Italy is well known not only for its fine wines and delicious food, but also its breathtaking coastlines and historic cities, which put the country on probably everyone's travel bucket list.
My boyfriend Pascal and I went on a road trip through Italy two summers in a row and loved every second we got to spend in this amazing country.
In the summer of 2021 we arrived in Bari by ferry from Croatia and stopped at a few lovely places in Ampulia on our way west, my favourite of which was the charming town of Alberobello.
The city is famous for its dry stone huts with cone-shaped roofs, the Trulli.
Due to their unique look, the Trulli have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and make Alberobello a perfect brief stop on a road trip in southern Italy.
In the southwest of the Italian peninsula, at the edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea, lies the beautiful region of Campania, home to many remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Two places in particular are so impressive that they cannot be missed when visiting Campania, one of which is the Amalfi Coast.
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, located on the south of the Sorrentine Peninsula, which is famous for its very large and flavourful lemons, the sfusato amalfitano.
Driving along the coastal road and taking in the mesmerising views is an incredible experience. Even though the coastline is not that long, you should plan a whole day for exploring it, as there is a lot of traffic on the road. You can avoid busy roads by choosing to arrive by boat, which is probably an incredibly beautiful way to travel the Amalfi coast. However, in that case, it will be more difficult to visit the towns that lie higher up on the hills and further from the shore.
There are 13 municipalities on the Amalfi Coast and thus several options to stop along the way and explore the charming towns on foot. In addition to the two most well-known cities of Amalfi and Positano, I really enjoyed leaving the coastal road and driving uphill to visit the picturesque town of Ravello. There, for an entrance fee of 7€, we visited Villa Rufolo to wander around the beautiful gardens and enjoy the magnificent view of the coast from above.
There are two things to keep in mind on this road trip. Firstly, it is very difficult to find parking all along the Amalfi Coast, so be prepared for it to take a long time.
The other thing applies to road trips across Italy in general. Be careful not to drive into a ZTL, a so-called zona traffico limitato. These are zones that are only accessible to residents and you will be fined if you forget.
The second must-see place in the fascinating region of Campania is the ancient city of Pompeii, which was buried during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, preserving a story about life in Roman times beneath 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 feet) of volcanic ash and pumice, for us to re-discover seventeen hundred years later.
Now, almost two thousand years after the destruction of the city and about five hundred years after the fall of the Roman Empire, we can discover such a significant part of European history not only by reading about it, but also by seeing it with our own eyes, as we admire the taverns, thermal baths and private villas of Pompeii.
You can visit Pompeii all year round, but opening hours vary by season. Further Information on tickets and guided tours, a map of the site and much more is available on the official website.
The site is accessible by trains and busses from Salerno and Naples. You can also arrive by car, but bear in mind that parking near the three entrance points is quite expensive.
As with most popular sights, you should also buy your tickets online in advance to avoid long queues. Don't forget to bring sunscreen, as there is almost no shade, comfortable shoes and a water bottle, which can be refilled at one of the many fountains around the site.
If you have a car at your disposal and a free afternoon, you can drive a bit inland and explore the Royal Palace of Caserta.
Located only half an hour's drive from Naples the palace was build in the 18th century for Charles VII of Naples and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
It also features a huge park with a canal, several fountains and even a waterfall.
You can visit the palace for 10€ or the park for 9€, or buy a combo ticket for 14€. Within the park, you can take shuttle buses, rent bicycles or ride a horse-drawn carriage for an additional fee.
The palace is open all year round, but closed on Tuesdays. However, opening hours vary depending on the month of your visit. For further information, go to the official website.
When travelling in Campania, there is almost no way around the capital of the region, Naples. Lying at the foot of the majestic Mount Vesuvius, Italy's third-largest city has a very unique charm and many beautiful sights to explore. Unsurprisingly, the Historic Centre of Naples was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Castel Nuovo, often called Maschio Angioino, is a medieval castle. Built in 1279, it is one of the city's most important architectural landmarks. Its grand triumphal arch at the main gate is particularly striking.
One of the most beautiful sights in the centre of Naples is the Galleria Umberto I.
This cross-shaped building with a glass dome is a public shopping gallery, located directly across from the San Carlo Theatre. It was built between 1887 and 1890 and designed by Emanuele Rocco, who used modern architectural elements that resemble the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The Galleria was named after Umberto I, who was King of Italy at the time of its construction.
Naples' main square is the Piazza del Plebiscito which is bounded by the Royal Palace to the east and the church of San Francesco di Paola to the west.
A little further from Naples' historic centre stands the Santa Chiara complex that includes the Church of Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs and an archeological museum, all of which you can visit for an entrance fee of 6€. The garden is decorated with columns and benches which are covered in floral decorations and tiles depicting popular mythological scenes. The four walls of the monastery depict scenes from the Old Testament. Inside the complex is a museum where you can learn about Neapolitan history from ancient times to the 20th century. However, my personal highlight of the visit was the archaeological area with the remains of a Roman thermal bath.
I really enjoyed visiting Naples, however, you should be aware that the city has a rather high crime rate. It is not very noticeable in the city centre, but you should avoid certain neighbourhoods, especially after dark. I recommend always being careful when travelling, but especially so in particularly dangerous cities.
Food:
As you might know by now, I do not recommend restaurants unless I had a truly amazing experience. In Naples the restaurant Insolito La Pizzeria Gourmet swept me off my feet. Not only was the pizza simply incredible, I could not believe how low the prices were for such amazing qualiy food. As you might have guessed, the restaurant is packed, so you have to book a table in advance.
In conclusion, from ancient cities that have frozen a piece of history in time to breathtaking landscapes of mountains and coastlines, the gorgeous region of Campania has a lot to offer travellers and therefore more than deserves its popularity.