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SOUTHERN ITALY
EXCURSIONS 
  
    
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 Where would you like to  Explore? 
Apulia  
Basilicata 
Calabria 
Campania  
Sardinia  
Sicily 
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      ...fascinating 
      part of the world set in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea... 
      a sea that 
      varies from shades of deep blue to crystal azure that hosts 
      fabulous caverns, grottoes and different kinds of fauna and flora... 
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      ...wealthy 
      in 
      historical and architectural remains, findings & buildings to please 
      everybody's and anybody's explorer soul...  | 
     
    
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      ...a land that has been historical 
      setting for so many adventures, discoveries and romance ... find 
      their traces in each town's alleyways, piazzas & terraces... 
      
      ...rich with 
      Traditions and Folklore each town shows it's unique character in 
      typical food & 
      wines...  | 
      
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      Southern Italy - APULIA      
        
  
  
 
      Southern Italy - BASILICATA      
        
        
          
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       MARATEA 
      
      Town with very ancient origins overlooking one of the 
      most breathtaking parts of the Gulf of Policastro. Visit the 
      turistic port of Maratea, the S.Biagio Sanctuary, the remains of "Old 
      Maratea" and the Monumental statue of Christ made out of marble, 22 metres 
      tall, second only to the one of Corvocado in Rio de Janeiro. 
  
      Look out for the Liqueur Shops you might want to bring an unusual souvenir 
      back home with you, Maratea's local liqueurs. 
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             VIGGIANELLO 
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             ROTONDA 
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      Southern Italy - CALABRIA      
        
        
          
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       ASPROMONTE 
      (Natural Park) 
            The Aspromonte is one of Calabria's 
      extreme beauties that can offer a great 360 degrees 
      view of both the seas that surround this region, the Ionian and the 
      Tyrrhenian. It features a great variety of wilderness, deep 
      valleys, rocky ridges as well as sunny rivers and 
      breathtaking water falls. The very little population has helped 
      to preserve the ecological balance throughout the years, however 
            the mounts of the Aspromonte are very visited and targeted for 
            natural excursions. 
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       PARCO DEL POLLINO 
      (Natural Park) 
       The natural park "Parco del Pollino"
      is featured by a distinguishing variety of natural environment that spans 
      from the Mediterranean bushes to great forests of Oaks and Beeches; here 
      you can find the rare "Loricate Pine", the last of these 
      magnificent twisted and sturdy pines and a great variety of rivers and 
      lakes. 56 are the towns that are part of this natural park and all feature 
      a great amount of traditions and costumes, that can be seen 
      in their everyday life. 
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       RIVIERA DEI CEDRI 
      (Riviera) 
      This Riviera 
      is one of the few if not the only place on earth where a rare fruit grows 
      and manages to live, thanks to the particular conditions of it's soil, the 
      "Cedro". The inhabitants of the towns that are part of the "Riviera 
      dei Cedri", are very proud of this fruit and use it in many dishes, 
      nowadays the sweet specialists have made fantastic recipes to make 
      Cedro cakes. The Cedro is also used to make a typical liqueur 
      that takes the same name of the fruit and that is best drunk ice cold. 
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             PRAIA A MARE 
            The first 
      town you meet on the Calabrian Tyrrhenian Coast coming from North is Praia 
      a Mare. It sits by a long sandy beach and a most beautiful clear 
      blue sea just opposite the "Isle of Dino". This Island is rich with 
      natural caves, each with it's own enchanting characteristic. Praia's 
      Sanctuary hosts remains from the 14th and 17th centuries. 
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       SCALEA 
      
