The Bay of Naples

The Bay of Naples is regarded as one of the most beautiful places on earth and is best discovered on a gentle walking holiday. Snow-capped Vesuvius’ broods on the horizon and glistening like jewels in azure seas of the famous Bay are the islands of Capri and Ischia.

With steep limestone cliffs and impossibly clear waters, Capri is an eternal favourite, the Emperor Tiberius built his villa here. Easy to see why people return time and time again to this island of scented meadows and coastal paths fringed with pink oleander. The volcanic island of Ischia boasts a semi-tropical vegetation, terraces of vines, tempting black sand beaches and thermal pools. There’s also evocative Ischia-Porto with its Aragonese castle.

The coastline between Sorrento and Amalfi is renowned for its sensational scenery – the mountains drop into crystal blue seas and the towns cling vertiginously to limestone cliffs. Amalfi enjoys its own lush semi-tropical micro-climate while at the peninsula tip near Sorrento you will find more typical Mediterranean vegetation - holm oaks, myrtle and figs.

Throughout history the Bay has been repeatedly attacked by foreign invaders. The locals developed a warning system by watchtowers perched on limestone spurs to warn of their approach – you visit many of these on your walks. And the mule tracks they walked along through lemons and olive groves are well maintained, making a perfect way to explore the region on foot.