 Introduction
Tourist attractions include the Greek temples at Paestum, the Roman ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum, the volcanoes of Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia, the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana) from Sorrento to Salerno and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.
History and Culture
Campania was the breadbasket of Rome, until the acquisition of Egypt brought greater supplies of grain, resulting in the conversion of smallholdings in Campania to the characteristic latifundia that lasted from the Empire to modern times. Goths and the Byzantine Empire struggled for control during the 5th and 6th centuries, followed by the Lombards, who established the Duchy of Benevento. The Normans (Robert Guiscard) conquered and re-unified Campania during the 11th and 12th centuries, seizing southern Italy from the Byzantines, forming the Kingdom of Sicily. After the Hohenstaufen confrontation with the Papacy, the kingdom passed to Charles of Anjou who retained his mainland territories after he lost Sicily (1282) as the Kingdom of Naples, reunited with Sicily by Alfonso V of Aragon (1442) who styled himself the “King of two Sicilies”, a title that was subsequently revived during the Spanish domination (1504 - 1713) of both kingdoms. The Bourbons succeeded in 1713: prior to the unification of Italy, Campania formed part of the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
One has to visit Naples in order to understand the true essence of this region. Naples is a lively, friendly, sunny city, full of artistic and cultural interest with its theaters and museums, its monuments and its palaces, its typical alleys and open-air coffee shops in the squares. Naples is the place that sums up all the region’s culture and history, living proof of the populations that ruled this area over the centuries, from the Anjou dynasty to the Bourbons, with the Aragons somewhere in between.
Another wonderful place to visit is the Reggia in Caserta, about 30 kilometers from Naples: this palace was the summer residence of the Bourbons and has 1200 rooms. It was built as a copy of the Palace of Versailles.
Places in the Region of Campania
Drinks and Cuisine
Events
This extraordinary musical festival dedicated to Richard Wagner first debuted in 1953, presenting a series of symphony and chamber concerts every year, along with opera, ballet, cinema and theater.
Festa di Sant’Andrea - November, January and June - Amalfi
Amalfi's patron saint is celebrated on two separate occasions: On November 30 (birthday celebration) a statue of the saint is taken from the Cathedral and carried in a procession through the streets and squares of the city. June 27 is the commemoration of the miracle that saved the city from the pirate Barbarossa (1544). The statue is carried to the sea, where a festival of music and fireworks awaits the procession.
Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics - May/June - Amalfi
Every year in springtime, Amalfi celebrates her glorious past as a Maritime Republic with an Historical Regatta, including perfectly recreated period costumes and sea vessels, representing the four ancient Maritime Republics: Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and Venice.
Bizantine New Year's Eve - 31 August - Amalfi
New Year's Eve is celebrated the old bizantine way
Festival of Sant’Antonio - July 4th - Capri
On July 4th every year, the patron saint of the town of Anacapri is celebrated with a large rustic festival.
Festival of San Costantino - July 30th - Capri
On July 30th every year, the patron saint of the town of Capri, San Costantino, is celebrated.
International Folklore Festival - August - Capri
During the 1st week of August, Anacapri plays host to a range of events in its squares, featuring musical bands and folk dance companies.
Settembrata Anacaprese - September - Capri
A large rustic festival for celebrating the grape harvest: 10 days of celebration dedicated to the island’s typical produce, including shows, competitions and games.
Capri Film Festival - December - Capri
Every December since 1991, Capri has hosted an international festival dedicated to the cinema. The event attracts Italian artistes, Hollywood stars and independent filmmakers keen to present their works in this exclusive location.
Vinischia - July - Ischia
An event that is entirely dedicated to food and wine and Campania regional crafts. It has been organized each summer since 1999 at Torre Guevara at Ischia Ponte. Shows, concerts and dances are organized around the exhibitions and the food and wine tasting.
Settembre sul Sagarato - August and September - Ischia
A village festival has been organized every year since 1988 in Ischia, that is held in Piazzale Battistessa, opposite the Church of San Pietro. The festival lasts for two weeks and is filled with painting exhibitions, parades of traditional costumes, wine tasting, “fagiolate” (bean stew tasting), concerts and shows.
Festa della “Ndrezzata” - Easter Monday - Ischia
The “Festa della “Ndrezzata” is held in the village of Buonopane, near Barano every Easter Monday. The “Ndrezzata”, is a typical dance from the island. It is a kind of rhythmic, violent and picturesque fight where the dancers are dressed in traditional island costumes and fight each other with wooden swords.
Festa di Sant’Anna - 26 July - Ischia
The Festa di Sant’Anna is held on July 26th each year in the borough of Ischia.
On that occasion, there is a sea parade of figurative boats from the island’s various boroughs and also from Procida, under the Castello Aragonese. The parade ends with a prize-giving ceremony and fireworks.
The festival is watched by an enthusiastic public.
Foreign Film Festival - June - Ischia
A cinema festival with premieres and retrospective themes dedicated to films located in Europe, especially Italy. Ischia, for example, was one of the favorite locations for films made in Italy from the 1950s onwards. Some of the films made here are “Vacanze a Ischia” with Vittorio De Sica, the colossal “Cleopatra” with Richard Burton and Liz Taylor and the more recent film “The Talent of Mr Ripley” with Matt Damon and Jude Law.
Mozzarella Festival - August 6 -8 - Salerno
Celebrate Camapnia's fine buffalo mozzarella during Salerno's annual mozza festival, where those interested may follow the production process from beginning to end. Visitors will be amazed by the number of delectable varieties of the cheese the region produces.
Sorrento Summer of Music - from July to September. - Sorrento
The "Sorrento Summer of Music" Festival takes place every year in the cloisters of the monastery of Saint Francis in Sorrento, and its honorary President is the famous cellist Uto Ughi. Against the attractive backdrop of the Saint Francis cloisters, great names from the international music scene perform alongside emerging talent throughout the summer. Plenty of classical music and chamber music, but also jazz and other genres.
Incontri Internazionali del Cinema di Sorrento - December - Sorrento
Sorrento's International Cinema Festival first began in 1963, and every year awards are presented to the best of Italian and foreign features and shorts.
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