      Scalea is a picturesque, little town which takes its name 
    from its terraced lay-out on the hillside, at the bottom of the Capo Scalea 
    promontory. 
    With its medieval structures and characteristic houses, almost built one on 
    top of the other, is one of the few resorts on the Calabrian coast to have 
    such a well preserved historical centre with its Byzantine churches, antique 
    castle ruins, medieval buildings, and breathtaking view of the coastline 
    with its long beaches of dark volcanic sand, and steep rocky inlets. 
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             This small 
      town of the north of Calabria lays between the rocks. It is particular in twisted 
      alleyways that intercept each other and hosts the ancient Mother Church. 
      The town's piazza houses a recently built Gazebo where you 
      can admire a breathtaking view of the high green mountains that 
      cross each other creating a natural frame for the Tyrrhenian that can be 
      spotted in the distance. 
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       CIRELLA 
            Located in the
      North of Calabria between the 
      mountains of the "Parco del Pollino" and the blue Tyrrhenian, 
      Cirella used to be a very small town but is today hamlet of Diamante. 
      Visit the remains of "Cirella Vecchia", 
      with it's church and castle that still show frescoes of the 15th 
      century and the Mausoleum that is said to date back to the 
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       DIAMANTE 
            A small town 
      of the Calabrian Coast that hosts an ancient "Mother Church", whose 
      inhabitants built their homes around creating today's Historic Centre. 
      Visit the over 130 murales painted on the walls of "Old Diamante" from 
      painters coming from all over Europe, the wooden statues of the 18th 
      century and the Mother church. 
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              GRISOLIA & MAIERA' 
            Two 
      Medieval boroughs that lie silently on the mountains. Even though at 
      only few hundreds of metres of distance, from each other, they are 
      dramatically separated by a deep ravine where the Valley of the Torrent 
      Vaccuta is situated. 
      Maierà hosts a 
      feudal manor  positioned at the top of the town in mysterious 
      silence and Grisolia the "Madonna delle Grazie" church, where 
      various objects of the 15th and 18th century can be admired. 
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       VERBICARO 
      Lying 
      surrounded by Pine Woods, Oaks and Beeches, Verbicaro is situated in the 
      Calabrian hinterland, among the heights of the natural park "       Parco del Pollino". The historical centre still shows shapes and forms 
      of the medieval architecture and the mother church preserves
      sacred objects and statues of the 17th and 18th 
      century as well as frescoes dating back to the Byzantine era. 
      Verbicaro produces a world wide known D.O.C. Wine that take the 
            same name of the town. 
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       PAPASIDERO 
      
      Lying in a wild and coarse 
      scenery between the mountains thickly overgrown with woods, this small 
      town of Calabria's hinterland hosts a 
      Monastery built in the rocks and 
      a prehistoric site where animal 
      remains, and crockery and skeletons of Palaeolithic period have been 
      found. This site also hosts the "Grotta del Romito", a grotto whose 
      wall keeps an art engraving of 10 thousand years B.C.: the profile of a 
      bull. This engravement has been defined as "the most majestic and 
      successful achievement of Mediterranean 
  Palaeolithic Realism". 
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       REGGIO CALABRIA 
            Visit  Reggio's 
      National Museum that hosts archaeological collections of Basilicata and 
      Calabria, "Apollo's Head" and the Bronzi di Riace, human size 
      statues made out of bronze. 
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      Southern Italy - CAMPANIA      
        
        
          
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       AMALFI COAST (Picturesque Area &  Coastline) 
  The Amalfi Coast is one of the 
  most beautiful areas of southern italy, that features just about everything 
  nature has to offer, with a wonderful stretch of the Mediterranean sea 
  that enjoys the most incredible shades of blue and green, attractive rugged 
  coastline, imposing high mountains with all their wonderful 
  specimens of Mediterranean flora and typical villages just 
  clinging off them, history, art... 
  
  This very well known peace of 
  heaven, comprises of various typical towns of the Campanian coast, starting 
  from Amalfi going to the attractive Isle of Capri, the romantic
  Sorrento, Positano, and many others. 
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       VESUVIUS (Still Active Volcano) 
  
        The Vesuvio (Vesuvius), a dominating feature of the Neapolitan landscape, is known throughout 
  the world. It's circumference is about 50 
  km, and is in fact formed by Two volcanoes.
  
