Naples and Campania

A kinetic gust of 3-D garlic-and-basil aromatherapy for the soul, Campania is a destination that no one ever forgets. More travelers visit this region than any other in the south, and it's no wonder. A region of evocative names—Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii, Positano, Amalfi—Campania conjures up visions of cliff-shaded, sapphire-hued coves, sun-dappled waters, and mighty ruins. Home to Vesuvius, the area's unique geology is responsible for Campania's photogenic landscape. A languid coastline stretches out along a deep blue sea, punctuated by rocky islands. Through the ages, the area's temperate climate, warm sea, fertile soil, and natural beauty have attracted Greek colonists, then Roman emperors—who called the region Campania Felix ("the happy land")—and later Saracen raiders and Spanish invaders. The result has been a rich and varied history, reflected in everything from architecture to mythology. The highlights span millennia: the near-intact Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Greek temples in Paestum, the Norman and baroque churches in Naples, the white-dome fisherman's houses of Positano, the dolce vita resorts of Capri. Campania packs them all into one mammoth must-see sandwich. More »