Basilicata & Campania

The south of Italy truly begins in Campania. A Neapolitan charm exudes itself across the entire region particularly evident in the food. This is the home of the “Pizza”, but Campania also offers the tourist an excellent range of seafood and some first rate wines.

About an hour and a half’s car ride south of Naples is the ancient site of Paestum. Founded in the sixth century BC by the Greeks, the town has three well preserved stone temples, the most impressive of which is the temple of Neptune dating from 450 BC. Explore the ruins of the forum, wander around the museums and wonder how it is that such a magnificent attraction has so few tourists. We have chosen two properties close to Paestum, “La Casetta nella Foresta” and “Casale Soprano”. The nearby beaches lie on the Cilento coast with its warm , clear waters and picturesque fishing villages. The sites of Pompei and Herculaneum are only an hour away and be sure to climb to the summit of Vesuvius , the only active volcano on mainland Europe.

At nearby Padula, the “Certosa di San Lorenzo” is another must. A Baroque monastery which was used as a prisoner of war camp during World War two, the Certosa is indeed an impressive piece of architecture.

The small region of Basilicata has been truly blessed by nature. The landscape of this pretty little region is an extraordinary combination of forests and mountains alongside beautiful beaches and a fascinating coastline. A Greek town by origin, Maratea clings to the slopes of Mount San Biagio and is a mixture of narrow alleyways, squares and steps which demand further exploration. The skyline of Maratea is dominated by the imposing statue of Christ the redeemer, constructed in 1965 and standing at 22 metres tall. The port of Maratea is the place to be seen. Chic yachts and expensive motor boats are moored here and at night the port comes to life.

To the east of the region is perhaps the most renowned of Basilicata’s cities- Matera. Made a World Heritage site in 1993 Matera is home to the “Sassi”; strange caves dug deep into the rock in which people lived until the 1930’s.