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“See Naples and die!” The famous saying, popularised by 18th-century German writer Goethe, is an affectionate nod to the beauty of the southern Italian port city, enveloped by its cerulean bay and crowned by Mount Vesuvius. But nowadays, the catchphrase has taken a whole new meaning. As the much-maligned epicentre of Italy’s ferocious Camorra gang,...

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If Italian cuisine is the most appreciated by gourmets around the world, according to the portal TasteAtlas, it is mainly due to the richness of the gastronomic traditions and culture present in every territory of our peninsula. This is the complete 2023 TasteAtlas ranking of the world's best ten eating regions: 1) Campania; 2) Emilia-Romagna; 3) J...

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In a cavernous room of the Tombola Vajassa bar, located down a narrow flight of stone stairs off a side street in Naples, 30 or so mostly women sit crammed around small tables, with what look like bingo cards laid out in front of them. On a small stage, a towering figure in a cascading curly wig and silver sequined top, who goes by the name Lady Ta...

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I'm near Naples, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii, in the far lesser-known Italian city of Pozzuoli which lies on a huge magma caldera which, over millennia, has created a volcanic landscape known as Campi Flegrei. Lately, this volatile geology has triggered thousands of small earthquakes. I'm invited to follow scientists at the Vesuvius Observatory from...

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Archaeologists have unearthed 'Nativity-like scene statues' in the ancient ruins of the Roman pagan city of Pompeii. Approximately 13 figurines were found in what was once a home, and while the terracotta pieces mirror a Christian scene, they were used in an ancient cult ritual. The miniature clay sculptures are about five inches high and found upr...

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The Charta Bambagina, better known as Amalfi Paper, represents Italian artisanal excellence with a tradition that has been passed down for over eight centuries. This esteemed production process is safeguarded by various families of paper masters, among which the Amatruda family stands out, and has its roots in ancient artifacts from the Middle East...

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A new project inside the Pompeii archaeological site is reviving ancient textile dyeing techniques to show another side of daily life before the city was destroyed by a volcano in A.D. 79 The inspiration comes from frescoes unearthed inside the archaeological site that show winged cupids dyeing cloth, gathering grapes for wine and making perfumes....

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In the heart of Naples, a unique Christmas decoration unfolds every year — the Neapolitan nativity scene. Far beyond a religious tradition, the presepe is an anthropological display that weaves together centuries of history, artistic research, and contemporary resonance. The fascinating genesis of the Neapolitan nativity scene dates back to the ear...

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Who hasn't booked a holiday well in advance, perhaps to save money or to reserve a safe place during peak tourist periods. Booking in advance has many advantages but also many disadvantages, one of which is the unknown 'weather conditions'. It can happen to anyone to book a trip perhaps taking advantage of a bridge or simply a weekend not caring ab...

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Bagnoli, the westernmost quartiere of Naples, lies trapped between the Bay of Pozzuoli and the hill of Posillipo–a thin strip hugging the sea with a view towards the islands of Nisida, Ischia, and Procida. It may sound idyllic on paper, but it takes just a short walk along the coast to understand that this is a place haunted by the blight of abando...

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