Underground Naples brings you back through 2400 fascinating years of history, and is a must-see for anyone visiting the capital of the Campania region.

The underground is 40 metres deep

The substratum of the southern Italian city is rich in history from the Greek era to modern times, and is to be found 40 metres deep through a labyrinth of tunnels, caves and passages, and contains from works of great civil engineering to the remains of the ancient Greco-Roman aqueduct and Second World War air-raid shelters. You can also visit the War Museum, the Hypogean Gardens (www.ortipogei.it), the Arianna Seismic Station that measures and monitors earthquake updates every three minutes, and much more, long left abandoned and now restored to new life. 

Ph Credits: Sergio Siano

The Greeks started the excavations

The history of underground Naples is a fascinating one, and began with the first underground excavations some 5,000 years ago, almost to the end of the prehistoric era. Later, in the 3rd century B.C., the Greeks opened the first underground quarries to extract the blocks of tufa needed to build the walls and temples of their Neapolis, and excavated numerous rooms to create a series of funerary hypogea. 

From ancient Romans to WWII

In Roman days, under the Emperor Augustus, the Romans provided the city with road tunnels and a complex network of aqueducts fed by underground conduits from the Serino springs, 70 km away from the centre of Naples.  Just wide enough for a man to pass through, the tunnels of the aqueduct branched off in all directions to supply fountains, businesses and dwellings, and in places traces of the hydraulic plaster used by the engineers in antiquity to waterproof the tunnels, can still be seen on the walls. During WWII the ancient passageways were used as air-raid shelters to protect against the disastrous bombing of the city.  Remains of furniture and graffiti in an excellent state of preservation still testify today to those terrible days for the city and its residents. 

Guaranteeing high levels of safety

The official authorized route of the Associazione Napoli Sotterranea – the tour lasts about two hours -  is the only site where the highest safety standards are guaranteed. The entrance is in the heart of the historic centre of Naples at Piazza San Gaetano 68.  Comfortable shoes and a sweatshirt are advised for the summer months, and for anxious visitors narrow paths, such as tunnels, are optional.  

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At the start of 2023 Italy was the 2nd most searched country by Europeans wanting to travel, according to a Jetcost survey.

Italian cities were hot favourites for end-of-year breaks 

Flight searches for the end of 2022 increased by 230% compared to last year says Jetcost, and Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, Catania, Florence, Bologna and Turin were top choices for end-of-year breaks  With the recovery of tourism in Italy the flight and hotel search engine www.jetcost.it found that flight searches for the end of 2022 were up 230, while hotel searches were up 180% compared to last year.

The nightlife in Milan and Venice is a big attraction

Italy’s art cities, rich culture, small towns, food and wine, good hotels, and cheaper prices than other European countries, made it the second most searched country on Jetcost for spending the start of 2023, coming in just behind Spain but ahead of Portugal, France and the UK. Jetcost.co.uk’s analysis of flight searches from 26 December 2022 to 4 January 2023, indicate that many people opted for destinations with cultural richness, as well as good food and wine and an intense nightlife. Milan and Venice were particularly popular for their culture, and also their lively night life, with Milan proving the most popular city for British travellers, and the second most popular for the Germans, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese.

The Eternal City is second favourite for the UK market 

Rome, a symbol of Italy’s history and culture, but also a favourite for its gastronomy and fashion, excellent clubs and restaurants was a favourite with the Germans, French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, and the second most popular destination for the UK market. Naples, another monumental city rich in history, ranked as the third most popular destination for German and Dutch travellers, fourth for the French and sixth for the British, Spanish and Portuguese.

The Italian islands are also popular choices

Catania in Sicily is the fourth most popular city for German and British travellers, and fifth for the Dutch, while Palermo is the fifth choice for Germans and sixth for the French. Another popular island where one can enjoy the sun is Sardinia, with Cagliari the tenth most popular city for German, French and Dutch travellers and Olbia the 13th most popular destination for Germans. In addition Florence, Bologna, Genoa, Bari, Brindisi, Turin, Lamezia Terme, Perugia and Ancona were also chosen to spend this special time of year.

Mount Vesuvius, the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe, forms a dramatic backdrop for the city Naples and its famous bay. 

The volcano’s lava and hot ash destroyed two ancient cities

For visitors to Naples this instantly recognizable landmark is the smallest active volcano in the world, and on and off to remind us it is merely slumbering, it spouts sulphur steam and trails of smoke high into the sky above its main crater. 

Vesuvius’s most famous eruption occurred in 79 A.D. when it literally blew its top, pouring horrifying flows of burning lava and ash onto the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, burying them and all who lived in them. Today these ancient ruins – and the perfectly-conserved bodies of many of their inhabitants - are among the Campania region’s most visited attractions and should not be missed.   

Thousands of visitors climb to the top every year

The highest point of Naples’ landmark active volcano is Mount Summa at 1,149 metres asl. It also has the main cone, or Cono Grande with a huge crater and a smaller cone.  Considered one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, it has a recorded eruption cycle of about every 20 years, though the last important eruption was in 1944.  Thousands of visitors climb up to its main crater every year but this is not a Disney ride. Vehicles have to be left at 1,000-metres and climb on up on foot to a moon-like landscape. But of course it is well worth the climb, as the views from the top over the Gulf of Naples, from Sorrento to Salerno, the islands of Procida and Ischia and  the sprawling city of Naples, are simply stunning.

