Ravello is indisputably the romantic capital of the Amalfi Coast. Inhabited by only 2,500 people, it sits pretty in the high hills above Amalfi. The town is tidy and geared towards tourists. In the past the town has hosted its share of bohemian characters, including Virginia Woolf, DH Lawrence and Wagner. Nowhere else on the Amalfi Coast can you beat the spectacular views, majestic gardens and relaxing atmosphere you find in Ravello.

Of the town’s main attractions is the Duomo, found on the eastern end of the Piazza del Duomo. It was built in 1086, and since then has had many makeovers. Take special note of the impressive pulpit. It is supported by a fusion of six twisted columns upon marble lions, topped off with decorations of peacock and dancing lion mosaics. To amplify perspective the floor is slanted towards the square. The downstairs area of the Duomo houses the cathedral museum which contains a fair amount of religious artifacts.

Another sight that should not be missed is the Villa Rufolo, located south of the cathedral. It is renowned for its illustrious 19th century gardens that lend spectacular views. The garden’s flowers are best described as exotic and colorful with splendid blooms. Upon seeing this impressive feat of nature Wagner decided that the gardens would be the setting for an act in his opera Parsifal.

If you would like to visit another villa, check out the 20th century Villa Cimbrone, east of Piazza del Duomo. There are more gardens and views, the best viewpoint being the Belvedere of Infinity.

Directions: From hostel go to the SITA bus station inside of Porta di Massa and buy a ticket to Amalfi. From Piazza Flavio Gioia in Amalfi another SITA bus departs every 30 minutes for Ravello. Cost is €1, ride is approximately 25 minutes.

Procida is the smallest, and considered the most “authentic”, of the Bay’s three main islands. Barely frequented and known by tourists, this is the island those looking for a more genuine locals experience will want to visit. Inhabitants of the island quietly live their day to day lives without much interruption or influence from tourist centers or the mainland. Upon arriving ashore you will be greeted with a colorful scheme of cubic houses along the waterfront.

The island is only 4 square kilometers. If you are not looking for a day of beach lounging, covering most of the island on bike or foot shouldn’t be a problem. Bike hire and boat trips are available once you reach the island.

Sights to see on Procida:
1) Castello d’Avalos- previously a Bourbon hunting lodge and prison.
2) Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo- old Benedictine abbey, contains paintings and catacombs.
3) Corricella- colorful pink and yellow village at the marina.
4) Chiaia beach- possibly the island’s most beautiful beach.
5) Marina di Chiaiolella- go here for good eats, old-style

If you want to acquire a new skill, diving courses are available. It is also possible to hire the equipment, and you may also charter a yacht.

How to get there:

Cuma was the first ancient Greek settlement on Italian mainland (Magna Graecia). It is said to have been founded in the 8th century b.c. by settlers who had already colonized the island of Ischia. It is located northwest of Naples and is most famous for the Sybil of Cuma. The Sybil was a prophetic priestess sacred to the Greek god Apollo. From her cavern Her sanctuary is open for public view.

Cuma became a sacred place in Roman mythology according to Virgil’s tales. At Avernus, a lake near Cuma, there is an entrance to the underworld used by Aeneas to be able to communicate with the Sybil. Since ancient times the “Cave of Sybil” has been the most mysterious place in all of the Phlegraean Fields. The cave measures 5 metres in height and over 130 metres in length. The cave would be pitch black if it wasn’t for the piercing shafts of light streaming down the cave walls.

Things to see at Cuma:
1) The Cave of Sybil
2) The Temple of Apollo
3) The Temple of Jupiter
4) The Forum of Samnite and Roman periods
5) Spa complex of the Republican period
6) Necropolis with royal tombs
7) Amphitheatre

Acropoli di Cuma: 081 854 30 60, Via Montecuma
Hours: daily, 9am-1hr before sunset
Price: €4, or €2 for EU members 18-24
Directions: From Montesanto station (near via Toledo) take the Cumana train and get off at Fusaro. From there take the S.E.P.S.A. Miseno-Cuma bus.

A true feat for Italian baroque architecture, the colossal royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta) has been dubbed the Versailles of Italy.   It was constructed in the 18th century for the Bourbon kings of Naples.  A jaunt along its mosaic marble floors and under  its gold adorned ceilings will make you feel like royalty yourself.  If you aren’t intimidated by the size and luxury of the palace itself, try getting lost in the elaborate maze of gardens, sculptures and fountains in the palace’s backyard.

