Walking guide to Amalfi Coast, Capri, Ischia - Italy, Europe

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Reviews
• Further Reading

The Tyrrhenian Sea in southern Italy is an area of dramatic coastal scenery, none more so than in the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno where all the action in this book takes place. No number of dazzling glossy travel brochures or rave accounts from friends can prepare you for these sensational places and their natural beauty. There's the breathtaking, picture-perfect island of Capri, once the playground of pleasure-seeking Roman emperors, and contrasting Ischia, land of ancient volcanoes. Across the gulf the rugged Sorrento peninsula is lapped by sparkling turquoise water and criss-crossed by a fantastic web of age-old mule tracks. Inland rises its mountainous backbone, the Monti Lattari, which soar to spectacular heights.

The impossibly steep southern edge goes by the name of the Amalfi Coast, incomparably beautiful and famous the world over. Settlements from the medieval era with outstanding architectural and artistic works perch on precipices high over the sea. Arable land is in short supply so over the centuries the ingenious inhabitants have painstakingly built up breathtaking sequences of stone retaining walls to support terraced vineyards and lemon orchards.

All this is great news for walkers, as exciting routes lead across a wonderful range of landscapes. A sense of wonder takes over each time you step out. The crowds and hustle of the coast are left quickly behind, and in their place are soothing green landscapes with a riot of wild flowers and aromatic herbs, not to mention dreamy panoramas of great inspiration. In essence, this is a veritable paradise for walkers of all abilities and levels of experience.

The heritage of mule tracks linking the villages dotted over the mountainous peninsula and islands are an open door invitation to visitors interested in exploring this beautiful region on foot. Country lanes are followed as are paved and stepped knee-testing ways shared at times with herders, farmers and their mules loaded with firewood or freshly harvested lemons. On many occasions there are walkers-only paths across flowered hillsides thick with Mediterranean plants, exquisite wild orchids, lush green woods and jungle-like valleys. Pilgrims' routes lead to revered sanctuaries and goat tracks traverse volcanic terrain.