Naples Filicudi ferry

Naples Guide

The Italian city of Naples, or Napoli as it is also called, is located in the Campania region of the country and lies on the Gulf of Naples, on southern Italy's west coast. The city is located in an enviable position between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei. The Roman ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Stabiae, which were destroyed the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, are located close to the city as is the city of Sorrento and the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Also located close to Naples are the former parts of the Roman naval facility of Portus Julius, namely the port towns of Pozzuoli and Baia which are both to the north of Naples. The city is adorned with medieval, Baroque and Renaissance churches, castles and palaces and has long been an important centre for the arts and architecture. In the 18th century, Naples went through a period of neoclassicism, following the discovery of the remarkably intact Roman ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The port of Naples is home to several ferry, hydrofoil and SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) catamaran services, linking numerous locations in both the Neapolitan province, including Capri, Ischia and Sorrento, and the Salernitan province, including Salerno, Positano and Amalfi. Ferry services also operate to Sicily, Sardinia, Ponza and the Aeolian Islands.

Filicudi Guide

The Italian island of Filicudi is one of the Aeolian Islands and lies off the north east coast of Sicily and is popular with scuba divers. A large part of the volcanic island is now designated as the "Natural Reserve of Filicudi Island". The island is made up of several layers of lava with oldest being located in the sea in front of 'Fil di Sciacca' with the largest being 'Fossa delle felci' and the most recent being 'Montagnola'. The island's slopes tend to be steep and rocky with houses located around the "Porto Pecorini" and "Valdichiesa" where the Church of St. Stephen, the island's patron saint, can be found.

To the north of the island is the spectacular “Punta Zucco Grande” (with ten layers of lava) with the eastern side of the island being a less harsh environment. Perhaps the most beautiful landscapes on the island are the “Punta Perciato” and the giant boulders of the “Rupi delle Sciare” ["Cliffs of the ‘Sciara’”], which are steep vertical cliffs overlooking the sea.