Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

DISC OVERING IT AL Y  15

A Week in
Southern Italy
• Airports Arrive at Rome
Fiumicino and depart from
Catania airport, Sicily.
• Transport Train travel from
Rome to Naples is fast and
easy (1 hour and 10 minutes
is the fastest). Take the ferry
for Capri and Sicily, the bus
for the coastal towns of
Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi
and Ravenna, and for
Agrigento from Palermo
(2 hours). You will need
a car to see inland Sicily:
Piazza Armerina and Noto.
Pompeii and Capri are
easy to visit as day trips
from Naples. The evocative ancient temple ruins at Selinunte, Sicily
• Booking ahead Rome:
The body casts of the people (p501) has a stunning 9th-
Vatican Museums,
Colosseum, Forum and who perished here are perhaps century cathedral, while Ravello
Palatine; Naples: Museo most poignant. Arrange a trip (p501), set high above terraces of
Archeologico Nazionale, up the infamous volcano, or lemon groves, has the best of
Secret Cabinet Tour. take a ferry from Naples or the views. Lose yourself among
Sorrento to the idyllic island of the bougainvillea in the lush
Capri (pp502–503), best enjoyed gardens of the Villa Cimbrone or
in the quiet of evening. Blue Villa Rufolo.
Days 1 and 2: Rome Grotto sea cave and Villa Jovis of
See the city itinerary on p12. Emperor Tiberius are secondary Days 6 and 7: Sicily
attractions to the captivating Sicily is a melting pot of
Day 3: Naples vistas you will find here. Norman, Byzantine, Greek and
Naples (pp490–97) is chaotic, Arab influences and deserves
but the rewards of visiting are at least 2 days’ exploration.
manifold. The main attraction Taking the night ferry from
is the world-renowned Museo Naples to Palermo, the island’s
Archeologico Nazionale largest town, will save you time.
(pp494–5) and its vast collection Palermo (pp530–33) exemplifies
of Roman and Pompeiian all these influences, notably in
treasures; allow at least half a the Palazzo dei Normanni,
day here. Book ahead for the whose Cappella Palatina is
Secret Cabinet tour to view the a glittering mix of mosaics,
erotic works from Pompeii. marble and gold. The most
Tiny Cappella Sansevero (p491) famous Norman mosaics,
holds intriguing works from however, are outside Palermo,
the 18th century, notably the at the highly ornamented
virtuoso alabaster and marble Duomo of Monreale (pp534–5).
Veiled Christ by Sammartino. Seek out the intricate Norman
Santa Chiara (p493) is worth cloisters here. To the south, you
seeing for its charming can discover the ancient Greek
majolica-tiled cloisters. Don’t Marina Grande on the pretty island of Capri legacy in the Valley of the
leave without eating pizza in Temples (p540), near Agrigento,
the city of its invention. Day 5: Amalfi Coast or at Selinunte (p538), which has
Take the hair-raising bus ride the benefit of a long and sandy
Day 4: Pompeii and Capri along the coast for views of a beach. In the interior, the Villa
The Circumvesuviana train skirts lifetime and stop off at your Romana del Casale at Piazza
the base of Vesuvius from leisure at some of Italy’s most Armerina (p541) sports some
Naples to Pompeii and on to beautiful towns. Sorrento (p501) of Italy’s liveliest mosaics, and
Sorrento. Pompeii (pp498–9) is the most lively and popular, beautiful Noto (p547), aglow
gives you an insight into a while chic Positano (p501) with golden stone, is a unique
Roman town as it was before favours the jet set and comes Baroque town rebuilt after the
it was destroyed in AD 79. with a good beach. Amalfi earthquake of 1693.

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