The Often Forgotten Beauty of Southern Italy

With all the fame and glamour of the northern cities the mystique of the south of Italy is often overlooked.

However, if you are one of those travelers looking for real substance outside of the usual tourist hubs, heading south is your best bet. Here are some lesser known jewels that shouldn’t be overlooked.

• Ischia

One of the other islands in the bay of Naples. Procida is the third, it’s worth a visit. Ischia, though, is worth a stay. The beaches are beautiful; the entire island is basically the volcano so the beaches come with unbeatable mountainous backdrops. The volcano also provides the island with natural hot springs which you can either venture to yourself or take advantage of in one of the numerous spas which offer day and half day passes for surprisingly reasonable prices. The island also has a good amount of culture and history. There are castles, gardens, and Villa’s to explore; famous inhabitants such as William Walton and Truman Capote; and The Adventures of Tintin reaching it’s end on the island. To top it off the locals are friendly and welcoming.

• Matera

This town is surprisingly unknown, even in Italy, considering it is claimed by some to be the second oldest city in the world. Though that seems not to true it is definitely within the top 20. The Modern city was allegedly founded in the 3rd century BC by the Romans. The main drawing point is the Sassi of Matera, directly translated meaning the Stones of Matera, which are the carved out homes in the side of the cliff. There is a cheap exhibit of what the homes were like when they were evacuated in the 50’s because of the poor living conditions, its really rather shocking to see. The city itself is amazing. The old look of the town has made it a popular film location from biblical scenes, the best known of which is The Passion of the Christ. At night the town is illuminated with a soft orange glow which highlights the buildings perfectly. If that isn’t breathtaking enough for you, a trip to the other side of the canyon (an easy 10 minute drive) will let you see the cave dwellings and churches as well as the entire city hanging magically over the ravine. The churches unfortunately are not in great shape and you won’t be able to get in unless you know someone with a key, you can go to the tourist office and enquire for more details. However you can see into them and therefore see the remaining frescoes from Byzantine times, which Napoleon took a liking too and took part of back to France with him.

• Amalfi Coast

While Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento are going to be packed to the brim with tourists some of the smaller cities offer all the beauty the coast is known for, but without the stifling touristy atmosphere and with a small-town coastal Italian charm which can’t be beat.

Atrani is a tiny town a short distance from it’s famous neighbor of Amalfi. Atrani offers a number of guesthouses, quaint restaurants, and a beautiful beach like its neighbor but on an even smaller scale. Amalfi is just a 5-10 minute walk away so you don’t have to miss the main attraction but instead can remove yourself from the chaos that goes with it. There’s also a number of hikes in the area, one in particular goes up the peak separating Atrani from Amalfi to a temple on top of the peak, you can then continue down to Amalfi from there if you want. Beware though, the “hike” to Ravello, though beautiful, when you get to the road is not clearly marked and can be very confusing.

Ravello is another small town, though not nearly as small as Atrani. This town is unique because it provides a different perspective on the coast. Unlike the other towns Ravello is situated on top of a coastal mountain instead of wedged on the edge which makes the other towns so famous. While you won’t be within immediate walking distance to the beach, you will have unbeatable views of the entire coastline and a much more relaxed atmosphere. There are frequent buses down to all the surrounding cities if you want to go to the beach, or you can hike down through the vineyards and lemon orchards, a long but pleasant option.

• Sicily

Sicily is the home of an amazing culture stemming back to when Greek emigrants landed on its shores. While the shores are where you’ll be going to see anything specific of interest, a bus ride between cities across the island provides incredible landscapes of endless hills quilted with distinctly colored orchards and vineyards.

Taormina is home to an ancient Greek amphitheatre which is still in use today. While the metal benches and modern stage takes away a little from the ancient look of the theater, it is nice to know it hasn’t been abandoned by the local community and used only for tourism income. Some portions of the theater have intact original seats so the character isn’t completely lost. What is most compelling about this setting is not the theater itself but the astounding view it offers. Behind the stage there is an opening which frames a view of the Sicilian coastline and, in good weather; you can clearly see Mt. Etna. For the traveler who has no interest historical monuments or breathtaking panorama, there are beautiful beaches a short gondola ride down the steep hill Taormina sits on. The beaches are, of course, beautiful as well, and there are some pleasant walks around the edge of the city which offer amazing views of the sandy shores below. The historic center of the town is pleasant as well with brightly colored buildings, some cute local shops, and breathtaking views of the coastline.

Agrigento has little more to offer than the Valle dei Templi, but that alone is well worth the trip. Literally translated the Valley of the Temples is an ancient temple complex built by Greek settlers. The condition of the temples ranges from a few standing pillars to almost completely intact, the best preserved temple being, of course, the one which was converted into a church. The temples’ situation stems from overzealous anti-paganism and both World Wars, so their being intact at all is actually impressive. The colossal size of the temples and their ancient aesthetic is impressive enough to make up for any disappointment the destroyed temples might have inspired; and it’s always fun to climb on the toppled stone remains.

Photo of church in Taormina, Sicily, by Ferdi’s World

Topic:  General Travel | 0 Comments
Tags:  amalfi coast, Italy, sicily

About the author

Stephanie Geller is a 21 year old college student. Normally, she confines her studies to beautiful Boulder, Colorado but this year she is studying and traveling around Europe.