  The top of the volcano enjoys 
  two fantastic views, one is the most breathtaking panorama on the 
  coast and the sea, and the other, a "once in a lifetime" view that can't be 
  missed: its impressive chasm by the falling sides that sink towards the heart 
  of the earth. 
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       CILENTO (National Park) 
            
Cilento is the treasure chest that holds the ancient heart of Campania, 
  and the atmosphere of a land untouched by time; even today the many 
little villages, now within easy reach by means of fast trunk roads, still 
maintain their original charm based on old stone building and unspoilt scenery. 
It's no coincidence that Cilento possesses historic memories of extraordinary 
value, such as Paestum, Veli and the "Certosa di Padula" 
(Charterhouse of Padula), and nature oases such as the national park and the 
marine park. Its mantle of woodland thins out as it approaches the sea with its 
sparking colours, with countless villages along its shores. Although the tourist 
industry has only recently reached The Cilento, it can count on modern 
facilities and excellent services. 
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 AMALFI 
Set like an 
incomparable gem in a precious diadem, Amalfi gently overlooks the sea with its 
villages scattered along the coast and the typical houses clinging to the rocks bewitching every visitor.
  
Nowhere do 
colours shine with such different, clear tones as on the Amalfi Coast, 
attracting thousands of visitors even of the greatest prestige. Another 
great characteristic of this town hosts is the traditional art of hospitality 
and warmth it's people, the "Amalfitans", have with everybody.
This quiet and picturesque seaside 
resort enjoys a temperate climate and some of the oldest hotels in Italy 
as well as many modern ones.
  
The art and 
architectonic value of its monuments, the indescribable beauty of the 
landscape and the folklore of its traditions made and still make it an 
incomparable resort. 
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       SORRENTO 
        Mediterranean 
        land that has been depicted, described and 
        immortalised in song by 
        artists, poets and travellers from every period of history. 
        Its rugged coast, with inaccessible cliffs that soar upwards between
        beautiful beaches, hidden caves, enchanting bays and sheltered coves. Its
        inland, with the high plains, rolling hills and lofty mountains 
        are seared by deep valleys to create a truly unique landscape. 
Rich of monuments and natural beauties, do not miss 
the innumerable archaeology treasure of this town. 
The mild climate and predominantly fine weather all year round make the "Penisola di 
        Sorrento" an ideal destination in any season. In a well-ordered and secure environment, every tourist can have 
an ideal holiday and be spoilt for choice with the never ending combinations of 
        countryside and tranquillity, health and culture, sea beauties, spa baths, boat day trip 
        and country walks. 
        
         
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The beautiful Isle of Capri, is located at the mouth 
of the Gulf of Naples facing the breath of the Tyrrhenian Sea and 
boasting natural beauties that bewitch any visitor even of the highest 
prestige. Its innumerable sea caverns, rugged terrain of terraces 
and precipices, the unspoilt beauty of Monte Solaro, all enhance the enchantment 
that this Isle has upon everybody who visits it. With its
characteristic arcades that merge into a labyrinth of narrow alleys 
and streets, and the sea that can be heard, seen and even it's 
perfume is perceptible from every part of this island, Capri works its own 
special charm on every visitor and allows an unofficial rendezvous for a 
colourful congregation of guests from all over the world, who can admire the
most breathtaking view from its typical "Piazzetta". 
The world's most famous 
writers were enchanted by it's charm, favouring it's rediscovery and 
popularity with international tourism. 
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      NAPLES 
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      POSITANO 
The Beauty of 
this picturesque town set in a splendid panoramic position on
the most famous and world known 
Amalfi Coast, is 
stunning and fascinates each visitor. 
Made up of three outlying wards, its greatest attractions 
remain the Town and the Sea-suburb. The town 
      features the typical "piazzetta" 
and cafe ideal for meeting up with friends and family or 
even just to get to know other people in a friendly, calm and relaxed 
atmosphere. Steep steps descend towards the bay in the heart of the 
      Mediterranean. Find great architectural buildings in Positano like the 
      S.Maria Assunta Church with its splendid majolica dome. 
      The town also hosts other works of art from the 16th and 13th century. 
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         ATRANI 
        
        This is one of the most picturesque small towns on the 
        Amalfi Coast and 
probably the only town of this most beautiful rugged coast 
        that kept in time it's antique character of a small fisherman's village. It features a town square "La Piazzetta", meeting point for it's inhabitants and tourists, 
isolated from traffic and surrounded by the flowery balconies of the town's old 
houses that only communicates with the beach 
        and the azure blue sea through a passage originally created to bring the 
boats back in when the tide was high and stormy.  
Atrani hosts hystorical buildings dating back to the tenth, 
eleventh and thirteenth centuries like the church 
        of "Santa Maria Maddalena", built at the end of the thirteenth 
        century and then reconstructed in baroque style. 
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       RAVELLO 
        
