The Gulf of Naples is truly a unique and enchanting place. It stretches for almost 200 km, including cities, archaeology and nature.
From Monte di Procida, near the city of Pozzuoli to Punta Campanella, just a stone's throw from Sorrento. In this unique space beyond Naples, you will find the Phlegrean towns of Pozzuoli and Bacoli, the ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabia, as well as the magical islands of the gulf: Ischia and Procida to the north and Capri to the south.
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Posillipo and protected marine area of Gaiola
If we are talking about the Gulf of Naples, we cannot but start from Posillipo, a place in Naples where the view of the sea and the gulf will leave you breathless. A hilly district where you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of Naples and its Gulf.
If you are here, you can visit Cape Posillipo and explore the underwater park and protected marine area of Gaiola, established in 2002 by the Ministries of the Environment and Cultural Heritage. During the summer, the locals frequent this location for the clarity of the waters surrounding the islets of Gaiola, the scenic beauty, and the spectacular archaeology.
The islands of Procida, Ischia and Capri
Procida island in Naples' Gulf
Starting with a brief overview of the islands, all lovers of the sea, fun, and relaxation will find it a must to visit the wonderful islands of the Gulf of Naples. They are easy to reach from the ports of Naples, Pozzuoli, and Sorrento (the latter only from Capri).
Capri is undoubtedly the most famous of the islands in the gulf, an icon of Made in Italy and Italian style. Famous for its Piazzetta, the Grotta Azzurra, its blue sea, and the Faraglioni, which provide one of the most iconic views in Italy.
Less famous, a little smaller but no less beautiful is Procida, chosen by many filmmakers as a film set. Here you can visit two beaches that are worth the price of the ticket: the Pozzo Vecchio beach, the protagonist in some scenes of the film 'Il Postino' (The Postman), and the Chiaiolella beach, very popular especially in summer.
Last but not least, Ischia, which is also the largest island in Campania, is appreciated worldwide also for its numerous spas, the historic center, Ischia Ponte, is full of small shops. Here you will also find the Aragonese castle, the most important monument on the island. Finally, choose to go to Ischia Porto, a place that went from being a simple fishing village to an international tourist hub thanks to its nightlife and various clubs and discos. If you want to explore the Gulf of Naples and get to know the Mediterranean, you have to travel around its islands.
The Phlegraean Fields
Among the most fascinating places to visit are certainly the Phlegraean Fields. They are a vast volcanic area close to the Gulf of Naples in which several unique cultural attractions survive between nature and archaeology. Just think of the underwater archeologic park of Baia, in Bacoli, where you can admire underwater Roman architecture thanks to a glass-bottomed boat.
Nearby you will also find the Flavian Amphitheatre in Pozzuoli, the Temple of Serapis, the Rione Terra, or the Piscina Mirabilis in Bacoli, which represents the best of Roman engineering in terms of water flow and supply in the area; an extraordinary work dating back to the Augustan age, over two thousand years ago!
Naples and the Mediterranean. Visit Fondazione Dohrn
Naples is a continuous embrace with the sea and you can realise this just by walking along the city's splendid waterfront.
Stroll between Via Caracciolo and Via Partenope and relax in front of the view of Castel dell'Ovo, so named for the ancient legend of Virgil and the magic egg. Wander past pizzerias and historic cafés, amidst the characteristic scents, and reach the Villa Comunale, one of the city's most important gardens designed during the 18th century by Carlo Vanvitelli.
Inside, you can visit the facilities managed by the prestigious Dohrn Foundation: a research centre, exhibition and museum centre, historical aquarium and a place for knowledge and in-depth study of Mediterranean ecosystems.
As you can imagine, the Fondazione Dohrn promotes various activities and takes care of the facilities of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, one of the world's most important research institutions in the fields of marine biology and ecology, dedicated to the general public.
The headquarters of the Stazione Zoologica is located right inside the Villa Comunale and contains the oldest aquarium in Italy, probably the only one from the late 19th century still in operation, and the recently opened Darwin-Dohrn Museum (DaDoM), dedicated to two very important evolutionary scientists, Anton Dohrn and Charles Darwin.
A few kilometres away, you will find the Turtle Point in Portici, the largest recovery, rehabilitation and research centre for sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea, designed to safeguard and care for these species.
