Campania, with its six million inhabitants, is one of the most populated regions of Italy and also the region with the highest number of UNESCO-recognized sites, such as the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, the Royal Palace of Caserta, and the Church of Santa Sofia in Benevento. But Campania is not only about art and culture—it is also about nature, wine, and food. Buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, Annurca apples from Avellino, and Paestum artichokes are just a few examples of typical products you must try when visiting this region.
The Latins called Campania “felix” to praise the fertility of its lands and its extremely favorable climate. Because of this, Campania was inhabited by ancient peoples from the second millennium B.C., specifically the Oscans. Today, more than 25% of its territory is designated as “protected areas,” such as the Vesuvius National Park, the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, and the Picentini Mountains Regional Park.
Campania is also the sun, sea, and world-famous islands like Capri, Ischia, and Procida.
The Natural Beauty of Campania
Mountains, islands, plains, and hills—this region can satisfy all tastes when it comes to nature and landscapes. Paestum and Salerno are located in the center of a large plain known as the Sele Plain, a very important agricultural area, especially for the production of tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, and fruits. In front of Naples lie the Campanian islands: Nisida, Capri, Ischia, Procida, and Vivara, all significant from both natural and touristic perspectives. The region is crossed by the central Apennines, which include massifs such as the Alburni Mountains, Mount Cervati, and the Trebulani Mountains, while the coastal area is home to volcanic massifs such as the Phlegraean Fields, Roccamonfina, and Somma-Vesuvius.
The History of Campania
Ancient Tribes and Samnite Wars
The original inhabitants of Campania were three groups who all spoke the Oscan language: the Oscans, Aurunci, and Ausones. During the 8th century B.C., people from Euboea, Greece, known as the Cumaeans, began establishing colonies in the area roughly corresponding to today’s province of Naples. Another Oscan tribe, the Samnites, came down from central Italy into Campania.
The City of Aeclanum
Since the Samnites were more warlike than the Campanians, they easily conquered the cities of Capua and Cumae in an area that was one of the most prosperous and fertile in the Italian peninsula. In 340 B.C., the Samnites clashed with the Roman Republic in the Samnite Wars, with the Romans ultimately securing the rich northern pastures of Campania at the end of the First Samnite War.
The last remaining independent Greek settlement was Neapolis (Naples), and when the city was conquered by the Samnites, the Neapolitans had no choice but to turn to the Romans, with whom they formed an alliance, initiating the Second Samnite War. Roman Consul Quintus Publilius Philo reconquered Neapolis in 326 B.C. and allowed it to remain a Greek city with some autonomy as a civitas foederata, though strongly aligned with Rome. The second Samnite War ended with Roman control over southern Campania and other southern regions.
From the Aragonese to the Bourbons
Sicily and Naples split in 1458 but remained dependencies of Aragon under Ferrante. The new dynasty strengthened Naples’ trade by establishing ties with the Iberian Peninsula. Naples also became a significant Renaissance center with the arrival of artists such as Laurana, from Messina, Sannazaro, and Poliziano. In 1501, Naples fell under direct French rule under Louis XII, after King Frederick of Naples was taken prisoner. This submission lasted four years. Spain then acquired Naples following the Battle of Garigliano, and Naples became part of the Spanish Empire during the Habsburg period. The Spanish sent viceroys to Naples to manage local affairs directly; the most notable was Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, who oversaw significant social, economic, and urban development.
Ferdinand, Bourbon King
During the time of Ferdinand IV, the French Revolution reached Naples. Horatio Nelson, allied with the Bourbons, even came to the city in 1798 to warn them. However, Ferdinand was forced to flee to Palermo, protected by a British fleet. The lower classes of Naples (the lazzaroni) were devout royalists who supported the Bourbons. In the resulting chaos, they fought against the pro-republican Neapolitan aristocracy, triggering a civil war. The republicans took Castel Sant’Elmo and declared the Parthenopean Republic, protected by the French army. A counter-revolutionary army of lazzaroni led by Fabrizio Ruffo forced the French to surrender and leave Naples.
Ferdinand IV was restored as king, but just seven years later, Napoleon conquered the kingdom and installed Bonapartist kings, including his brother Joseph Bonaparte. With help from the Austrian Empire and its allies, the Bonapartists were defeated in the Napoleonic Wars, and the Bourbon Ferdinand IV regained the throne. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 united the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with Naples as its capital. Naples became the first city in mainland Italy to have a railway in 1839, and many factories were established, making it a major commercial center.
World War II
In September 1943, Salerno was the site of Operation Avalanche and suffered heavy damage. From February 12 to July 17, 1944, it hosted the government of Marshal Pietro Badoglio: during those months, Salerno was the “Temporary Capital of the Kingdom of Italy,” and King Victor Emmanuel III lived in a villa on its outskirts. On January 7, 2012, Salerno received the first “Tricolor” in an official ceremony led by Prime Minister Mario Monti to celebrate Italy’s glorious history and former capitals.
MOA (Museum of Operation Avalanche)
A museum dedicated to the events of Operation Avalanche is located in a 15th-century monastery in Eboli. Inaugurated on September 9, 2012, the museum includes a multimedia space, 3D exhibits, and a varied collection of images, music, videos, and objects related to the operation. It also showcases military weapons, uniforms, and memorabilia from Italian, British, American, and German troops, with a dedicated room for each. Many items on display were recovered from battlefield excavations. The museum also houses artifacts reflecting the culture and emotions of the time, such as war diaries, official documents, and personal writings.
