Central

Regione Campania

Capital	Naples
President	Antonio Bassolino (Olive Tree)
Provinces	Avellino Benevento Caserta Naples Salerno
Municipalities	551
Area	13,590 km²
- Ranked	12th (4.5 %)
Population (2001)  - Total  - Ranked  - Density	5,701,391 2nd (10.0 %) 420/km²
Map highlighting the location of Campania in Italy

Regione Lazio

Capital	Rome
President	Piero Marrazzo
Provinces	Frosinone Latina Rieti Rome Viterbo
Municipalities	377
Area	17,208 km²
- Ranked	9th (5.7 %)
Population (2001)  - Total  - Ranked  - Density	5,112,413 3rd (9.0 %) 297/km²
Map highlighting the location of Lazio in Italy

Matt is filling in some information here.

Rome in 3 days. Day 1 = Monday 19th. Of course, we do not have to do the days in order, and we can mix and match the things to do. But there are a few things that we should definitely not miss (eg. Colosseum) If we have some time left over at the end of one of the days, we could take the tube (there's a tube map in my guide book) to see one of the following sights:

Fontana di Trevi: Visitors to the Trevi Fountain should throw 2 coins into the water: one for a wish and one to ensure they return to Rome. A friend of a friend once did this, wishing that their next child be a boy, and it was. Say no more!

Arriving at Rome

Apparently, we will arrive at Rome (from Sienna) on Sunday 18th Sept. probably by train, probably in the evening.

Rome day 1

My idea for this day is to basically copy the walking tour of medieval Rome in my book - total: 3.25 miles, should take approx. 5 hours

(don't miss:)

1. Piazza Colonna - a relief covered column raised in the 2nd century to celebrate the military triumphs of Marcus Aurelius.

2. San Luisi dei Francesi - features 3 dramatic paintings of the apostle Matthew by Caravaggio.

3. Pantheon - This masterpiece of Roman engineering was completed by Hadrian in AD 128. One of Dan Cruickshank's 80 treasures - the dome has no keystone!

4. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - nice old church with elephant statue in front

5. Piazza Navona - "Rome's loveliest square" with "2 outstanding fountains"

6. Chiesa Nuova - church

7. Campo de' Fiori - "literally 'field of flowers' has a wonderful street market, where every day... the ramshackle square overflows with fruit, fish,etc. stands.... "

8. Teatro di Marcello - "a first century BC amphitheatre, later covered by medieval houses" - free entry

9. Isola Tiberina - "an island largely given over to a hospital (1538)"

10. Santa Maria in Trastevere - "renowned for its 12th century mosaics that adorn both its facade and dusky interiors"

Rome day 2

Colosseum

(Tickets: EUR 8) The Roman world's largest surviving structure, was the brainchild of the Emperor Vespasian in AD 70, who wanted a monument to celebrate his military triumphs in the middle East. But was later completed by Vespasian's son: Titus, in AD 80.

Foro Romano

The heart of ancient Rome for a thousand years, and the nerve center of the empire. Altered and rebuilt over many centuries, its monuments - one superimposed on another - are often confusing.

Rome day 3

The Vatican

The worlds smallest country. Look out for the Swiss Guard - papal guard of the Vatican in Rome, formed about 1505 by Pope Julius II. It consists of 6 officers and 110 men, famed for their funny outfits.

Musei Vaticani - includes entire rooms painted by Raphael, & ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Included among the museum's artefacts are art, tapestries, manuscripts, ancient maps, furniture & sculpture.

Basilica di San Pietro - largest church in Christendom has a dome designed by Michelangelo. Tomb filled underground chambers.

Villa Borghese

This 80 hectare park has 35 fountains, 10 monuments and a large number or prestigious sculptures.

The lakes, fountains & grassy spaces make it perfect for a stroll or siesta. There are also 2 galleries: Galleria Borghese (many priceless paintings & sculptures), and Villa Giulia (Etruscan Art).

Naples

General info

The third largest city in Italy has Vesuvius (Europe's second largest volcano) on one side, boiling mud pools of the Flegrean fields on the other, and is hemmed in by the blue bay around which the city clusters.

The first mortal settlers were Greek colonists who arrived around 470 BC. Since then, the city has absorbed Romans, Normans, Saracens, Angevins, Napoleonic French and Bourbon Spanish. All of them left their mark on the city’s art, architecture, local dialect, cuisine and the inhabitants’ way of life.

But more recently, crime, poverty, pollution etc. have taken their toll. So much so as to put off all but the most resolute visitors. (While visitors generally need not worry about the local Mafia (the Camorra), which is responsible for most of the violent crime, petty crime is also rather common, so it’s best to be aware). Over the last decade, however, restoration of many of the city’s landmarks, programmes of pedestrianisation of much of the centre and improved public transport links have changed both the face and feel of the city.

Things to do/ see

Apparantly, the following attractions are all free!!

Museo Archeologico Nazionale - This museum is home to the Farnese collection of antiquities from Lazio and Campania and the best of the finds from the nearby Roman sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. This is one of the museums not to be missed when in Naples.

Duomo: The Naples cathedral - The Duomo is fantastic and huge tribute to San Gennaro, the saint who is said to have saved the city from a cholera epidemic. It is a beautiful church, unfortunatly, no photography is allowed whatsoever.

Napoli Sotteranea - Here you decend down 138 steps into the heart of the city where a guide takes you on a 1 and a half hour tour of the caverns. Learn about the way it was built, how it was used during WWII for a shelter. It is truly an architectural masterpiece given the time it was built. Tours are offered in Italian, German and English.

Sorrento

General info

Sorrento is an excellent alternative to staying in Napoli - it isn't plagued by the same poverty and graffiti. The town is beautiful and offers convenient ferries to Capri, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Sorrento is linked to Naples by an inter-city train system that is farily convienient. Early spring is especially perfect here because of all the orange and lemon groves in various backyards and gardens.

Things to do/ see

Among Naples’ many palazzos and museums, musts are the magnificent Castel dell’Ovo overlooking the bay, the Capodimonte Museum and the newly opened catacombs. The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum are also easily reached from Naples. Sorrento lies on an elevated terrace rising from the sea and offers stunning views over the coastline and towards Vesuvius. In the town itself, there are many old churches to visit and a Renaissance style Cathedral.

On to Taormina

We are due to leave Sorrento for Sicily on friday 23rd.