Rich in art and history, characterized by a mild climate all year round and a postcard sea, envied throughout the world for its exceptional traditional cuisine and loved for its hospitality: let yourself be seduced by Campaniaa land of intense colors and coasts dotted with bays, inlets and rocky walls, which will fill your eyes and heart.
Origins and historical notes on Campania
The first presences of man in Campania date back to the Middle Paleolithic, i.e. the era of Neanderthal man, then – it was the 1st millennium BC – it was inhabited by some populations of Indo-European stock such as the Osci, the Aurunci, the Ausoni, the Sidicini and Samnites, finally the Etruscans arrived, to occupy the Agro Campania, and the Greeks, who made the coastal strip a colony.
The main Etruscan center was Capua, while the first Greek settlements gave rise to centers such as Pithecusa (Ischia), Kyme (Cuma), Parthenope first and then Neapolis (Naples), Dikaiarcheia (Pozzuoli) and Poseidonia (Paestum).
Thus Campania became one of the most important cultural centers of Magna Graecia.
In the history of the region the eruptions of the volcano Vesuvius were frequent: the most violent was that of 79 AD, which caused the destruction of the cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii, Stabia and Oplontis whose ruins, buried under layers of pumice, today constitute aarcheological area of great value.
The rise of the Norman dynasty was also of particular importance, during which Campania experienced a period of political unity under the Kingdom of Sicily. Subsequently, with the succession of the dynasties of the Angevins, the Aragonese and above all the BourbonsThe Kingdom of Naples it became one of the main economic, cultural and artistic centers of Europe.
The main cities of Campania
It is not easy to choose where to start to discover the many wonders of this region, even if you start from Naples it’s almost an obligation: born in the shadow of Vesuviuswhich deserves at least one excursion, and bathed by the waters of the gulf of the same name, is one of the most visited and loved cities in the world.
Impossible to stay here and not see its archaeological areas – Pompeii, Herculaneum and Campi Flegrei – or don’t pay a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Napleswhich houses some of the most precious finds from its past.
Third most populous city in Italy, characterized by a huge variety of landscapes, Naples has a Old Town which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the large quantity of buildings of inestimable value, starting from Royal Palace which for centuries was the center of power of all of southern Italy, and since Castel dell’Ovothe oldest fort in the city.
You shouldn’t miss either Salerno, gateway to the astonishing Amalfi Coast. Known throughout the world for having given rise to the Salerno Medical School, the first medical institution in Europe, it has a rich historic center and a long promenade by the sea. In its gulf you will find the amazing Paestum which, with its temples, is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the best preserved archaeological site.
Caserta it is another very important point of interest, a destination for tourism attracted by its notable artistic, historical and cultural heritage: here you will see magnificent churches, palaces and abbeys, but above all you will see the Royal Palace of Caserta.
A UNESCO heritage site, it was built by order of Charles Bourbon who entrusted the task to the architect Luigi Vanvitelli and is one of the largest architectural complexes in Europe.
What to see in Campania: 6 unmissable stops
Start from Cilento, in the province of Salerno, which will win you over both for the coast and the panorama. Its territory largely falls within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park which protects the rich natural heritage of the area.
Don’t miss theIsland of Ischiawhich became famous in the 1950s thanks to the entrepreneur Angelo Rizzoli and loved internationally for its beautiful beaches and thermal waters.
Speaking of exclusive places, you should certainly visit Caprithe most sought after destination for VIPs who love to bathe in the crowds in the bars of the famous square.
Among big brand shops and expensive restaurants, inns and artisans, Capri offers a breathtaking view of the Faraglioni, the Gulf of Naples and that of Salerno.
An essential stage is the whole Amalfi Coastwhich extends between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno and includes 15 municipalities in the province of Salerno, including the wonderful Amalfi.
A real natural balcony overlooking the blue sea and the slopes of the Lattari mountains, between beaches and terraces planted with citrus fruits, vines and olive trees.
History lovers will certainly not be disappointed by Campania and will be able to trace the ancient Roman civilisation, visiting the vast archaeological area of Phlegraean Fieldsin the gulf of Pozzuoli, or those magnificent ones of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Naples.
The unusual places of Campania: 2 destinations for the curious
If you like to get away from tourist itineraries, look for it Casina Vanvitellianaa delightful construction from the Bourbon era in an area intended for hunting and fishing within the park on Lake Fusaro, in Bacoli.
Equally fascinating is the Garden of Minervaa botanical garden in the historic center of Salerno which, during the Middle Ages, was an open-air teaching laboratory for students of the Salerno medical school.
Typical products of Campania: 5 delights to savor
Tasty and authentic as the people of Campania are, the cuisine of this region knows how to seduce with taste: it tells you nothing Pizza?
Try the San Marzano tomatoelongated in shape and perfect for peeled tomatoes and tomato sauce, or Piennolo cherry tomato from Vesuvius DOP, a variety grown exclusively on the volcanic slopes of Vesuvius.
Cheese lovers will appreciate the provolone del monacoa string cheese with a buttery taste, as delicious as the famous one buffalo mozzarella bell that the whole world envies us.
Many delights for the palate, to be washed down with the highly appreciated ones local wines: from Greco di Tufoa much-loved DOCG white wine produced in eight municipalities in the province of Avellino.
Events in Campania: the Candlemas Festival
Among the events held in Campania, the Candlemas Feasta religious festival that commemorates the presentation of the Lord in the Temple and the purification rite of the Virgin Mary 40 days after the birth of Jesus.
from italia.it
