Naples (**): visit Castel Nuovo or Maschio Angioino (the main Naples castle, AD1279), now there are some council offices and a museum (with paintings and sculptures), it is possilbe visit the most important and the best rooms. Visit Palazzo Reale (the Royal's Palace, XVI cent.) in piazza del Plebiscito (royal's room with furniture and objects are visitable). Visit the Monteoliveto church (XV cent.) where there is many sculptures, the Gesu' Nuovo church (AD1584) and don't miss the St. Chiara church (XIV cent.) where there is a great cloister decorated with fine majolica pottery. Visit the St. Domenico Maggiore church (XIV cent.) and the Sansevero's Chapel (AD1749) where there is a nice Christ monument and an old anatomy laboratory located under the Chapel. Visit the St. Gregorio Armeno church where there is a nice cloister (XVI cent.). Don't miss the St. Lorenzo Maggiore church (XIII cent.) where there is the entrance (in the cloister) to the underground archeological dig of a Roman street (II cent. BC) with shops. Visit the great Cathedral (XIV cent.), there are great chapels, mosaics, the famous St. Gennaro treasure and see the underground ruins of the previous church. On the left side of St. Paolo Maggiore church there is the entrance to the Napoli Sotterranea (the undergrounds of Naples), you can walk a few hundred meters below the center through the Hellenic-Roman aqueduct (it is not very known by tourist). Visit the important National Archeological Museum (there are many object from Pompei and Ercolano digs), don't miss it out! Go to the St. Gennaro Catacombs (II cent.). Visit the Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte, it was the countryside royal's palace with a big park. Now it is a great and important museum and gallery where there are preserved many great pictures (by Raffaello, Caravaggio, Michelangelo and others). Visit the St. Martino Carthusian monastery (XIV cent.) on the top of a hill, now a museum. Walk up to St. Elmo Castle (XIV cent.) on the top of the Vomero hill (great view of the gulf). Visit dell'Ovo castle (XIV cent.) that is located on a peninsula of the gulf and it is surrounded by a lovely fishing suburb. Walk through Spaccanapoli street and visit the great handcraft shops along St. Biagio dei Librai and St. Gregorio Armeno streets. In Naples you can taste wonderful pastries and the best pizza in the world!

SURROUNDINGS - Caserta (*) (get there by train): Visit the great Royal's Palace with great royal rooms and a big park. - Cuma Archeological Park (*) (by Circumflegrea (or Cumana) train) (VIII cent. BC): It is a few kilometers north of Naples and close by Pozzuoli. There is the dig of Cuma and the famous Antro della Sibilla (Sibyl's cave). - Baia Archeological dig (*) (by Circumflegrea (or Cumana) train) (I cent. BC): It is close by Pozzuoli. Visit the dig and the Baia Castle (now an archeological museum). - Pozzuoli (by Circumflegrea (or Cumana) train): See the Macellum dig (or Serapide Temple, I-II cent.), the dig is often flooded by the sea water. Visit the fine Roman Theater (I cent.), it is well preserved; visit the Solfatara, it is a sulfur geyser due to the Vesuvio vulcan. - Pompei Archeological Park (**) (by Circunvesuviana train): It is world wide known Roman city covered by eruption lava on 24th August 79. - Ercolano Archeological Park (**) (by Circunvesuviana train): In the same time of Pompei also Ercolano was covered by Vesuvian ash. Ercolano is smaller than Pompei but it is better preserved and there is less tourist than Pompei. I love very much Ercolano dig. - Paestum Archeological Park (**) (by train) 90 km south of Naples: Visit the great dig of the old Roman town (VI cent. BC) where there are temples, graves, a theater and a great archeological museum. - Benevento (by train) 64 km east of Naples: visit the fine Roman Theater still in use for festivals, the St. Sofia church (VIII cent.), the Sannio Archeological Museum. Don't miss the great Emperor Traiano's Arch (AD114) that is the best preserved Roman arch in the world. - Capri Island (**) (by ferry): It is the most famous gulf Island. Walk around Marina Grande town then get to Capri town by a cable car. Walk up to the St. Giacomo Carthusian (XIV cent.). Walk through a footpath to the ruins of Villa Jovis that was built by Emperor Tiberio. Great view. Visit, by boat, the famous Azzurra cave. - Ischia Island (*) (by ferry): It is a nice and peaceful Island, visit the Castle (AD 1438) that is located on a peninsular hill. Ischia is a seaside and spa resort. - The Amalfitan Peninsula (**) (by train then by bus): + Sorrento is a picturesque village. Walk around the center and visit the Correale di Terranova museum (furniture, sculptures, paintings and pots). + Positano is an other picturesque village. Walk around the center. + Emerald cave is a nice marine cave not far from Conca dei Marini. + Amalfi is a really picturesque village. Walk around the center and along the promenade. Visit the Cathedral (X cent.) with a nice bell-tower. Visit the great Paradiso cloister (XIII cent.). + Ravello is a lovely town. Visit the Cathedral (XI cent.), the Rufolo Palace (XIII cent.) in Arabic style. There is a great view. Visit Villa Cimbrone (XVIII cent.) with a great view. All the Amalfitan peninsula is covered by vine, olive, orange and lemon trees.

NB Be careful about pickpocket in Naples.

Marco.