5 Things to See and Do Around Campania - A Food Lover’s Guide to the Region

Campania is a region that rewards curiosity.

From the ancient streets of Naples to the vineyards of Vesuvius, from the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the temples of Paestum, Campania is a place where history, landscape and food are inseparable.

It is also a region where extraordinary food does not necessarily mean complicated food. Some of Campania’s most memorable dishes are built around a handful of excellent ingredients: pasta, tomatoes, olive oil, cheese, seafood, herbs and preserved foods.

At Tutto Napule, we believe that is one of the best things about Campania. You can travel through the region, discover somewhere extraordinary, and then recreate a little piece of that experience at home.

Here are five places we think belong on any Campanian itinerary together with a recipe inspired by each one.

1. Lose Yourself in the Streets of Napoli

No journey through Campania should begin anywhere else.

Naples is a city that has to be experienced on foot. Wander through the historic centre, follow the narrow streets of Spaccanapoli, explore the churches and palazzi, stop for a coffee and, most importantly, allow yourself to get a little lost.

The city is energetic, imperfect, noisy and wonderfully alive.

It is also one of the great food cities of Italy. Naples gave the world pizza as we know it, but its culinary traditions extend far beyond pizza. Pasta, tomatoes, beans, vegetables, fried foods and simple sauces have all played an important role in the city’s cooking.

The Italian national tourism site describes Campania’s food culture as exceptionally diverse, encompassing everything from seafood and mozzarella to vegetables, meat and mountain products. 

Don’t miss

Spaccanapoli
The famous straight route through the historic centre is one of the best ways to experience Naples.

Via dei Tribunali
Come for the atmosphere, stay for the food.

Santa Chiara
The majolica cloister is a beautiful escape from the intensity of the surrounding streets.

A proper Neapolitan coffee
Take your time. In Naples, coffee is less a beverage and more a ritual.

Cook it at home: Pasta al Pomodoro

Sometimes the simplest dishes tell the biggest stories.

A good Campanian tomato, quality pasta and excellent olive oil need very little else.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 200g Russo pasta
• 400g Attianese tomatoes or passata
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• Fresh basil
• Salt
• Grated cheese, optional

Method

Heat the olive oil gently with the garlic. Add the tomatoes and simmer for around 15–20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente.

Remove the garlic, add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss vigorously with a splash of pasta water.

Finish with fresh basil and another drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

The secret? Don’t overcomplicate it.

2. Walk Through Pompeii and Look Up at Vesuvius

Few places in the world allow you to walk through an ancient city while standing beneath an active volcano.

Pompeii is one of Campania’s defining experiences. The archaeological site preserves an extraordinary snapshot of Roman life before the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

But the area is about more than archaeology.

Vesuvius dominates the landscape, while the surrounding countryside has been shaped by volcanic soils, vineyards and agriculture for centuries. The regional tourism site highlights the archaeological heritage of Pompeii alongside the villages, trails, vineyards and agricultural landscapes around Vesuvius. 

After exploring Pompeii, consider continuing towards Mount Vesuvius itself. The Vesuvius National Park has a network of trails leading into the volcanic landscape. 

Don’t miss

Pompeii Archaeological Park
Allow plenty of time. There is considerably more to see than the famous photographs suggest.

Mount Vesuvius
The climb provides a completely different perspective on the region.

The Vesuvian countryside
Look beyond the volcano itself and you’ll find vineyards, farms and towns built into the landscape.

Cook it at home: Pasta e Pomodoro del Vesuvio

This is a deliberately simple pasta inspired by the volcanic landscape around Naples.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 200g Russo spaghetti
• 250–300g Attianese tomato passata or peeled tomatoes
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• A pinch of chilli
• Fresh basil
• Salt

Method

Warm the olive oil with the garlic and chilli.

Add the tomatoes and cook gently for 15 minutes.

Cook your pasta al dente, reserving a little cooking water.

Add the pasta to the tomato sauce and toss until glossy, adding pasta water if necessary.

Finish with basil and a final drizzle of olive oil.

It is uncomplicated, rustic and intensely satisfying exactly the kind of cooking that allows good ingredients to speak for themselves.

3. Follow the Coast to Amalfi and Cetara

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most spectacular landscapes.

Clinging to the cliffs between the mountains and the sea, its towns and villages seem almost impossibly picturesque.

But don’t make the mistake of treating the coast as simply a collection of viewpoints.

Take your time.

Visit Amalfi, explore the smaller villages, walk part of one of the coastal trails and, if possible, make your way to Cetara.

Cetara is a small fishing village whose culinary identity is deeply connected to anchovies.

It is particularly famous for Colatura di Alici di Cetara, an amber-coloured fish sauce produced from anchovies matured with salt. The Campania regional government describes colatura as an ancient product whose tradition has been passed down through generations of fishermen. 

This is Campania in miniature: sea, fishing, preservation and extraordinary flavour.

Don’t miss

Amalfi Cathedral
One of the coast’s most recognisable landmarks.

The coastal villages
Don’t restrict yourself to the most famous towns. The smaller communities often provide a more intimate experience.

Cetara
A must for anyone interested in Campanian food.

A coastal walk
The Amalfi Coast is particularly rewarding when experienced away from the road.

The Amalfi Coast has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and its landscape includes villages, beaches, trails, caves and secluded coastal areas. 

Cook it at home: Spaghetti alla Colatura di Alici

This may be one of the best examples of Campanian cucina povera.