The town of Caserta was founded by the Lombards in the 8th century.   Beginning on top of an ancient Roman site, it continued to expand down the plains.  The construction of this grand Bourbon palace has assured that this otherwise sleepy town will never not be forgotten.

In 1996 the Palace of Caserta was named as an UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of the spectacular Baroque art.  It is also of interest that scenes from the films Mission Impossible III, Star Wars Episode 1, and Star Wars Episode 2 were filmed at this site.

Phone: 0823-448084

Hours: 8:30am-7:00pm.  Park: opens 8:30, last entrance 2:30pm.  Closed Tuesday.

Price: €7 palace, €3 park/garden

How to go: From hostel catch the R2 bus to train station Garibaldi.  Take the Circumvesuviana train to Caserta.  Castle is right outside of station.

If you want to experience what the ancients used to consider “the entrance to the regions of hell”, then you can’t miss a walk atop the Solfatara Volcano.  There is nothing to fear, as the volcano is dormant, like all of the volcanoes in the Campi Flegrei area.  However, you should prepare yourself for sensory overload of the nose.  The Solfatara volcano is famous today mainly for its explosions of sulphuric gases, topping 160 degrees, its boiling mud pit and its carbon vapors.  If you can handle it you will have the chance to get up close and personal with the explosions of sulphuric gas, as there is typically no barrier that separates you and the “‘devil’s stink”.  The combination of green, blue, yellow and red exploding out of the ground is truly an exhibition of mother nature´s ability to create the brightest, most vivid colors you may ever see in person.  This volcano is a preferred stop for travelers of any age, with any interest.

A stop at Solfatara will give you a bit of insight into how people in the Middle Ages used to relax.  During its heyday it was among the most famous spa destinations.   The sulphurous waters, boiling mud and hot saunas were believed to have a therapeutic effect on the body and overall health.  Furthermore, young travelers of noble families wouldn’t miss a trip to the volcano for the educational experience.

Some of you more adventurous travelers may want to visit this volcano for your own personal field research.  Recent scientific studies have caused debate concerning a link between the volcanic sulfor and an above average number of weddings and births in its location, Pozzuoli.  Is this just coincidence?     It has been discovered that two of the enzymes which cause a particular erotic reaction in the male member are also present is the sulforic gas that streams out of the Solfatara.  You may want to ask yourself if this is the real reason that Solfatara is visited by over 100.000 tourists annually.

The site is only 10km from the center of Naples, and requires only 1-2 hours to visit.  We recommend going either in the morning or the afternoon in order to beat the heat that the ground emits, and also a pair of sturdy tennis shoes.  From the ticket office the site is just a 10 minute walk on flat ground.

Hours: open daily from 8:30 until one hour before dusk.

Cost: 6 Euro

By Bus: line 152 or Sepsa bus from Piazza Garibaldi.

By Train: take Metro to Pozzuoli-Sulfatara station. From here you can walk 800 meters to the entrance, or take the cit bus P9.

Pompeii

Opening Times: April-October: daily 8.30 am – 7.30 pm
November-March daily 8.30 am – 5 pm
Last entry one hour before closing time.

Price: Entry costs 11 euros (5.50 euros for EU students, under 18 or above 65 free)
Required time: at least 3 or 4 hours.

Pompeii is one of Italy’s most visited tourist attractions. It stands at the foot of Mount Vesuvius that, with its eruption on the 24th of August 79 AD, destroyed the city of Pompeii by completely covering it in stones and ash. Pompeii lay undiscovered until in 1748 when excavations began on the site, revealing a city frozen in time. A large number of the artefacts found on the site of Pompeii are now on display in the ‘Museo Archeologico Nazionale’ in Naples. It is best to visit Pompeii as a day trip, and perhaps to avoid the really hot hours as there is very little shade.

How to get to Pompeii

The best starting point to discover Pompeii is from Naples. From Naples you either take a SITA bus from ‘Porta Immacolatella’ to ‘Pompeii-Scavi’ which leaves regularly and takes about half an hour, or catch the ‘Circumsuviana’ train from the Stazione Centrale in Naples in the direction of Sorrento and get out at ‘Pompeii-Scavi’ station (a one-way ticket costs 2.30 euros).

