Welcome to this new blog post! The theme of this blog post is a well-known country and a popular tourist destination: Italy. Between beautiful landscapes, long beaches and breathtaking cities, there are not only historical sights, but also many other places that most people may not even know about. In this blog post I show you some hidden treasures in the area of Tuscany, Naples and Pompeii.
Italy – my most visited country
There are many countries and places that I have visited (some of them several times), but I have never been to a single country as often as Italy. I have already done road trips through the whole country, apart from a few smaller areas. Nevertheless, Italy has a lot to offer and it never gets boring.
A road trip through Italy
In fall 2022 I went on a road trip through Italy. My first destination was Montepulciano, and then I headed south to Pompeii. In the following I would like to introduce you to some sights from this trip that you have to see at least once in your life.
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a small town in Tuscany. The medieval town is located on a hill surrounded by vineyards. When you go through the gate „Porta al Prato“ you feel like you are in a film: narrow streets, small shops and wineries on every corner. All of this undoubtedly gives the town at the top of the hill a historic flair.
In the centre is the Piazza Grande. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, such as the Palazzo Comunale, which was built in the 14th century. Especially at dusk, when the lamps and laterns light up the streets, it looks very much like a film set.
Montepulciano is a perfect afternoon activity for a trip to Tuscany. You can do wine tastings, eat in restaurants or go shopping. There are many shops along the streets that sell handmade souveniers.
Take your time to stroll through the beautiful streets of this town – it is worth it!
Tuscany
Let’s move on to an absolutely unique region in Italy: Tuscany. The hilly landscape is characterized by fields and the typical Tuscan trees, which can be seen even from far away. The landscape offers wide views and there are many hiking routes.
What I can personally recommend is the Panorama Road. This is the SP146 road and it leads past numerous viewpoints. At the Historical Landmark you can take great pictures of the Palazzo Massaini. A winding road leads up to the building, and there are Tuscany trees on both sides of the road.
Another place you should visit is the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta. There is a parking area near the chapel. From there, a path leads to the chapel. The path is not particularly long, taking about 10 minutes to walk.
If you drive a little further along the panoramic road, you will come to Casa de „Il Gladiatore“. A few meters further on there is a parking lot on the other side of the road. A scene from the film Gladiator was filmed there. Not far from there is another recommended sight: Croce di Prata.
Bagni di San Filippo
Further south is Bagni San Filippo. These are hot sulfur springs at around 25 degrees Celsius. You can also bathe in the milky-white water – it feels like being in a whirlpool. Bagni di San Filippo is a good insider tip to avoid mass tourism. On sunny and warm days, however, there may be larger groups of people at the springs.
From the road where the parking spaces are, a small path leads into the forest and down to the springs. It is about a 10-minute hike to get to the springs.
By the way, entry to the springs is free and you can go there at any time. You only have to pay a small fee for parking nearby. The Bagni San Filippo are among the most beautiful sights in the Val d’Orcia. The town where the springs are located is very small, but there are a few cafes and restaurants.
Pompeii
The next stop on our road trip was a very famous, historic city in the south of Italy: Pompeii. There are many restaurants, bakeries, shops and attractions in the city center. I can highly recommend the beautiful church „Santuario della Beata Vergine Maria“. In front of the church you can find a large square, Piazza Bartolo Longo. Markets are regularly held in this square.
If you follow Via Roma west from the square, you will come to the Scavi di Pompeii. This is the entrance area to the historical Pompeii. For a tour in the south of Italy, a visit to this attraction is a must. In 79 AD, Pompeii was buried in the eruption of Vesuvius. The city was largely preserved under the volcanic ash. Today you can walk through the old streets and immerse yourself in the former life in Pompeii. You can look around on your own or book a guided tour. Right at the entrance there are buildings with exhibitions where you can see further excavations. Some buildings, like the Anfiteatro di Pompei or the Teatro Grande are reminiscent of the buildings in Rome.
You can also visit the crater of Vesuvius, but you have to book a tour for that. The tours sell out relatively quickly for the following days, so I recommend booking the tour early enough.
Positano and Amalfi Coast
The route continues via Positano and the Amalfi Coast. When you follow the SS163 road, you will pass breathtaking views along the coast. These views are definitely worth it, but Positano and especially Amalfi are usually very busy with tourists. Even in fall there are so many people that you have to be lucky to find a parking space.
From Amalfi, a road goes over the mountains back towards Pompeii. On the way, there is a viewpoint, Valico di Chiunzi. From this point you have a fascinating view over Pompeii and the Vesuvius.
On this loop from Pompeii, via Positano and Amalfi, back to Pompeii, you will find some great photo spots. There are also many hiking trails across the mountains between the cities.
Naples
The last destination is Naples. From Pompeii there is a good, direct train connection to Naples. In general, it has many advantages to travel by train between italian cities. For example, it is cheaper and less stressful, because you don’t have to drive into the city by car. Additionally, trains in Italy are usually very punctual. If you take the train to Naples, you arrive in the middle of the city at the central station.
From there you can stroll through the countless alleys. You will find many shops, markets and restaurants. Around the Piazza Municipio there are many attractions, such as the Castel Nuovo, Teatro di San Carlo or the Galleria Umberto, where many shops are located.
The Basilica at Piazza del Plebiscito is also worth a visit. There is a park nearby, called Giardini del Molosiglio, which is right by the harbor. Finally, I recommend the Castel dell’Ovo, which was built on a kind of peninsula. From there you have a good view towards Pompeii and you can see the Vesuvius in the distance.
Map
As a little additional overview, I have made a map with some hikes and sights that I can highly recommend in Tuscany, Pompeii, Naples and the surrounding area. Feel free to take a look:
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Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!
Zsofia
Alpinia Travel 
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