        Ravello, exceptional theatre stalls in a breathtaking posture 
        for a natural spectacle. Located 
        on a rocky spur astride the Dragon's and Regina's Valleys 
        it offers to all it's visitors the relaxing panoramas from it's 
        natural terraces and gardens. It 
        is situated in a more elevated position than the other pearls of the 
        Amalfi Coast and boasts exceptional landscapes full of 
        green and colourful flowers that embrace one's soul.
  
        This is the location that many 
        famous ones have chosen in past and still in present to visit and 
        stay like painters, musicians, writers who have passed on their vision of this stunning 
        town. Villa Rufolo a natural terrace, surrounded by the colourful 
        shades of the flowers, that overlooks the blue Mediterranean and 
        exhibits such a breathtaking scenery and view, also becomes theatre 
        for artistic performances like the Wagnerian Festival in July. 
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 CONCA DEI MARINI 
Conca dei Marini, one of the beauties of the
Amalfi Coast is set 
just between 
Positano
and Amalfi, and not 
far from Sorrento 
and Capri. With it's
small white houses spaced out between the "Fichi d'India" plants and the 
olive trees it seems to be a place where sea and sky mix their colours becoming 
a single thing. It has many natural beauties that one 
should never miss to see at least ones in a lifetime, like the Emerald Sea 
Grotto and the wonderful panorama from Via Roma. 
Torre Bianca, rides the promontory (Capo di Conca), jutting into the deep 
water of an unreal cobalt blue and habitual route for cetaceans like whales. 
This town also hosts many architectural and 
hystorical buildings like the Dominican Convent of S.Rosa from the XVIII century 
and the Cathedral of S.Pancrazio from the 1362. 
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             Praiano
        is set like a diamond in an enchanting location, once 
an ancient fishing village, today a prestigious seaside resort, nestled 
        among the beautiful inlets of the 
            breathtaking Amalfi coast. 
            Praiano, known for its fine climate and excellent facilities, presents 
        itself to the sea as a cascade of white houses on a verdant, flowering 
        slope.
        Today Praiano is a prestigious sunning, swimming and boating 
        destination, offering tourists from all over the world a tranquil 
        location to stay and "start point" for great interesting 
excursions and visits to sample the joys of the coastline, with convenient 
        proximity to the main resorts like 
            Sorrento, 
            Capri, 
            Amalfi, 
            Positano, 
            Ravello. 
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             PADULA 
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             PAESTUM 
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       POMPEI 
        
        This hystorical town is made up of 12 hamlets near the foot of 
        Vesuvio Volcano that developed in the 
        11th century around a small cult building. 
        It was a town made famous in the whole world by a tragic event, attracts thousands of 
        tourists every day, lives great 
        traditions, offers delicious local culinary products and amazing town 
        feasts that begin in March and go right through to December. 
        This town presents all the characteristics of a modern city that has however 
        lived the mystery of a hidden past that only started to be rediscovered 
        a few hundred years ago. After being buried under the terrifying lava 
        of the Vesuvio in 79 A.D. Pompeii started to arise again in the year 
        1628 during pipe works. The Pompeii excavations are a whole 
        turistic site to be visited and seen: a whole town that was previously 
        destroyed and then miraculously rediscovered. 
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 Marina di CAMEROTA 
Marina di Camerota, the sea side area of the higher 
"Camerota town", features so many beautiful and natural characteristics are the 
grounds on which it is also called the "Pearl of 
the Cilento". 
  
Camerota and 
it's Marina, seem to have dived in a world suspended in time, that nature 
has filled with gifts almost everywhere, the village surrounded by green, the 
fresh springs that irrigate the valley, the beautiful sea and it's aquatic 
world also explored by many divers and last but not least, something very 
natural and spontaneous is the very friendly character of it's people.
  
Just off to the notorious Amalfi 
Coast and in the heart of the Cilento National Park, 
Marina di Camerota lies on an arc shaped part of this beautiful rugged coast. 
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      Southern Italy - SICILY      
        
        
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