Bay of Naples, Italy. Bay of Naples in Italy. Settlements along the bay coast

The Bay of Naples, a blessedly bountiful area with a mild climate and spectacular landscape, was a favorite vacation spot of the ancient Roman nobility, and today it is home to remarkable monuments from Antiquity. However, it is difficult to determine where the rural surroundings end and begin, as industrial and residential areas on the outskirts have grown. You will find peace and quiet only in Sorrento or on the Gulf Islands. If you are short on time, visit only the island of Capri. It is recommended to explore the incomparable sights of Pompeii and Herculaneum - ancient cities under the shadow of Vesuvius.

The town of Ercolano is a modern part of ancient Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius on August 2, 79 AD. It's worth stopping here for two reasons: to explore the excavations, and to climb to the top of Vesuvius, where buses go from the station. If you intend to do both in one day, then go to Vesuvius first, and do it early - there are no buses at lunchtime. Herculaneum (daily 8.30-17.00; €10, €18 including Pompeii), located by the sea at the end of Ercolano's main street, was much smaller than Pompeii in Roman times.

Architecturally, Herculaneum is less impressive than Pompeii, but the buildings here are better preserved and can be seen in one go. It wasn't market town, so there is no central forum or open main square. Herculaneum is a network of straight streets lined with villas and shops. The house with a mosaic atrium retains a courtyard decorated with mosaics, which became undulating under the influence of tuff. Behind it is the Deer House, with corridors decorated with lush still lifes and an obscene statue of a drunken Hercules.

In Herculaneum you can also see extensive baths: the “frigidarium” with frescoes depicting fish, and the “caldarium” with a deep bath and an apse in the shape of a scallop shell, equipped with a washbasin and water pipes. Opposite is the house of Neptune and Amphitrite, with its beautifully preserved wall mosaics depicting the god and goddess and still life frescoes. Under the house there is a wine shop with amphorae on wooden shelves. Nearby, in the Casa del Bel Cortile, several skeletons are frozen in the poses in which they were caught by the cataclysm of 79 AD.

On the opposite side of the street there is a house with a wooden partition, where you can see the marital bed remaining intact, and in the neighboring house there is a perfectly preserved coiled rope. The remaining finds were transported to the Neapolitan Archaeological Museum. Vesuvius dominates life in the Bay of Naples. This is the only volcano in continental Europe that is still active. There have been hundreds of eruptions over the centuries, but only two of them, besides the eruption of 79, had serious consequences: in December 1631, when about 3 thousand people died, and in March 1944 (although no one died, the surrounding area was devastated) .

Local residents fear a new awakening of the volcano, and not without reason: scientists believe that eruptions occur approximately once every thirty years (and the last one was in 1944). Transporti Vesuviani buses run from Ercolano Station to the car park and souvenir shops at the crater. Do not give in to the persuasion of station taxi drivers. The hike from the parking lot to the crater along gravel paths will take about half an hour. The crater at the top of Vesuvius is a deep, wide, jagged "ashtray" of red rock from which smoke erupts. You can walk around, but be careful - the fence is old and shaky.

Another ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius is Pompeii (daily 8.30-17.00/19.30), one of the largest trading cities of the Campania in the ancient era, whose population exceeded 20 thousand people. Since Pompeii, buried volcanic ash and pumice several meters thick, died suddenly, all the furnishings of houses, shops, taverns, public buildings were preserved, therefore Pompeii is the most important source of information about the life, culture and art of the Roman Empire of the 1st century AD. Plasters made in the shape of bodies buried under lava reflect the horror of what happened. The best examples of Pompeii mosaics and wall frescoes were sent to the Neapolitan Archaeological Museum.

