Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/604887
southeRn italy Coves, fjords, cliffs, caverns, bays, arches, and pebbled beaches are only a handful of ways the mountains meet the seas in Southern Italy. Pretty pastel homes, built into apparent rockfaces, hang over unimaginably blue waters on the Amalfi Coast, an area of such splendor that one of its islands was thought by the ancient Greeks to be inhabited by the Sirens of odysseus's journeys. In fact, these creatures were not the only mythological characters attributed to the island of Capri; Roman Emperor Tiberius— one of the many emperors who spent leisure time in villas whose ruins can still be visited today—designated the Blue Grotto natural bath as a sanctuary consecrated to nymphs. The mellifluous city of Napoli brings its own particular magic to a vacation in Southern Italy. The third-largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan; a favorite cruise port; the birthplace of pizza and inspiration for modern Italian gastronomy; and UNESCo World Heritage Site in its own right, Naples has more to offer than can be explored in a lifetime. Its beautiful bays provide contemplative views over which writers in the Piazza Bellini—known for its literary cafes—wax poetic, while Greek and Roman ruins provide majestic contrasts to the narrow, multi-level streets of the famous Sanità and historic Spanish Quarter; beyond; Mount Vesuvius guards the remains of Pompeii. Just outside the Bay of Naples is Sorrento, a destination awash in fresh country fragrance. The sight of its orange, olive, and lemon—whose fruit is used to make authentic limoncello—groves has enchanted world travelers since the pre-colonial era, back when "grand tours" across "the Continent" were a rite of passage for young aristocrats. Artisan shops, traditional wood mosaics, antiques, and other collectibles can all be purchased here, but the astounding views are part of every package. 46 | Southern Italy