Campania

If you are looking for a place in Italy where the scenery and the history are equally fascinating, Campania might be the region for you. Like much of Italy, Campania has survived the empires of the Greeks, Romans, and Normans, though each has left their distinctive mark on the area.

The third largest city in Italy, Naples (Napoli) was founded in 600 B.C. and was once a Greek trading center. Its name originated from the Greek word Neapolis, meaning “new city.” Towering over Naples is Mount Vesuvius, the still active volcano that destroyed the infamous ancient city of Pompeii in 79 A.D. Some artifacts recovered from Pompeii, as well as other intriguing discoveries like 4^th century B.C. tomb paintings, can be viewed at Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum. The bustling, chaotic city of Naples is located on the shores of a beautiful bay and there is no better place to view the picturesque scenery than at the Castel Sant’Elmo, a star-shaped castle atop the area’s largest hill.

http://www.napolieguide.it

For those who crave to be surrounded with such beauty, Capri is quite literally an island paradise. Though accommodation there can be considerably pricey, the natural wonders visitors experience make it worth the cost. For over 2,500 years, tourists have been making their way to the island, including Julius and Tiberious Caesar, who had summer villas built there. Capri is rife with splendor. Of all its wonderful natural attractions, be sure not to miss Grotta Azzura (Blue Grotto). The Blue Grotto makes for a charming excursion; after entering (the entrance is only about 3 feet high), travelers will observe the brilliantly unique way that light refracts on the water, creating a display of colors and silvery reflections.

http://www.capri.com

For more information about these and more destinations in Campania, a great site to visit is http://www.trips2italy.com/Campania.