Main sights in Pompeii

1.‘Tempio di Venere’ (Temple of Venus) originally one of the town’s most lavish temples.
2.‘Tempio di Apollo’ (Temple of Apollo), the oldest religious building in Pompeii.
3.The market along Via Marina, including the remains of shop fronts.
4.‘Teatro Grande’ or ‘Large theatre’ which would have seated around 5000 spectators, the ‘Teatro Piccolo’ and the ‘Caserma dei Gladiatori’ or the ‘Gladiators Barracks’.
5.‘Terme Stabiane’, the 2nd century BC baths, where along hot and cold rooms you can still see a number of murals, some with erotic content. If this is your kind of thing take a look as well at the town brothel, the ‘lupanaro’.
6.‘Villa dei Misteri’, one of the best-preserved structures in Pompeii.
7.For a good overview and to see some of the best artefacts take a trip to the ‘Museo Vesuviano’. Admission to the museum is free.

Amalfi is a beautiful town located on the spectacular Amalfi coast around 40 km southeast of Naples. As with the majority of towns along the coast, Amalfi attracts mostly day-trippers and as a result does not have a huge amount of hotels. Those, which it does have, will be very difficult to get a place in the summer months. It is advisable to stay in Naples and head over to the coastal town for the day.

How to get to Amalfi:

Most people visit Amalfi as a stop on a tour of the whole Amalfi Coast. Amalfi is also very easy to reach from Naples centre. In high season there is a ferry that takes passengers from Naples to the port of Amalfi, and there are also two SITA buses from 8:45am and 9:10am which leave from nearby the hostel.  When catching the bus to Amalfi it is recommended that you sit on the right hand side, in order to make the most of the spectacular views.

Top things to do in Amalfi:

1. The ‘Sant’Andrea’ cathedral. Described as one of the most striking cathedrals in the whole of southern Italy, this cathedral is also located on the town’s main square, the ‘Piazza del Duomo’. The cathedral dates from the early 10th century, although has been restored and added to since then.
2. There are a couple of museums in Amalfi, ‘Il museo della carta’, a paper museum in a 13th century paper mill and ‘Museo Civico’ containing the manuscript of the city’s ancient maritime code.
3. A must is a short boat trip costing around 5 euros from Amalfi to the ‘Grotta dello Smeraldo’ or the ‘Emerald Cave’.
4. Shopping is also pretty good in Amalfi, although you will find a huge amount of shops catered to tourists.

Population: 16,500

Sorrento is a cliff-side town that overlooks the Bay of Naples. The town is famous for its steep slopes, beautiful views of Naples and Vesuvius and most of all Limoncello.

How to get there:

From Naples tae the ‘Circumsuviana’ train from the central station to Sorrento. The train takes about an hour and costs 3.60 euros. From the train station it’s about a 300 m walk into town. It’s also possible to get the ferry to and from Naples. There are about 6 per day and will cost you around 15 euros for a round trip. Ferries dock into Marina Piccola, and 200-step climb up from there to the Piazza Tasso, the centre of town.

Top things to do in Sorrento:

1.‘The Amalfi Drive’ so called for obvious reasons, this road originally built by the Romans goes between Sorrento and Amalfi. At some points carved out of the cliff face, this drive is one of the most popular attractions in the area.

2.A trip to the cathedral on Corso Italia: it’s more impressive inside than out.

3.Take a look at the views of the coast from ‘Villa Communale Park’.

4. If you’re planning a trip around Easter, read up on the famous processions that take place through the town on Good Friday. The first one begins very early Good Friday morning, with participants clad in white hooded robes, with the Madonna carried aloft ‘in search of her son’. The second procession begins later in the evening, with participants now wearing black robes, in mourning for the death of Christ. These processions attract hundreds of participants.

5.Make you try a good sample of the famous liquor Limoncello, originating from this region.