Free tours with volcanology guides 

A trip to this active volcano is a perfect half-day excursion from Naples which is just six kilometres away. The point where cars have to stop (there is a large car park for which there is a fee) ends about 250 metres from the edge of the crater. Of the nine trails, number 5 is the one most tourists take, walking up slopes that are marked by lava flows. This can take from 15 to 30 minutes (the average gradient is just 14%) and once at the top it is a good idea to take one of the scheduled tours with a local volcanology guide. They only last ten minutes, but they give an excellent overview of what you are seeing, and they are free.    For information: https://www.parconazionaledelvesuvio.it

Magnificence and history combine in the Castle of Grinzane Cavour which stands on a hilltop above the little town of the same name in the province of Cuneo, about 75 kilometres by car from the regional capital, Turin. 

Cavour, a hero of the Risorgimento

The castle is just a few kilometres from the truffle capital of Alba, and on the road that leads to the home of the world-famous Barolo wine.  Built in the middle of the 11th century, the historical castle dominates the beautiful Langa hills which, together with the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato wine-growing region are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Down the centuries the castle has belonged to various noble families, including the Counts Benso di Cavour, whose most famous son was Camillo Benso, the celebrated hero of the Risorgimento, who lived here and was mayor of the small village of Grinzane for 17 years.

The Langhe Museum and beautiful landscapes

Today the historical castle is home to the Langhe Museum and has fascinating rooms that reveal the arts and crafts of times long past with an exhibition of the tools of rural life, while fascinating memorabilia from the times of  Count Camillo Benso is kept in what were his private apartments. Strolling through the charming streets of the little town with its low, spaced-out houses which are typical of the region and its little squares, the atmosphere is one of tranquility. The surrounding landscapes are some of the most beautiful in Italy with the Langhe’s rolling hills, perfectly aligned vineyards and medieval villages perched on hilltops.

Since 1999, every year at the beginning of November, the Castle of Grinzane Cavour hosts the World Alba White Truffle Auction, an event that draws great chefs and famous personalities for the non-profit event. The proceeds from the sale are donated to charities in Italy and around the world, and to date have raised well over €5million.  For anyone who loves truffles this chance to taste the precious Alba white variety is an occasion not to be missed!  Chef Marc Lanteri's Cucina di Confine restaurant in the castle takes its inspiration from his childhood spent in the small village of Tenda, just over the border with France.  The restaurant's rooms have exposed brickwork, terracotta floors, and coffered ceilings, and Lanteri’s cuisine, with true esprit français, is inspired by Piedmontese and Provençal traditions; a border cuisine that blends the best of both traditions with locally grown products of excellence.   For information: https://www.castellogrinzane.com

Aer Lingus rolls out an expanded schedule for summer 2023, with flights to 53 European destinations, including three new summer routes linking Dublin with Olbia, Brindisi and Kos. 

New flights to nine Italian airports

For the Italian market, Aer Lingus will operate Dublin flights to nine Italian airports this summer: Brindisi, Rome and Olbia with two weekly flights, Milan Linate, Venice and Naples with one daily flight, Milan Malpensa with four weekly flights and Pisa and Verona with three weekly flights.

“The demand for sunny European destinations is at an all-time high”

 ''After the pandemic the demand for sunny European destinations is at an all-time high, and Aer Lingus is pleased to announce an increase in capacity on the most popular routes for the summer schedule - commented Susanne Carberry, chief customer officer Aer Lingus. - Our ambitious expansion in North America continues with the introduction of services to Cleveland and Hartford, a record offering with an impressive 2.25 million transatlantic seats.''

The new campaign that takes Italian beauty around the world starts from the Italian island of Ischia with the new #ThisisIschia, Ministry of Tourism and ENIT national tourism agency campaign.  

Aimed at the main inbound markets

Running from January to April 2022 in Italy and around the world, it will focus on countries that generate high arrivals numbers to Italy such as Germany, the UK, the USA, France, Spain and the Benelux countries.  The message of the campaign is that everyone can return to the beautiful little green Italian island, and it will use both digital, print and out-of-home channels as well as international influencers and tour guides. Ischia will also be taken to major international trade fairs to boost its brand, and visitors will be able to share their autographed shots of the island, which will be relaunched with a dedicated hashtag. In addition, a landing page will make is possible to create a personal virtual tour of Ischia in real time, and share it with online users.

Ivana Jelinic

“Minister Daniela Santanché’s visit to Ischia was a sign of concreteness”

"We have set up the campaign in record time. Minister Daniela Santanché’s visit to Ischia was a sign of concreteness and closeness.  ENIT will play its part in terms of national and international promotions, fuelling the desire to experience a holiday in one of the pearls of the Gulf of Naples, a little Italian island that is much loved around the world," said Enit CEO Ivana Jelinic.  "For more than 100 years ENIT has been close to Italy’s tourist destinations and now the mission becomes even more delicate, because the promotion involves complex locations, and we will be even more scientific in our approach and programming," says ENIT Director Sandro Pappalardo.

