Naples is the regional capital of Campania and the third largest city after Rome and Milan. Its historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest in Europe and there are no shortage of culturally and historically significant places to visit in the area, making it ideal for your next escape.
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Situated on the sunny Gulf of Naples in southern Italy, Naples is the ideal base for a holiday. In addition to the sights of the city, the lively nightlife, amazing views, and streets full of culture (and of course, the Neapolitan pizza!), its location is perfect for excursions to the nearby islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida with their rugged landscapes and beautiful blue seas. Capri in particular is famous for its upscale hotels and fantastic opportunities for shopping, and its coves draw the attention of many yachts.
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To the south of Naples, holidaymakers can find the Amalfi Coast; a 50km succession of sun-kissed coastline between Salerno and Sorrento. Thirteen towns spread along this vertical, colourful landscape with headlands, bays, beaches, and rocks. Positano is one of the best known of these, offering views of picturesque staircases and whitewashed houses.
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Pompeii, located in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, offers a snapshot of Roman life, frozen in time at the moment it was buried. It gives an extraordinarily detailed insight into the daily life of its inhabitants from 79AD, when they were buried in ash and lava from the volcanic eruption nearby. Ercolano, or Herculaneum, is just a short distance from Pompeii, but is a smaller and less visited site. This Roman city was destroyed by the same volcanic flows as Pompeii, and was well preserved when excavated.
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Mount Vesuvius is seen by Neapolitans as the protector of their city. Peer down into its crater and imagine its eruption, gaze down from its peaks to see Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi coastline from above, and walk in the footsteps of the legendary hero, Hercules.
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In Naples itself, be sure to visit the stunning Galleria Umberto I shopping gallery opposite the San Carlo opera house, stroll around the large Piazza del Plebiscito, examine objects discovered at Pompeii at the National Archeological Museum, and admire the oldest standing fortification in the city, the Castel dell’Ovo. There are no shortage of fantastic places to experience in this breathtakingly beautiful area of Italy.
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