Pompeii covers a vast area and it will take at least half a day to explore the city properly. You can enter from the Villa of Mysteries. First you will see the forum - an open space surrounded by ruins that were once government agencies. To the north of here is the house of a tragic poet, so named because of the mosaics of theatrical scenes preserved inside. Of even greater interest is the Cave Canem floor mosaic (Beware of the dog!) at the entrance to the house. The inhabitants of the neighboring Faun House must have been friendlier and greeted visitors with the sign Ave (Welcome), inviting them to look into the atrium with the statue of the dancing bronze faun that gave the house its name.

On the next street is the Vettiev House (closed for restoration) - a delightful villa with a beautiful central peristyle. In the first room to the right of the peristyle there are wonderful frescoes (on one of them little Hercules fights snakes), and then through the kitchen there is a passage into a small room with erotic frescoes and a statue of the god of fertility and physical love, Priapus. On the other side of town is a beautifully preserved large theater that is still used for productions, as is the small theater on the left. From here you can climb to the amphitheater - one of the oldest in the country (80 BC). Next door is the palaestra (under restoration) - a wide area for sports and entertainment.

Finally, visit the Villa of Mysteries near Porta Ercolano. Its name was given by perfectly preserved frescoes in one of the halls. They depict the rites of initiation of a girl during the Dionysian Mysteries - a cult that came to Russia and was periodically prohibited due to the extremes and excesses that accompanied it. You can get from Naples to Pompeii by railway Circumvesuviana. You need to get off at the Pompeii – Villa-dei-Misteri station (in the direction of Sorrento, travel time about 30 minutes) at the western entrance or at the Pompeii – Santuario station (in the direction of Sarno) at the eastern entrance.

You can use the highway railway line, which goes in the direction of Salerno. In this case, you should get off at the Pompeii FS station, on the south side of the modern town. It makes sense to come to Pompeii from Naples, but in the town itself you will find somewhere to spend the night. 200 meters from the Rompeii – Santuario station, on Via Duca d’Aosta 4, is the HI Hostel Casa del Pellegrino, and near the Pompeii – Villa-dei-Misteri station there is a large and well-equipped Zeus campsite.

Italian city of Sorrento

On south coast Sorrento rises among the cliffs of the Bay of Naples, a resort whose location and mild climate have attracted foreigners for two hundred years. It is not difficult to find cheap restaurants and accommodation here. It is also the best starting point for traveling around. In the center of Sorrento, a 5-minute walk from the station along the lively Corso Italia, is Piazza Tasso. Not much in Sorrento good beaches: You have to make do with rocks and a tiny, crowded strip of sand near the Marina Grande port, a 15-minute walk from Piazza Tasso.

If this doesn't suit you, go to further beaches, such as Regina Giovanna near the fishing village of Punta del Capo (bus from Piazza Tasso). This unique place for swimming near the ruins of the ancient Roman villa Pollio Felix. The tourist office is located in the large yellow building Circolo dei Foresteri on Via de Maio 35 near Piazza Sant Antonino (Monday-Saturday 8.30-18.30). Hostel Le Sirene is located near the station, on Via degli Aranci 158 (no curfew). Also recommended Hotel City, Corso Italia 221 and the guesthouse with homely furnishings and excellent cuisine Mami Camilla on Via Cocomella 4. There are several more options on Via del Capo: Desiree at number 31 with sea views and a private beach and Elios next door.

The closest campsite, Nube d'Argento, is located on Via del Capo 12 (closed November-March), a 10-minute walk from Piazza Tasso in the direction of Marina Grande. You can eat at the Sant Antonino restaurant near Piazza Antonino. In addition, the food at Mami Camilla is excellent. Night life takes place in the lively Matilda disco bar in Piazza Sant Antonino. We also recommend the sophisticated live music venue Artis Domus on Via S. Nicola 56. Local wines and excellent grappa are available at the Le Bollicine wine bar on Via Accademia. There are many pubs in Sorrento, such as the English Inn on Corso Italia 55.