Senigallia, a refined Italian seaside town in the Marches region, is popular for its resort facilities and is known as the Velvet Beach for its golden sands. 

The Velvet Beach is 13-kilometres long

Senigallia is one of the Marche region’s main tourist resorts, attracting visitors from all over Italy and Europe, also thanks to its fame as the Velvet Beach – some 13 kilometres of soft, golden sand washed by blue seas.  Since 1997 Senigallia has uninterruptedly boasted the Blue Flag, the recognition for destinations that guarantee the quality of their sea water, environmental management, user information, services and safety on the beach.

Rocca Roveresca Senigallia

The magnificent fortress was built over the centuries

The Rocca Roveresca fortress is one of the area’s most interesting historical buildings, and is the result of the superimposition of defensive structures that have succeeded one another over the centuries. As we see it today the fortress was commissioned by Giovanni Della Rovere, who called on Duke  Federico da Montefeltro’s great architects Luciano Laurana and Baccio Pontelli.

Handsome palaces with stuccoes and coffered ceilings

The Palazzo del Duca, designed by Girolamo and Bartolomeo Genga for Guidubaldo II around the middle of the 16th century, has a splendid coffered ceiling painted by Taddeo Zuccari. The Palazzetto Baviera was built by Giovanni Giacomo Baviera at the same time as the Rocca fortress. It has splendid stuccoes dating back to 1590, the work of the famous Urbino artist Federico Brandani.

The Portici Ercolani 126 arches used to shelter market stalls

The Piazza Roma square, overlooked by the 17th-century Palazzo del Governo, has a handsome fountain of Neptune, which the people of Senigallia refer to affectionately as the Monco in Piazza. The Portici Ercolani arcades lining the right bank of the Misa River are a sequence of one hundred and twenty-six arches in Istrian stone. They were built to shelter the many merchants who used to come to the city every July for the famous Maddalena Franca fair.

The Rotonda al Mare building is the symbol of the city

Not to be missed is the Rotonda a Mare, an elegant building at the end of a pier and the city's tourist symbol since 1933, the year it opened. This handsome exhibition and entertainment venue is a popular meeting place for holidaymakers during the summer months, and it was restored to its former glory in July 2006.

The Serenusa Village in Sicily, Torreserena Village and GranSerena Hotel in Puglia, the Serenè Village in Calabria, Serena Majestic in Abruzzo and Calaserena Village in Sardinia are the first six Blueserena resorts to be restyled.

New contemporary Mediterranean design 

The renovations on these six properties follows the €30 million investment allocated in 2021 after the acquisition by Azora European Hotel & Leisure. The six complexes are due to reopen for the summer with a new contemporary Mediterranean design inspired by nature and local traditions.

“Our most loyal guests…are around 50% of all our clients”

"It is with great satisfaction that we kick off our summer 2022 sales with this extraordinary restyling operation, which represents an important added value for Bluserena," said the new Bluserena CEO, Marcello Cicalò. "I am certain that this new look will be significantly appreciated by our most loyal guests, who are around 50% of all our clients. We will continue to invest in the growth of the Bluserena brand, guaranteeing an increasingly innovative hospitality experience that exceeds expectations."

There is a 15% discount when booking by 31 January

The dining areas in the restyled properties also have a new look, and some of the beaches have new, larger beach umbrellas with safes and two sun loungers per room. Bluserena’s bookings are open for summer 2022 for the hotels and resorts in Sardinia, Puglia, Sicily, Calabria and Abruzzo with special conditions subject to limited availability: 15% discount when booking by 31 January and free cancellation up to 14 days before arrival.

To support the positive upswing post-Covid, Italy was present at the 2022 edition of The Luxury Travel Market International (Iltm) in Cannes with 19 regions, Rome and some 126 travel companies.

Italy a favourite destination for high-end travellers looking for art, culture, food and wine

In October and November 2022 Italy was the second favourite destination for French travellers, preceded by Spain and followed by the United States according to Google accommodation searches. In the first 6 months of 2022 French visitors to Italy spent €1.6 billion, 180% more than in January-June 2021. The most popular regions were Lombardy, Piedmont, Lazio, Liguria and Tuscany.

The return of European and American tourists

A Virtuoso survey shows that high-end travellers to Italy are looking for personalised, hyper-exclusive, responsible experiences, and the outlook remains very positive for 2023, with the absence of the Russian and Asian markets is partly offset by the return of European and American tourists. December’s French airline bookings to Italy were in line with those of the same month in 2021, and hotels were the most popular choice with 4.5 million French visitors against the 2.4 million taking non-hotel accommodation

“Italy is attracting millennials and generation Z travellers”

"Traditionally considered the ideal destination for the affluent, family and honeymoon and MICE travel, Italy - says ENIT’s new CEO Ivana Jelinic - is also increasingly attracting millennials and generation Z travellers looking for sustainability and something new."