Visit Naples Italy

Italy has many volcanoes that are more active and can be more exciting then Vesuvius. However no volcano is more famous then Vesuvius due to its history of burying the now famous towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. This volcano provides a great backdrop to many of the pictures you will see around the bay of Naples. It is very hard to miss when you visit as its ominous presence seems to hover around the area still as a stark reminder of its violent and destructive past.

Although now dormant Veuvuus is still an active volcano and it is certainly not extinct by any means. You need to keep this in mind if you are visiting the area as your plans could suddenly change if this hunk of rock should become active again. The most recent activity for this beast has been in 1944 when the volcano again changed shape as it went through another violent cycle of destruction. Unlike the calm eruptions of Mount Etna Vesuvus eruptions tend to be very violent and destructive like Mount St. Helens in America.

However for right now this mountain is lying still and that makes it an ideal hiking ground. If you are hoping to have this mountain to yourself you better think again as many tourists also choose to hike up its peak to view the bay of Naples from a vantage point not seen everyday. This is not an easy walk either as the peak of the volcano is 4700 feet up and is sure to tax even the most fittest of tourists. Be sure to be prepared when visiting this volcano and wear appropriate shoes. It always amazes me how many times I have seen people injured just because of the poor selection of their footwear when hiking or walking around a city.

The best times to visit this site is actually in May and June as the weather is best this time of year. However you are sure to be one of the many tourists that also choose to walk up the slope of Vesuvius so it will not be a solitary visit for sure. Speaking of weather this mountain does close for bad weather and fog as I am sure that the city of Naples wants to keep the site as safe as possible.

You can take an organized tour of the volcano from the town of Naples. They usually leave by bus and are advertised in many of the English papers in the area. Also be sure to speak to your hotel staff as to which is the best tour group to take as I am sure they are well aware of the many scammers that tend to crop up when any tourist groups show up.

The island of Ischia is unknown to many American tourists which actually makes it a great place to visit. This island plays second fiddle to the island of Capri which many American tourists flock to because of the frequent visits from the many cruise ships that descend upon that tiny island. However this island is much larger and you have much more space to move around as it is not as crowded as Capri. I am not saying there are no crowds however, as many other tourists in the area know this island well and go here because of the lack of American tourists.

The island of Ischia is much larger and has a total of five principal towns. The history of the island is vast and hence there are many places to see and visit. The primary attraction in this island is Castello Aragonese once home to the poet and humanist Vittoria Colonna who counted the artist Michelangelo as one of her many friends.

The five towns on this island are Ischia, Porto, Lacco Ameno, Casamicciola Terme, and finally the town of Sant’Angelo. The town of Ischia is by far the largest of the towns and has the most hotels and restaurants and therefore is more geared towards the tourists that visit that island. If you want to get off the beaten track then visit the other towns like Lacco Ameno which has some of the greatest spas in the whole of Italy.

For those that cannot pass on visiting a museum there is a museum dedicated to the sea called Museo del Mare or the Museum of the Sea. Also for many film buffs it might be interesting to know that much of the film The Talented Mr. Ripley was filmed at Palazzo Malcoviti. Since much of the cinematic arts is geared towards the spectacular visuals I am sure that this place is definitely worth visiting.

If hiking and walking along nature paths is your thing then this is the island for you. This island has a volcanic center which many tourists spend an hour climbing up to look upon a great view that I am sure you will not find anywhere else. If you are backpacking through Europe then this should definitely be on your list of things to do.

Although this island is not as famous or glamorous as its sister Capri it still has plenty to offer. It is certainly going to be quieter then many of the other places you may find in and around the bay of Naples which is a definite plus in my book.

The island of Capri (pronounced KA pri) is perhaps the jewel of the Naples coast. It is one of the most serene and beautiful islands I have ever visited. I could not help but be at peace on this island. When I visited it not so long ago I wanted to stay and make the place my home. It is one of the best places I have ever been in my life. But that is just my personal experience with the island.

I know I am not the only one to feel the same way after visiting the island. It is a very small island that has very few cars and only two small towns. During the day however the island is packed with tourists from the various cruise ships that are in the area. So if you are expecting a quiet get away then you will be disappointed as this island is nothing but quiet during the day. But that to me just adds to its charm. At night however it is a completely different story as most of the day trippers have left the island and the area and  you have the island to a small amount of residents and travelers that stay overnight.

This island is also an attraction to many celebrities and it is not uncommon to see some very high profile actors and actresses on this island during the film festival that takes place here. In fact when Ferrari launches a new version of their automobiles they usually have a party on the island to launch the new car.

Is this island worth visiting through? Well that depends. If you can survive an almost an hour long boat trip from Naples  then yes. Just as a tip though if you choose to go to this island the trip from Sorrento is much better as it is a far smaller distance from the port of Sorrento to the island.

Because of the clientele that frequents the island the prices are a bit steep to say the least. When you have to rub shoulders with multi-million dollar celebrities you are pretty sure that the hotel prices are going to be up there in price. The surrounding stores also represent some of the higher brand stores you would find in Beverly Hills and in the heart of the Rome shopping district. Restaurants as well are very expensive as they can cater to the higher end market. As always if you want to get the best deal always ask the locals where they shop or eat and I am sure you will receive a better deal.