The island of Capri has always been considered the pearl of the Gulf of Naples. In the ancient Roman era, Emperor Tiberius held his legendary orgies here, and Emperor Augustus called Capri “the city of sweet idleness.” Nowadays, the island constantly experiences an influx of tourists; many artists and writers like to relax here. There are regular ferries to Capri from Naples (from Mollo Beverello in Piazza Municipio) and hydrofoils from Sorrento and from the Mergellina marina a couple of miles north of here. The fare varies from 5.80 to 13 euros one way. Water transport stands in the port of Marina Grande, along the promenade that serves as a continuation of the city of Capri, which rises on a mountain and is connected to the port by a funicular.

Capri is a very pretty town with winding streets that converge on the main square, Piazza Umberto. On the far side of town is the Carthusian monastery of San Giacomo (Tuesday-Saturday 9am-2pm, Sunday 9am-1pm; free), and the nearby Gardens of Augustus offer superb views of the coast and cliffs. From here you can walk to Marina Piccola Bay - several houses and restaurants among pebble beaches. During peak season it is very crowded. To the east of the city of Capri are the ruins of the Villa Jupiter, which belonged to Emperor Tiberius (daily 9.00 - an hour before sunset).

Another large settlement on the island is the city of Anacapri, whose main square is replete with souvenir shops, boutiques and tourist restaurants. Hanging cable car will take you to Mount Solaro (596 meters) - the highest point of the island. Be sure to visit Capri's main attraction - the Blue Grotto (45 minutes walk down Via Lo Pozzo or by bus from the main square). For a fee of 10 euros plus a tip, boatmen take tourists around the grotto for 5 minutes, and in the evening, when the crowd has subsided, you can swim to the cave for free. Another attraction is Villa San Michele (daily 9.30-15.30/18.00), which belonged to the Swedish writer Axel Munthe.

The main tourist office is located in Piazza Umberto in Capri (Monday-Saturday 9.00-20.30, Sunday 9.00-13.00 and 15.30-18.45), there is a branch in Via G. Orlandi in Anacapri (same opening hours). We recommend the Hotel Bussola di Hermes, Via Traversa La Vigna 14 in Anacapri. Villa Eva, Via La Fabbrica 8 – These are some fantastic villas with a pool and extensive gardens (call for a ride to the hotel). The best option in the center of Capri - Hotel Stella Maris on Via Roma 27, opposite the bus station. Eating out in Capri is very expensive, but if you don't mind breaking the bank, head to Buca di Vasso, Via Longano 35 in Capri (a two-course meal costs around 30 euros).

In contact with

In front of you detailed map The Gulf of Naples with the names of cities and towns in Russian.

Move the map while holding it with the left mouse button. You can move around the map by clicking on one of the four arrows in the upper left corner. You can change the scale using the scale on the right side of the map or turning the mouse wheel.

In which country is the Gulf of Naples located? The Bay of Naples is located in Italy. This is wonderful a nice place

, with its own history and traditions. Coordinates of the Gulf of Naples: north latitude and east longitude (show on large map).

Virtual walk The “little man” figurine above the scale will help you make virtual walk in the cities of the Gulf of Naples. By clicking and holding the left mouse button, drag it to any place on the map and you will go for a walk, while inscriptions with the approximate address of the area will appear in the upper left corner. Select the direction of movement by clicking on the arrows in the center of the screen.

The “Satellite” option at the top left allows you to see a relief image of the surface. In the "Map" mode you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself in detail with highways Gulf of Naples and main attractions.

On the western coast of the Apennine Peninsula is the Gulf of Naples. It runs from Cape Campanella in the east to Cape Miseno in the west. Tourists have this bay Tyrrhenian Sea gained its wide popularity thanks to its magnificent beaches, picturesque landscapes and rugged coastline. This bay will delight you with a wide variety of resorts with modern infrastructure and luxurious conditions for comfortable rest

. First of all, the Gulf of Naples is known for its unique climatic conditions, which will help you improve your health and freshen up from the stuffy city. If you are a lover of cultural and educational recreation or are interested in antiquity, then you simply need to visit the Excavations ancient city

Excellent options for a relaxing holiday are the islands of Ischia and Capri, located in the Gulf of Naples. There are only a few hotels here, so you can take a break from the hustle and bustle big world and relax in silence.

