Pompeii and Herculaneum are a short train ride from Naples. The island of Capri (see p101 Pleasure Island) is only 40 minutes away by hydrofoil. Ischia has hot springs and thermal pools, and is one hour from Naples.

October is a good time to visit the Amalfi Coast (for crowd-free sunbathing), as is spring (for the profusion of flowers). The Sentieri degli Dei (‘Footpath of the Gods’) is an impressive walk; the path follows the ridge that divides the Amalfi Coast from the Bay of Naples. SITA (199 730749 for tickets and timetable, 081 752 7337, www.sita-on-line.it) runs buses to Positano. You can also take the Circumvesuviana rail to Sorrento, then a bus to Positano and Amalfi.

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