There is no elaborate sauce. Instead, colatura provides an extraordinary depth of flavour to pasta, olive oil, garlic and chilli.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 200g Russospaghetti
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 1–2 tsp Colatura di Alici di Cetara
• Chilli, to taste
• Fresh parsley
• Lemon zest, optional

Method

Cook the spaghetti in unsalted water the colatura is already highly seasoned.

Meanwhile, gently warm the olive oil with the garlic and chilli.

Remove the garlic once it has flavoured the oil.

Drain the spaghetti, reserving some cooking water, and toss it with the oil.

Add the colatura gradually, together with a little pasta water, until the sauce becomes glossy.

Finish with chopped parsley and, if you like, a little finely grated lemon zest.

Important: start with less colatura and add more to taste.

A little goes a very long way.

4. Step Back in Time at Paestum

Head south from Naples and the landscape gradually changes.

The mountains, coast and countryside open out, eventually revealing one of Campania’s most spectacular archaeological treasures: Paestum.

The ancient Greek temples here are among the most impressive surviving examples of Magna Graecia architecture.

But Paestum is also an excellent reminder that Campania isn’t simply Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

The wider area is deeply connected with agriculture and, particularly, buffalo farming.

This makes it an ideal destination for food lovers.

Don’t miss

The Temple of Hera
One of Paestum’s most impressive Doric temples.

The Temple of Neptune
An extraordinary example of ancient Greek architecture.

The archaeological museum
Worth visiting alongside the temples to understand the wider story of the site.

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana

If you are exploring the area, make time to experience the region’s buffalo-milk cheese traditions.

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP is one of the defining products of Campania, and its importance to the region’s food culture is recognised throughout Campania’s gastronomic heritage. 

Cook it at home: Gnocchi alla Sorrentina

Although associated particularly with the Sorrento area, this dish captures the wonderful Campanian combination of tomato, pasta and mozzarella.

Serves 2–3

Ingredients

• 500g potato gnocchi
• 400g Attianese tomato passata
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 150–200g mozzarella di bufala
• Fresh basil
• Salt
• Grated Parmesan, optional

Method

Prepare a simple tomato sauce by gently cooking the passata with olive oil and garlic for around 15 minutes.

Cook the gnocchi until they rise to the surface.

Drain and combine with the tomato sauce.

Transfer to an ovenproof dish and scatter generously with torn mozzarella.

Bake at around 200°C until bubbling and lightly browned.

Finish with fresh basil.

The result is everything good Campanian cooking should be: comforting, generous and built around a small number of excellent ingredients.

5. Discover the Royal Grandeur of Caserta

Campania isn’t all ancient ruins and coastal villages.

Just outside Naples lies one of the region’s most extraordinary buildings: the Royal Palace of Caserta.

Built for the Bourbon kings of Naples, the palace is enormous in scale, with grand interiors and extensive gardens.

The surrounding area is also part of the wider agricultural landscape of Campania another reminder that the region’s food culture extends far beyond the city of Naples.

Spend the morning exploring the palace before wandering through the gardens.

Then find somewhere local for lunch.

Don’t miss

The Royal Apartments
The scale and decoration are remarkable.

The Grand Staircase
One of the palace’s most spectacular architectural features.

The gardens
Give yourself plenty of time. The grounds stretch considerably farther than you might expect.

The English Garden
A particularly beautiful part of the estate.

Cook it at home: Pasta e Fagioli

For our final recipe, we’re going back to cucina povera.

Pasta e fagioli is exactly the kind of dish that demonstrates why traditional Campanian cooking remains so relevant.

Affordable ingredients become something deeply comforting and satisfying.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 250g Russo Pasta Mista
• 200g cooked cannellini or borlotti beans
• 200g Attianese tomato passata or peeled tomatoes
• 1 small onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Chilli, optional
• Fresh parsley or basil
• Salt and black pepper

Method

Gently cook the onion and garlic in olive oil.

Add the tomatoes and cook for around 10–15 minutes.

Add the beans and enough water or vegetable stock to create a thick soup.

Bring to a gentle simmer.

Add the pasta directly to the beans and cook until tender, stirring regularly.

Add more liquid if necessary, pasta e fagioli should be thick and creamy rather than watery.

Finish with olive oil, black pepper and fresh herbs.

Leave it to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Campania Is Best Experienced Through Its Food

Five destinations can only scratch the surface.

Campania stretches from the volcanic landscape around Naples and Vesuvius to the mountains of the interior, from the spectacular Amalfi Coast to the archaeological wonders of Paestum and the royal splendour of Caserta.

But wherever you go, food follows.

A bowl of pasta can tell you about Naples.

A bottle of colatura can take you to Cetara.

A tomato can tell the story of the volcanic slopes of Vesuvius.

Mozzarella can lead you into the countryside around Paestum.

And a humble bowl of pasta and beans can tell you something about the ingenuity of generations of Campanian home cooks.

That is what makes Campania so special.

It isn’t simply somewhere to visit.

It is somewhere to taste.

Bring a Taste of Campania Home

You don’t need to wait until your next trip to experience the flavours of Campania.

At Tutto Napule, we are bringing together the ingredients, food, homeware and traditions that make the region so special from Campanian pasta and tomatoes to pantry staples inspired by the kitchens of Naples and the wider region.

Whether you’re recreating a favourite dish from your holiday or discovering Campanian cuisine for the first time, our aim is simple:

to bring a little piece of Campania to your kitchen.

Explore Tutto Napule

Eat Campania. Cook Campania. Bring a little Napule home.