is connected to the shore by a scenographic wooden bridge. It was used by the kings of Naples for their hunting and fishing trips and employed hundreds of people.

It can be visited on Fridays and Saturdays from 17:00 to 21:00. On Sundays the opening hours are divided: from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00. The ticket costs approximately €5.

In addition to the car, you can reach the lakeshore by public transport. Simply take metro line 2 and get off at Montesanto. From there, take the Cumana train from Napoli-Torregaveta station (a stone's throw from the metro) and get off at the Fusaro stop.

Procida is a little gem that is often underestimated. Visitors fall in love with it and it would be hard not to; the pastel-painted houses and tranquil atmosphere are the perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of Naples. Moreover, the island is surrounded by beaches and small coves with crystal clear waters.

Every day trip should include a stop in Marina della Corricella, a fishing village famous for the "Vefi", typical arched balconies of Arab origin.

In this area you will find several restaurants offering recipes based on the freshest fish. I advise you to order linguini with lobster or a pasta alla pescatora povera (with anchovies and fried green chilli peppers).

Ferries and hydrofoils connect Naples with the island of Procida. After a short sail, the boats dock at the port of Marina Grande which is just a short walk from the historic centre. A standard ticket costs about €10.

Known as the "pearl of the Sannio", Sant'Agata de' Goti is located about 45 kilometres from Naples. Its origins date back to the time of ancient Rome and it has preserved all its charm intact.

The old town is perched on a tufa rock overlooking two rivers: Martorano and Riello. It is not the only example of its kind in Italy - Pitigliano is its Tuscan counterpart - but it is nevertheless worth a visit to enjoy its charm.

One day is enough to enjoy the old town, the main street of which is Via Roma. Take the opportunity to admire its many churches and the castle built by the Longobards.

If you want to experience the local food, I recommend the Antico Pozzo degli Ulivi. You will eat among vineyards and olive trees (Via Piana del Mondo)

Sant'Agata de' Goti is also known for its apples, black truffles and wine production. If you have room in your suitcase, come home with a bottle of Falanghina. To get here you'll need to hire a car in Naples. The drive takes about an hour.

Pozzuoli reached its golden age in Roman times and monuments such as the Flavian Amphitheatre and the Temple of Serapis bear witness to this. In reality, the latter was not a place of worship but a marketplace adorned with columns and a statue dedicated to the Egyptian deity. On some days, the ground is dry while on others, the sea floods the ground and soaks its mosaics.

This phenomenon is not regulated by the tides but by bradism, a very common phenomenon in the Vesuvian area. In short, the ground rises or sinks depending on magmatic movements. This is most visible in the Solfatara, depressions in the earth from which water vapour mixed with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide escapes.

Getting to Pozzuoli from Naples is very easy; you can opt for the train (from Napoli Piazza Garibaldi) or the metro (line 2). In both cases, get off at the Pozzuoli Solfatara stop. The journey takes about 45 minutes.

In my opinion, I don't think it's worth it. It is a city with a long history and an up-and-coming tourist destination. In addition to the classic monuments and museums, it has unique attractions such as the Naples Underground, two underground itineraries that reveal a city beneath the city. There are thousands of cultural, historical and gastronomic plans worth discovering.

Still, if you visit Naples in summer and want to get a bit of a tan, it's best to get out of town. There are beautiful city beaches - especially La Gaiola, Scoglione, Lido Sirena and Bagno Elena - but they tend to be very crowded. You'll find better luck on the other shores of the Neapolitan coastline or on the nearby Amalfi Coast.