Main Cities of Campania
Naples is the main city and undoubtedly the symbol of Campania: a seaside city and an open-air museum. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich in monuments, villas, and historic palaces. Icons of the city, like the Royal Palace, Piazza del Plebiscito, and the Castel Nuovo, are known and admired worldwide. But it is the “Neapolitan spirit,” for better or worse, that always draws attention. Naples is also a major cultural and university center, with four public and two private universities. Nature plays a role too, with historic gardens and public parks, like the Virgilian Park in Posillipo and the Villa Comunale. From the Virgilian Park, you can enjoy a stunning view of the city and its surroundings: Ischia, Procida, Capri, Nisida, Vesuvius, and Sorrento.
Salerno, the second largest city, lies at the heart of a tourist triangle called the “Triangle of the 3 P’s,” with vertices at Pompeii, Paestum, and Positano. This location gives it a strong tourist appeal, enhanced by sites like the Trieste Promenade, the Arechi Castle, the Cathedral, and the Didactic Museum of the Salerno Medical School. Salerno’s port is well connected to Amalfi, Positano, Capri, and other Amalfi Coast towns via an efficient daily ferry service.
Benevento is another provincial capital known throughout Italy for its historical, artistic, and archaeological richness. Nestled in a basin surrounded by green hills, its main activity is agriculture, especially famous wines like Aglianico, Coda di Volpe, and Falanghina. The Church of Santa Sofia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other important monuments include the Arch of Trajan, one of Italy’s best-preserved Roman triumphal arches, the Roman Theater, and the Cathedral. The Sannio Museum houses numerous Roman and medieval artifacts attesting to the city’s ancient history.
Caserta also boasts a rich historical and artistic heritage. Founded by the Etruscans, conquered by the Samnites, and later becoming a Roman colony, it was dominated after the fall of the Roman Empire by the Swabians, Angevins, and finally the Bourbons. The famous Royal Palace of Caserta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built during Bourbon rule, placing the city on par with other European capitals like Madrid and Versailles. Other notable landmarks include the Belvedere Palace in San Leucio and the Carolino Aqueduct, examples of the region’s cultural and architectural wealth.
Avellino is a quiet city surrounded by the greenery of Irpinia, offering charming landscapes. Encircled by high mountains, it has dozens of churches. The province is full of agritourism resorts, thanks to its generous nature. Near the city lies the Montevergine massif, with its Sanctuary—a pilgrimage destination for over two million people a year. Avellino’s symbol is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Modestino, which houses the painting of the Assumption of Mary, carried in procession every August 15. Another symbol is the Clock Tower, damaged by the earthquakes of 1668, 1742, and 1980. The region is also known for its famous wines: Greco di Tufo, Taurasi, and Fiano di Avellino.
Traditions and Events in Campania
In Campania, religious festivals are especially heartfelt. The most important is that of San Gennaro, which involves all citizens of Naples and its surroundings. Other popular festivals take place in Gesualdo, Morcone, and Santa Anastasia. Parades, masked balls, and floats are organized in all provinces. For example, the Palmanese Carnival is held in Palma Campania, featuring parades of “quadriglie,” masked bands rooted in the 16th-century Neapolitan carnivals.
The Amalfi Coast also hosts many celebrations, such as the feast of Santa Trofimena, known as “the saint who came from the sea.” Usually, a patron saint is celebrated once a year, but in the town of Minori, she is celebrated three times: July 13, November 5, and November 27.
Water festivals are not uncommon, but a river diverted to flood village streets may be unique in the world. This happens every summer in Campagna with the event called ’A Chiena (in dialect: “the flood”), an ancient folk tradition that began to clean the streets during droughts. Today it’s a fun escape from the heat for young and old alike.
An important cultural and musical event is the Ravello Festival, also known as the “Wagner Festival.” It has been held every summer since 1953 in the town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast. It was inspired by the visit of German composer Richard Wagner in 1880, who was enchanted by the beauty of Villa Rufolo, exclaiming, “Here is Klingsor’s enchanted garden!”—a reference to his opera Parsifal.
At the Table: Campania’s Food and Wine
Italian cuisine is world-famous, but Campania has many traditional dishes that must be tasted.
The most famous is undoubtedly pizza, and UNESCO has recently recognized the art of the Neapolitan pizzaiolo as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Among traditional dishes is ragù di guardaporta, made with pancetta fat and veal rolls stuffed with cheese, garlic, pine nuts, parsley, and raisins.
Eggplant parmigiana is made with Campania’s famous mozzarella, essential in many local dishes. The eggplants are fried and layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, then baked into an irresistible dish.
Among the desserts, pastiera napoletana (a ricotta and orange tart typical of Easter), babà (the king of Neapolitan sweets), delizia al limone from the Amalfi Coast, and the chocolate and pear cake typical of Positano stand out.
Campania is also the homeland of pasta, which can be enjoyed with many sauces, meats, and vegetables. The area between Battipaglia and Paestum is famous as the birthplace of buffalo mozzarella.
Among the region’s typical wines are: Trebbiano, Sangiovese, Malvasia, Greco, Aglianico, and Falanghina.
