General  The Gulf of Naples starts with the Isle of Ischia, past the naturally beautiful city setting of Naples, through to the Sorrento peninsula and the Isle of Capri. The Riviera continues past Capri into the Gulf of Salerno with the Amalfi coast offering up such wildly picturesque towns as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. The islands off this stretch of dramatic coastline have been a holiday destination since roman times as much for their dramatic scenery as for their restorative qualities. When you see Capri, you can understand why the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius spend so much time there - superb views, luxuriant gardens, high cliffs and deep coves are but a few of the many attractions. And the unspoilt hill villages on the Isle of Ischia will amaze with their wild flowers, pinewoods, vineyards and chestnut trees edged by the rugged coastline and secluded sandy beaches. Pompeii is a must - for you can see so many reminders of the Roman way of life. If you brave the ascent to Mount Vesuvious, you will fid an extraordinary landscape of orchards, oak and chestnut trees. Perched high on a cliff, Sorrento’s impressive setting is classically precarious, and offers superb views over the Gulf of Naples. As in this entire stretch of coastline, Mount Vesuvious has a majestic, dominating presence, contrasting its natural forces with the lively street life below. Sorrento has a wonderful array of tiny shops, offering locally made lace, marquetry and Capodimonte porcelain, as well as countless cafes, bars and restaurants in which to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant Mediterranean resort. The jewels in the crown of the Amalfi coast are the little towns adorning its shores. Amalfi itself has a strikingly beautiful setting, low in a valley between great jagged cliffs, its variously coloured buildings between vine terraces seem to hang from the Cliffside, creating a jewel-like vista, particularly when seen from the sea. Higher up the mountain is Ravello - for the best views of the rugged coastline. Visit the Palazzo Rufolo - an 11th century Moorish style villa. And Positano is positively ’a dream place’ in the words of John Steinbeck - with its green and gold domed church, white Moorish style houses, bedecked with bougainvillaea, and packed together on steep terraced hillsides, all cascading down to a small bay and beach, hiding a plethora of cafes and shops in the maze of steep stairs and alleyways.
Shopping  The towns along this stretch of coast are crammed full with tourist shops so beware of buying overpriced imitations. For the best coral, visit Torre del Greco, original majolica from Vietri and pretty crèche figurines from Naples. Your local tourist office will indicate the best shopping streets.
Local Food  Fresh fish reigns supreme, especially alici (anchovies), sarde (sardines) and sgombro (mackerel). Try them prepared with local tomatoes and lemons. Zuppa di pesce (fish soup) is a must. And try the alla Napoletana dishes - cooked with capers, tomatoes, black olives and garlic. For a quick snack, mozzarella in carrozza (fried cheese sandwich). For meat and fish lovers, impepata di cozze (mussels with garlic, parsley and pepper), veal escalope or steak alla pizzaiola (with tomatoes, garlic and oregano). There are classic vegetables dishes to sample too - gattó di patate alla parmigiana (potatoes and aubergines), or a scapace (with zucchini in a tomato sauce). For desserts, try the peaches, or pastiera (ricotta pie with candied fruit and spices) or sfogliatelle (sweet ricotta turnovers). And mozzarella, provola and scamorza are the tasty local cheeses.
Local Wine  The best known white wine on the Riviera is the romantically named and distinctly flavoured Lacrima Cristi (tear of Christ), which is grown on the fertile slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Other consistently reliable white wines are Greco di Tufo and Fiano die Avellino. The best red wine is Taurasi, dark in hue, deep in flavour and gets better with age.
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