The forecast showed that we would be completely calm on the first day, so I decided to leave early and make the longest crossing, from Procida to Ponza. However, already abeam Ventotene the wind increased sharply, the sea began to rise and an hour later it was already covered with foam. Since in such a situation it was risky to trust the forecast for the coming hours, I decided to turn around and instead of staying overnight in one of the bays of Ponza, stand in the Ventotene marina. I wanted to moor at the old Roman port, but it was very small, and all the places were already taken, so I turned around and went to the “new” port. Crew, welcome to the sea for the first time!

Marina Ventotene. Our yacht is at the entrance to the marina, the second from the red lighthouse

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Yachts in Porto Romano Vecchio

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New fishermen in the old port moored, filled out documents and went to the beach, which was on the other side of the marina. The mountain protected from the wind, but not from the sun. In such heat, I didn’t particularly want to move, just swim in the calm water of the bay. After the beach we split up, Ian and I went to explore the island while the rest of the crew returned to the yacht. We got to the very high point islands - Monte Del Arco, constantly stopping, photographing the streets and surroundings of the island.

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View of the island of St. Stephen

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Northwestern coast of Ventotene The next morning we slowly got up, and after a cup of coffee, everyone scattered. Some take a swim in the sea, some wander around a little. I found an Internet cafe, checked the forecast, we slowly gathered on the yacht and set off - to Ponzu. During the night the wind changed direction and was now blowing directly in our faces. I had to go on the motor, maneuvering on the oncoming one and a half meter wave. Only near Ponza itself the wind changed direction a little, and we sailed for about an hour. On Ponza we did not go into the marina, but dropped anchor in St. Mary's Bay near the bizarre rocks rising from the sea at the very entrance to the bay. We tried to start the engine, but according to the bad old tradition, the engine started and stalled. In addition, we managed to lose one oar, so we had to forget about landing on the shore. They swam, people played cards, and I went to the galley to prepare a simple dinner. By the way, in Italian a ship’s kitchen is also “galley”.

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The night, as the forecast promised, turned out to be windy. Wind gusts reached 30-35 knots at times. Periodically I opened my eyes, checking by the masthead lights of neighboring yachts whether our anchor was holding. Around one in the morning, Ian comes up and says that someone wants to board our yacht. I go up to the cockpit, and a guy in a branded Sunsail T-shirt comes up to us and asks: “Guys, have you seen our yacht?” From such a question, at one in the morning in the middle of the sea, my eyelids began to pop up on my forehead. I noticed her even when she entered the parking lot: she had two steering wheels, which is not very typical for 39-foot sunsails. And when I went down to the salon, I used it to check that we were standing parallel to the other boats. But really, his yacht is not there. This case gave us food for long speculation on the topic of whether a yacht could be stolen or not. Looking ahead, I will say that they found his yacht. While the guy was walking his passengers around the island, the wind tore the yacht from its anchor and carried it out to sea. A good, albeit very obvious lesson - when there is a strong wind forecast, do not leave the yacht unattended, do not place it in deep water and use a spare anchor. The next morning we got up early, since we had a rather long passage to Ischia. At first there was a good tailwind, but after a couple of hours it began to subside, the wave decreased, and soon the sea became smooth as parquet. There was nothing to do, I had to start the engine and remove the sails. Around two o'clock in the afternoon, to the sound of the engine, we entered the port and moored at the local yacht club. Tanya, Sasha and Igor, on my recommendation, went to relax in mineral springs, for which Ischia is famous, I had to complete the formalities at the marina, and Ian decided to see the town and the Aragonese castle

