Campania

This is a photo essay, a picture story for adults, on the southern Italian region of Campania with Naples serving as capital. It is an attempt to highlight the vast cultural, artistic, architectural, archaeological treasures of the area blessed with a beautiful, varied countryside and scenic cities and townships dotting the coastline millions of tourists flock to see in all seasons. In 140 original photos aided by some 8,000 words the author gives a succinct, accurate account of this fascinating region exploring Naples, Salerno, the island of Capri, the archaeological sites, Pompeii and Herculaneum destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the ancient Greek colony, Paestum, with three still-standing temples still in amazingly good condition, before moving on to visit and photograph the famed Amalfi Coast comprising 13 townships on a coastline stretching 40 km to the west of Salerno, calling on the townships of Sorrento, Amalfi and Positano and taking in the views on a boat trip from Amalfi to Positano. The story concludes with a visit to Reggia di Caserta, the sumptuous royal palace in the outskirts of Caserta that can easily rival Versailles, and its magnificent gardens embellished with lavishly decorated fountains and cascades.