The most satisfying way to explore the twin bays of Naples and Salerno is on foot.
Campania provides spectacular topography for walking, combining dramatic coastlines and mountains with captivating cityscapes. Modern life hurtles along atop medieval and ancient layers in Napoli. The Bay of Naples sits on a tectonic fault that bubbles with volcanism; there’s also a limestone spur of the Apennines that has buckled to form the dazzling Amalfi Coast and Capri.
West of Naples and to just to the east around Vesuvius, you can walk amid active and dormant volcanoes. The archaeological sites Pompeii and Herculaneum provide a chance to follow in the footsteps of Roman citizens. Vesuvius lies within a national park that is worth seeking out as it’s not often you can feel the steaming heat warming your soles. Rare orchids, lichens, and lizard species thrive in adversity here. Towards Sorrento, Amalfi, and Capri, shepherds and trekkers share the limestone coastline along mule tracks and terraced olive groves.