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We spent the evening in a very nice restaurant called Orange (we visit it every time we come to Ischia). It's not about its cuisine, but about the very pleasant atmosphere and live music - two good tenors perform opera arias and classic Italian hits with a guitar. True, once, having heard that we were speaking Russian, we sang Hawa Nargila :-) Due to the loss of an oar, we had to make changes to the route. There were no plans for more moorings in marinas, but I didn’t want to go to the shore. Therefore, we had to look for where to buy a paddle. In Iski itself the prices were exorbitant, and the locals recommended going to Forio, a town on the northern tip of the island. He went into the port, dropped Igor ashore, and left himself, so as not to hang around in the port waters in front of the bows of incoming and outgoing ferries. About twenty minutes later he returned to pick up Igor with the oar, and we set off for Capri. It’s about two and a half hours to Marina Picola. Actually, this is not a marina at all, but the only place on the island where you can anchor. Like any single place, the bay was filled with yachts of all types and sizes. From a small one, like ours, to this helicopter carrier:

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We dropped anchor, launched our boat and went ashore. Along the alley built by Krupp at the beginning of the 20th century, we climbed into the city, admiring the views.

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When they returned, it was beginning to get dark, and the full moon was rising over the Faraglioni.

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We returned on time: although the bottom was sandy, the anchor did not hold well, and the distance to the neighboring yacht was dangerously decreasing. We raised anchor and went to look for more safe place, which is not so easy in the dark, since darkness visually shortens the distance, and it always seemed to me that we were getting too close to the shore or other yachts. Finally, the anchor is dropped and you can take cool Italian wine out of the refrigerator. What could be more beautiful than a warm, leisurely Italian morning off the coast of Capri! A cup of aromatic coffee, some swim, some take a boat to the shore. And some kind of boat of a strange design goes along the bay from yacht to yacht. At first I thought that these were fishermen selling fresh fish, but it turned out that they were collecting garbage from yachts and at the same time clearing the surface of any floating debris. Slowly we set off. It was the penultimate day of our voyage and we had to turn towards our base. The night wind died down, we motored around Capri from the west, heading for San Angelo Bay, and behind the stern a cloud like a hat settled on the top of the island.

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And Ian treated us to such goodies

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At about one o'clock in the afternoon we dropped anchor on Iskie, in San Angelo Bay. A leisurely swim, then a rowing boat to the hot springs. The island is clearly on top of the stove. In some places, barriers have been made on the sand, as the temperature reaches one hundred degrees. Compared to the previous resort, Aphrodite in San Angelo did not make an impression. Everything looked abandoned, some of the fountains did not work. After sitting until closing, we returned to the boat and rowed to the yacht. In the morning, a small adventure awaited us. Apparently, the fuel level sensor was lying, before that it showed that we had enough diesel fuel to return to Procida, but suddenly it dropped to zero. They took a jerrycan, got into the boat with Sasha and sailed to the neighbors. It turned out that all the neighbors had empty jerricans, there was nothing to do, we had to go ashore, take a taxi and go to the nearest gas station. After filling up with diesel fuel, we set off on the way back. At first they tried to stand north of the Aragonese castle, but it was inconvenient to go ashore. The same situation was in the bay on the narrow side, and we went to the bay of Della Palombara. Enjoying the last stop, we swam for a couple of hours and at two o’clock we went to the marina of Procida. The last day of sailing is always very sad - time flew by very quickly, it seems like just yesterday accepted the yacht, but already need to rent it out. But, to paraphrase Vysotsky, the end of one voyage is the beginning of another.

Vibrant, passionate, unique - these are words that accurately characterize the bay located at the foot of Vesuvius. The coast of the Gulf of Naples is home to ancient traditions, archaeological and artistic treasures, as well as the most beautiful islands in the world.

The Gulf of Naples is located in the southwestern (province of Naples, Campania region) and is part of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The length of the bay from west to east, from Cape Campanella to Cape Misena is 30 km. During the reign of the Roman Empire, there was land on the site of the bay, but over time it disappeared under the waves of the sea.

