Southern Italy

The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD buried a flourishing city and preserved the peoples' daily life into... present-day times. It was not until excavations in the 18th century that the ancient theaters, magnificent villas, temples and baths would see the light again. Two thirds of the city, which was founded by the Osci in the 7th century AD, were brought back to the surface and made available to the public. A one-day excursion to the former commercial metropolis is the perfect addition to a visit to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, bringing the ancient world of over 2,000 years ago back to life. Particularly recommended is the Apollo Temple dating from the Greek era, the Roman Forum, the luxurious Casa dei Vetti, the Stabian Baths, the spectacular garden of Casa di Octavio Quarto and the large amphitheatre. In the Lupanar, Pompeii's well-preserved house of pleasure, frescos showing a range of love positions depict the various services that were for sale in ancient times. more

Built from the same Neapolitan yellow tuff (a soft volcanic rock) upon which it stands, Castel dell'Ovo... dominates the bay and offers a wonderful view out to the Gulf of Naples. Legend has it that the most famous poet of Roman antiquity and rumoured sorcerer, Virgil, put a curse on the castle, giving rise to its peculiar name - "egg castle". Virgil, who is buried in Naples, is said to have placed an egg in a bottle and magically formed an iron cage around it. The fate of Naples allegedly rests upon the fragile egg staying intact. History certainly shows that the fate of the city has often been strongly influenced by the small island in the fishing village of Borgo Marinaro. During ancient times, the Villa of Lucullus and the coastal property of Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus stood on this site. The Norman William the Conqueror built the castle in around 1200. It was later extended by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, unaware that within these walls his own grandson would be incarcerated by the Anjous until his death. Castel dell'Ovo was also where the Masaniello revolt against Spanish rule began in 1647. Today, visitors can visit the ethno-prehistoric museum and view the changing exhibition themes in the castle. more

Behind the plain austere façade of Chiesa Santa Chiara, visitors can discover the rococo salon under... the open sky. The enchanted garden of the former Convent of the Poor Claires belongs to the Santa Chiara complex and is a delightful place to stroll under olive, lemon and orange trees while recuperating from the hectic of the bustling city. In 1738, the Saxon Princess Anna Amalia had the cloister of the nuns decorated with pergolas and cheerfully-coloured majolica tiles which still cover columns, benches, walls and fountains today. The Church of Santa Chiara was built in the gothic style at the beginning of the 14th century from the yellow tuff stone which is typical of the region. Although the Anjou Crown Prince Charles, Duke of Calabria, described the church as a "stable" because of its simplicity, it served as the preferred burial place of the Anjou dynasty for many years. The magnificent royal graves rise up in front of the choir wall. Three kings of Naples and Sicily were buried under the altar of the church. In the 18th century, the church was decorated with baroque stucco, which, however, did not withstand the bombing raids in the Second World War. As the 14th-century walls resisted destruction, Santa Chiara was nevertheless able to be reconstructed in its original gothic form. more