Extracts from a letter by Pliny the Younger who witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the 24th August AD 79 which destroyed the Roman town of Pompeii.

We all know Sorrento, but do we all know the Sorrento Peninsular? Between a dip in your hotel pool, a glass of wine or three and numerous strolls to the old port area, much is missed.

The Amalfi Coast is named after the town of Amalfi, a once mighty Marine Republic to rival Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Today, it is synomonous with lemons.

Anyone who has been to Ravello cannot fail to be amazed by the climb along the narrowest of roads through a gorge in the Amalfi Coast.

The road drops then rises before opening up onto that classic panoramic view. It's a stunner.

A little northeast of the provincial capital Benevento is the birthplace of Padre Pio.

As you might expect the hamlet of Pietrelcina has become an important pilgrim destination but it still retains its evocative medieval feel.

This area of Italy, which now lies in the province of Benevento, takes its name from one of the peninsular's toughest people, the Samnites.

During the summer of 2001 visitors to the provincial capital of Caserta may have been surprised to bump into George Lucas and assorted androids. How come?

This ruggedly mountainous part of the Campania today borders the provinces and Caserta and Benevento. The whole zone has also been declared 'Il Parco de Matese' and comprises 20 comune such as Ailano, Capriati al Volturno, Gioia Sannitica and Valle Agricola.

Montella in the province of Avellino is 34 km from Avellino city and is one of the largest towns of Irpinia and the Alta Valle del Calore with approx. 9000 inhabitants.

Avellino, or Abellinum Roman city, is exactly 56km from Naples and the heart of the province also happens to be the heart of the Campania Appennines.