The bay opens a sea route to the west Mediterranean Sea and borders on the north with the cities of Naples and Pozzuoli, on east coast located famous volcano Vesuvius, and in the south - a peninsula with the main city of the same name, Sorrento. The Sorrento Peninsula separates the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno.

The waters of the Gulf of Naples wash the shores of Ischia and Procida. This area is important tourist destination for Italy with the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Wonderful climate, breathtaking sea, magnificent cities, built many centuries ago, ancient civilizations that passed through the waters of the bay, leaving behind objects of art and architecture - all this is the Gulf of Naples. Rich in archaeological, artistic and monumental works, it is renowned for the warmth of its people and their passion for music, dance and drama.

The Bay offers tourists a number of unique and unforgettable cities: from energetic and densely populated city Naples to elegant Sorrento and the ruins of Pompeii. Competing with the beauties of the mainland, 3 are reflected in the sea water small islands Gulf of Naples - Procida, Ischia and Capri.

Bay of Naples: photos and paintings

The beauty of the Gulf coast has always attracted the attention of brush masters from different countries. Among those who immortalized the waves near Naples on their canvases was the Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky. The famous artist lived for some time in Italy. The picturesque local landscapes could not leave a keen connoisseur of everything beautiful indifferent. The most famous paintings depicting the beauty of the bay were “The Bay of Naples in the Morning”, “The Bay of Naples on a Moonlit Night” and “The Gulf of Naples at Night” (1895).

Nowadays, paintings are painted in smaller quantities; photographs mainly predominate. But in order to do good photo, which accurately conveys all the beauty of nature, you need talent.

Settlements along the bay coast

Since ancient times, people have sought to build cities near bodies of water in order to provide life with water. Well, the coast of the Gulf of Naples has always enjoyed increased attention due to its rich marine flora. Therefore, for many centuries it was densely built up with cities and villages.

The most big city The bay is Naples, after which it was named. Translated from Latin, its name means “ New town" It is the center of the Campania region and is located on west coast Apennine Peninsula, 190 km southeast of Rome. This city is the main port, center of trade and national culture in southern Italy.

In addition to Naples, along the bay of the Gulf of Naples are the cities of Pozzuoli, Torre Annunziata, Castellammare di Stabia, Torre del Greco and Sorrento.

Torre Annunziata is a southeastern suburb of Naples, located at the southern foot of Vesuvius. The name of the city comes from the name of the chapel and hospitals dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation, built in 1319. It was destroyed twice by volcanic eruptions in 79 and 1631. In 1997 the city became an object World Heritage UNESCO. Today, Torre Annunziata is known as a resort and thermal spa with a small port.

Historical landmarks

A popular tourist destination is visiting the ruins of ancient cities that once flourished along the coast of the Gulf of Naples. The most famous ruined city in this area is Pompeii, which was covered with volcanic ash after the powerful eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Currently Pompeii is a museum under open air and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During that memorable eruption of Vesuvius, other settlements located off the coast of the Gulf of Naples were also buried. Over the course of 2 days, starting on August 24, 79, cities such as Herculaneum, Stabiae, as well as small villages and villas were buried under many meters of ash. After the archaeological excavations, the world again saw ancient cities that were completely preserved in the same form as they were before the natural disaster began.

Tourist impressions of the Gulf of Naples

Thanks to the fact that in this part of Italy there is sunshine 280 days a year bright sun, the region is very popular among tourists. Local resorts are great for active rest, for example, for diving. The clear waters of the Gulf of Naples remain so even in a storm, the reason is the absence of sandy turbidity.

Most tourists come here to see the ruins of Pompeii, get closer to the mouth of Vesuvius, see the sights of Naples, swim in local thermal springs. They will help you experience all the beauty of the Gulf of Naples boat trips by boat and a trip to the beautiful islands of Ischia and Capri.

To get to the Gulf of Naples, just go to the airports of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Flights regularly depart from here to Naples, from which you can travel by car to any settlement on the coast.

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