Kingdom of the Two Sicilies - The Mainland

The area known as the Amalfi Coast is a conglomeration of about a dozen villages dotting the Tyrrhenian Sea coastline. While each village has its own particular story, they each share a charm that draws millions of tourists annually. We made stops at Positano and Amalfi, taking a bus on the way out and a ferry on the return.

Pompeii and Herculaneum share a history of being buried due to an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. In modern times, the story of the two is quite different. While excavation of both began in the 18th century, in Pompeii the process was chaotic and haphazard. In Herculaneum the process was much more orderly. Together they both make an excellent day-long excursion.

While Capri’s history goes back to the stone age, its first prominent period was early in the Roman Empire when Tiberius spent his final years there. Over the last 100 years the island has become a resort spot catering to both celebrities and tourists. Capri is a short 40-mintue boat ride from Sorrento.

Naples is unique: magnificent and maddening, opulent and oppressive, all at the same time. The city’s history goes back to Greek times in the 8th Century BC. Today over three million people live there, and if you visit Naples on a sunny Sunday afternoon you will see most of them.

Were Sorrento located anywhere else in the world its history and beauty would be recognized. However, surrounded as it is by other more-prominent destinations, it often serves primarily as a base for visitors. The unofficial fruit of Sorrento is the lemon, a prominent component of limoncello. Lemons and lemon groves can be seen throughout the city.