Set along a magnificent gulf, the "capital" of the Mezzogiorno embodies, in a sense, a kind of imagined Italian quintessence, brimming with charm, rebellious spirit, exuberance, paradox, commotion, and noise. Its character is profoundly baroque, and this extends far beyond the palaces and churches that serve as some of its finest theatrical backdrops.
Yet its true essence, organic and unrestrained, fully reveals itself in the streets—true arenas of life and exchange—that constantly engage, and at times overwhelm, the senses. This human anthill, criss-crossed by roaring scooters, teeming with people at almost any hour, and enveloped in heady aromas, may unsettle at first glance but never fails to enchant.
The spellbinding Bay of Naples has exerted a powerful allure since antiquity, when numerous retreats were established along its shores, dominated by the brooding silhouette of the tranquil Vesuvius. That tranquillity was shattered on the fateful day in 79 CE when the bowels of the earth engulfed those proud Roman cities, leaving behind ruins preserved for eternity—a poignant testament to the past.
Wild, joyous and enchanting, the Amalfi Coast unfurls its wonders along the few dozen kilometres of its rugged shoreline. Tiny fishing villages nestle against the slopes of the Lattari Mountains, alternating with the picturesque inlets of its coves, maritime pine forests, and lemon groves.
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