Facts:
Size:     about 10 km by 7 km, the largest of the islands in the Bay of Naples, with an area of 47 m² and 37 km of coastline
Population:     around 60,000
Location:     around 30km from Naples

Although not to the extent of it’s neighbour, Capri, Ischia, the largest of the islands off the coast of Naples, attracts a large number of German and English tourists.  Ischia has fantastic beaches, a few very pretty towns, and a number of thermal spa resorts.  Despite not being as famous as it’s neighbour, it is considered by most to be the more beautiful of the two.  Ischia is also used as the location of some of the scenes in the film The Talented Mr. Ripley.

How to get there:

It is very simple to get to Ischia from Naples, and if you fancy a bit of island hopping there are also ferries connecting Ischia to both Procida and Capri.  Ferries leave Naples from a number of different ports including ‘Porta di Massa’ and ‘Beverello’ roughly every twenty minutes and take about an hour.  Prices range from 5 euros to 15, depending o the speed of the boat you choose!
There is a bus service on Ischia, but many choose to hire a car or scooter for the day.  Prices aren’t high (around 30 euros), there are plenty of car rental places and you can see a great deal more of the island this way.  There is also the possibility of hiring mountain bikes, which typically cost around 10 euros for the day.  Neither bikes nor cars can be taken off the island.

Top things to do on Ischia:

1.Castello Aragonese, a castle set on a rocky out-crop near Ischia Ponte.  Connected to the mainland by a causeway.  This is not only a interesting historical sight, but provides brilliant views to the island of Procida and Ischia Ponte.
2.The gardens at ‘La Mortella’ are definitely worth a visit whether you’re into gardening or not.  These beautiful landscaped gardens are considered some of Italy’s finest.
3.For fantastic panoramic views take the steep climb up from the village on Fontana in the centre of the island to the top of Monte Epomeo, the highest peak on Ischia at 788 m.
4.Ischia has many brilliant beaches, but some of the best are ‘Marina dei Maronti’, a 3km long beach near the town of Borano, Cartaromana beach and Citara beach, near the town of Forio and one of the more popular on the island.

Facts:
Inhabitants:  around 7,000.  The island has up to 5,000 visitors a day over the summer months.
Size: 6 km x 2.7 km
Pronounced Capri NOT Capri, this island is a single block of limestone in the Bay of Naples that remains relatively unspoilt, despite the masses of tourists that flock there over the summer months.  At it’s closest point, it is around 5 km from the mainland.

How to get to Capri:
Ferries to Capri from Naples are operated by a few different companies depart from the ports ‘Molo Beverello’ and ‘Calata Porta di Massa’ (usually the cheaper option).  Prices range from 9.60 euros up to 17 euros, and Ferries or Hydrofoils depart roughly every half an hour from 5.40 am until 20.10 pm. Ferries arrive into the ‘Marina Grande’.

Getting from the port to Capri town:
From the port it is just a five-minute ride on the funicular railway to Capri town.  Tickets for the funicular, which departs every fifteen minutes or less, can be bought from the ticket office in the port.  There is also a pretty good bus service that connects all the main attractions around the island.  Bus tickets can be purchased either on the bus or from the same office as the funicular railway.

Top things to do on Capri:

1.Capri town.  Relax over a drink in this busy square and watch the world go by.  The ‘Chiesa di Santo Stefano’ on the same square is also worth a visit.
2.Anacapri.  Take a visit to the ‘Villa San Michele’.  Built by a Swedish doctor Axel Munthe, this villa has fantastic views of the town of Capri and the coastline.  Open from around 9 am until 6pm during the summer months and only slightly less the rest of the months of the year, the cost of entrance is around 5 euros.
3.Grotta Azzura (the blue grotto).  Given it’s name because of it’ amazingly vivid blue colour; this is a definite must on Capri.  A trip will cost you from 15 to 20 euros and trips depart from ‘Marina grande’ (where the ferries from Naples arrive).  If you’re feeling really brave you always could swim in….
4.Villa Jovis.  Also known as the ‘Palazzo di Tiberio’ this Roman villa was built by the Emporer Tiberius and lies on north east of the island.  Access to the villa is only by foot and takes about an hour from Capri town centre along via Tiberio.

Capri is Italy’s most famous island and has been popular with the rich and famous for centuries because of its immense beauty and exclusivity.  Although it can become incredibly busy with tourists in the high season, it’s definitely worth a visit, although probably best to stay in Naples centre and head over for a day trip if you’re on a budget.  Taking an early boat there and a late one back will give you plenty of time to get the main sites in.