The southern Italian region of Campania is bordered to the west by the Mediterranean, to the north by Lazio and Molise, and south and east by Basilicata. The capital of the region is Naples (Napoli), and most of Campania's towns lie around the coast: Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Praiano, and Salerno. There are unrivalled Classical remains, with Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolaneo) lying north of Naples, and Paestum lying south.
Naples itself is a chaotic delight, a buzzing if at times overwhelming city: check out the Museo Archeologico Nazionale and the cathedral with its miracle of the blood of San Gennaro. The Amalfi Coast is arguably the most beautiful in Italy, with the lovely town of Ravello a great place to start. Offshore lie the idyllic islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.
The south of the region is covered by the beautiful parco Nazionale del Cilento, and other national parks include the Matese in the north, Taburon Camposauro and the Parco Regionale del Partenio. Regional food includes the pizza (it comes from here), superb seafood and shellfish, potato croquettes (krocche) and fiorilli (courgette flowers in batter). There are good white wines, including Biancolella, and Taurasi is one of the better reds.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Campania (top left);
See also Campania hotels (full listings) and our Campania hotel map.
