To really understand this incredible part of Italy, you need to explore beyond Naples’ and Campania’s most famous areas. In doing so, you’ll find a region rich in culture, history, cuisine and more.

By travelling into the countryside outside Naples you’ll find a slower, more authentically-Italian way of life, devoid of crowds and tourist-focused experiences.

I’ll cut to the chase here; the best way to explore Campania is via car – either driving yourself or by hiring a driver for your time here.

While some locations in this guide can be reached via public transport easily, others cannot.

Driving around Campania will give you added freedom to explore and enjoy the stunning countryside.

The Phlegraean Fields, or Campi Flegri in Italian, refers to a large place west of Naples on the edge of the gulf.

This is a huge active caldera, part of the same volcanic system as Vesuvius, but is also home to modern towns.

Within the Phlegraean Fields there are a number of notable sites which are well worth the trip for history and nature lovers. Our highlights and recommendations include:

• Pozzuoli, where you’ll find a well preserved ancient Roman amphitheater, the third largest in Italy after the Colosseum and the one at nearby Capua, and temple/market complex. The different ancient sites are within the modern town which sits on the water.
• Baiae, now a small port town, was once ancient Rome’s equivalent of Las Vegas where the rich and powerful came to play. You’ll discover a sprawling archeological park where you can explore the ancient Roman town and can also take a trip out to sea to view the many underwater ruins here.
• Cumae, the legendary home of the Sybil, an ancient classical prophet referenced in the Aeneid by Virgil. Only excavated properly in the 18th century, today the archeological park contains ruins of different temple complexes, tombs and buildings dating back to the ancient settlement of the oracle.

Capua was Campania’s regional capital during ancient Roman times. The ancient Via Appia highway ran through the town, connecting it directly with Rome in the north and the rest of Roman-controlled land in southern Italy.

These days Capua is a small town with one principal reason to visit as a tourist. Here you will find the well preserved remains of an ancient Roman amphitheater, and it was here that the infamous gladiator Spartacus trained and began his slave revolt against Rome.

Just outside of Naples, and reachable in under an hour either by car or public transport, you will find one of Italy’s greatest architectural marvels and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Royal Palace of Caserta was constructed by the kings of Naples in the 18th century, and is now officially the largest royal palace in the world.

Inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France, this massive complex was home to Neapolitan and then later Italian royalty until the early 1920’s.

During the Fascist period and Second World War the palace was at the center of events, first as an Italian military academy and then later as a headquarters for liberating Allied forces.

In more recent times Caserta has played host to filmmakers including George Lucas who shot scenes for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in the grand halls of the palace.

And if the palace itself wasn’t impressive enough, wait until you see the gardens! At over 100 hectares of open land you could easily spend days exploring the various parts, along with the large water features.

One tip; if you visit, take advantage of the shuttle service that can take you to one end of the gardens to the other – you’ll thank me later for the time and energy saved!

Caserta is located just off the A1 autostrada (freeway/motorway) that connects Naples with Rome, Florence and Milan. As such, driving here couldn’t be easier and you’ll find a large underground secure parking lot close to the royal palace.

Alternatively, use the regional trains that run from Napoli Centrale to Caserta frequently, with the journey time taking less than an hour on average. The train station in Caserta is only a short walk to the palace.

Paestum, like Naples, was originally founded by the ancient Greeks as a colony and then later subsumed by the Romans.

This has to be one of my favorite places to visit beyond Naples and the bay area for a number of reasons:

• Here you will find some of the best examples of ancient Greek temples still standing outside of Greece, rivalled only those in Sicily.
• Paestum is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty where you are surrounded by seemingly endless pasture for buffalo (producing the best mozzarella anywhere) before the land gives way to the sea.
• If you are a meat and/or cheese enjoyer, the food in this part of Campania is unrivalled. Mentioned above, this area produces the best mozzarella in my opinion, using milk from the locally reared buffalo who graze on the lands nourished by the sea and Vesuvius. These same buffalo are used to produce a huge range of cured meats, as well as steaks, which can only be considered on par with Tuscany’s famous beef herds when it comes to taste and tenderness.

The archeological park of Paestum is an evocative site with ancient Greek and Roman ruins in beautiful countryside, along with a small but interesting museum telling the story of this incredibly old place. Don’t miss the unique Tomb of the Diver in the museum, dating back to the 5th century BCE.

Paestum is straightforward to reach. Take one of the trains that go from Napoli Centrale to the modern station of Paestum which take between 1.5-2 hours, some direct and some via Salerno, and then it is a 15 minute walk to the archeological park.

The train schedule can be a little irregular so double check your return journey carefully.

You can also drive, with a large car park available, or take a tour with transport included. Some tours to Paestum also include a visit to a local buffalo farm where you can meet the beasts who are producing your lunch, a fun experience for anyone interested in learning more about Italian and Campanian culture!

Salerno is the second largest city in Campania, and the last major city on Italy’s Tyrennian coast before reaching Reggio Calabria at the tip of Italy’s geographic boot.

Salerno, like Naples, is a vibrant city with a lot of history. You could easily spend several days here and only scratch the surface!

In the centro storico (historic center) you’ll find the Duomo of Salerno, a striking cathedral which houses relics of Saint Matthew the Apostle, the patron saint of the city.

The beaches south of Salerno (on the way to Paestum) saw Allied landings during the Second World War during the campaign to liberate Italy. Only a few traces of this moment in history still remain, but visiting the beaches here can be a powerful experience to remember the events that have shaped the world we live in.

The easiest and quickest way to get to Salerno is by train. There are regular departures from Napoli Centrale train station, and the journey takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour on average.

On arrival at Salerno station, the historic center is a 10-15 minute walk, and the Duomo around 20 minutes by foot.

Dotted around the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius are a number of Roman villas which offer insights into how all classes of people lived in ancient times. Notable examples include:

This sprawling imperial complex is one of the best preserved ancient Roman villas anywhere.

Known as the Villa of Poppea, evidence suggests this villa was owned by the second wife (or the family of) of the ancient Roman emperor Nero.

This would explain the extremely intricate frescoes that decorate the interior spaces of this villa, along with the grand architectural features found throughout.

This villa is the humblest of those available to readily visit – in fact, the word ‘villa’ is a stretch.

This was more a farmhouse for an ancient wine producer, but where its appearance may appear humble, its historical value is huge. Perfectly preserved by the volcanic material that covered the place during the 79 CE, the insights uncovered by archeologists here have shed light on how landowners lived and worked in ancient times.

Visiting these villas is far easier these days compared to the first time I visited! Previously you’d have to drive to each of these villas if you wanted to see them all in a day as the local public transport was unreliable.

However, now the villas officially fall under the management of the archeological park of Pompeii, things have changed.

You can purchase combo tickets that include some or all of the villas with Pompeii itself, which includes transport on a shuttle bus service that departs from Pompeii at regular intervals. For full information, refer to the official website here.

This inland town, now far from most traveller’s itineraries, was once one of the most important locations in Campania.

During ancient times the city was wealthy, the legacy of which carried through to the Middle Ages where Benevento was once the capital of a small but influential Duchy.

Visitors to Benevento now will find numerous well-preserved ancient Roman monuments, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site Santa Sofia Church from the 8th century.

If you are not driving while exploring Campania, your best option to reach Benevento is to use the regional trains that operate between Naples and Caserta and then transfer to the trains to Benevento itself – you’ll find several options running per day.