Moon Southern Italy: Sicily, Puglia, Naples & the Amalfi Coast

by Linda Sarris, Laura Thayer

Overview

From the pastel rooftops of Positano to the soaring peak of Mount Etna, immerse yourself in la dolce vita with Moon Southern Italy. Inside you'll find:

• Flexible itineraries for exploring the best of Southern Italy, including Sicily, Puglia, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and more, that can be combined for a longer trip
• Strategic advice for foodies and oenophiles, art lovers, hikers, history buffs, beach bums, and more
• Must-see highlights and unique experiences for any season: Dive into the art museums and traditional theater of Palermo’s Centro Storico, and admire the Baroque monuments and carved churches of Lecce. Walk the frozen-in-time streets of Pompeii and marvel at the captivating Cathedral of Amalfi. Take an off-road Jeep tour of Mount Etna or hike along the coastline. Soak up the sun on a secluded beach or sail the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters
• The best local flavors: Stroll quiet village streets where the scent of Sunday ragu fills the air, feast on fresh seafood from a bustling outdoor market, and chow down on authentic Neapolitan pizza. Sip limoncello on a sunny terrace or sample wines from the mineral-rich local vineyards
• Expert suggestions from Amalfi local Laura Thayer and Palermo local Linda Sarris on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around
• Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
• Helpful resources on COVID-19 and traveling to Southern Italy
• Background information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs
• Handy tools including an Italian phrasebook and tips for seniors and traveling with children

With Moon’s practical tips and local insight on the best things to do and see, you can experience the very best of Southern Italy.

Exploring more of Italia? Check out Moon Milan & Beyond with the Italian Lakes or Moon Rome, Florence & Venice.
 

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640494534
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	04/26/2022
Series:	Travel Guide
Pages:	504
Sales rank:	84,163
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Linda Sarris is a food, wine, and travel consultant and private chef based in Palermo, Sicily. She left an office job in book publishing for a year of training at the French Culinary Institute that changed her world completely. After a scholarship from the Women Chefs and Restaurateurs organization sent her to a vineyard in Sicily, she fell in love with the island, its history, the warm people, the markets, and the incomparable weather. After nearly a decade of private chef-ing splitting time between New York and Sicily, she sold everything and moved full-time to Palermo.
 
From her sun-lit kitchen studio above the 1,000-year-old Ballarò food market, Linda works as a freelance writer, social media manager, and culinary communications consultant while still traveling regularly as a private chef, with clients in the fashion and music industries. Under her brand, The Cheeky Chef, she is self-publishing a Sicilian food and wine ‘zine and curating a series of Mediterranean culinary lifestyle retreats and travel experiences. Read more on her website, www.lindasarris.com.
 
Laura Thayer first visited the Amalfi Coast in 2007 on a serendipitous holiday with her mother that would change the course of her life. After completing a master's in art history, with a thesis on the Duomo of Amalfi, she moved from the middle of America and now lives right in the heart of Amalfi.

Inspired by the captivating beauty of the area, Laura founded Ciao Amalfi, a trusted online source of insider travel tips and information about the area. She loves hiking along the coastline's rugged pathways, taking photos around each and every corner, and inspiring travelers to explore the Amalfi Coast through her writing and photography.  

Over the past decade, Laura has shared her local insight on the Amalfi Coast by contributing to a variety of online travel publications, guidebooks, and magazines, including Italia! Magazine, Dream of Italy, The Simple Things, and Ambassador, the print magazine of the National Italian American Foundation. Laura's photos often accompany her writing, which highlights her passion for the interplay of words and images. Check out more of her writing at www.ciaoamalfi.com. 

Table of Contents

Discover Southern Italy 6

10 Top Experiences 10

Planning Your Time 18

If You Like 21

If You Have 23

Best of Southern Italy 25

From Ruins to Romanesque 27

Southern Italian Beach 101 29

Best Road Trips 31

Outdoor Adventures 32

Tasting Southern Italy 33

Naples and the Ruins 35

Itinerary Ideas 40

Sights 42

Sports and Recreation 59

Entertainment and Events 60

Shopping 61

Food 64

Bars and Nightlife 69

Accommodations 70

Information and Services 72

Getting There 73

Getting Around 75

Pompeii 78

Herculaneum 87

Vesuvius 92

Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast 96

Itinerary Ideas 104

Sorrento 105

Positano 120

Amalfi 141

Ravello 158

Salerno 167

Capri 180

Puglia and the Best of the South 202

Itinerary Ideas 207

Ban 210

Around Bari 220

The Salento 240

Matera 259

Highlights of Calabria and Basilicata 267

Palermo and Western Sicily 269

Itinerary Ideas 275

Sights 277

Sports and Recreation 285

Entertainment and Events 288

Shopping 291

Food 292

Bars and Nightlife 300

Accommodations 302

Information and Services 303

Getting There 304

Getting Around 305

Vicinity of Palermo 306

Trapani and the West Coast 314

Agrigento and the Southern Coast 322

Catania, Northeastern Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands 330

Itinerary Ideas 334

Catania 336

Taormina 354

Mount Etna 362

The Aeolian Islands 375

Syracuse and Southeastern Sicily 394

Itinerary Ideas 399

Syracuse 402

Around Syracuse 417

Ragusa 424

Background 437

The Landscape 437

Plants and Animals 439

History 441

Government and Economy 449

People and Culture 450

Essentials 455

Transportation 455

Visas and Officialdom 461

Festivals and Events 463

Recreation 464

Food 465

Shopping 468

Accommodations 468

Health and Safety 470

Conduct and Customs 471

Practical Details 472

Traveler Advice 476

Resources 479

Glossary 479

Italian Phrasebook 480

Suggested Reading 483

Suggested Films 485

Internet and Digital Resources 486

Index 488

List of Maps 498

Editorial Reviews

"Moon handbooks are always a pleasure to read. The writing is crisp, the research impressive, and the recommendations practical and down to earth."—Chicago Tribune

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From the Publisher