Mediterranean
Naples , Italy Cagliari , Italy images : getty ; alamy
Naples is an edgy , love-it-or-loathe-it metropolis that has long acted as an overlooked gateway city . It ’ s chaotic and unkempt in parts , yet so regal and alluring in others . From its palaces to museums , Naples has a tendency to quickly emerge as a highlight of any southern Italian itinerary , with its archaeological offerings , grand squares and world-renowned cuisine . Naples is also an ideal place to organize an excursion to Pompeii or Mount Vesuvius .
The city ’ s bay is picturesque — take a cable car from Castellammare di Stabia railway station for views of the bay , or the walking trails available from the top . Or , head to Naples ’ main square , Piazza del Plebiscito , to see the neoclassical Royal Palace in all its grandeur . But most importantly , stop at L ’ Antica Pizzeria da Michele . Known as the world ’ s best pizza joint , the rich tomato sauce , fresh buffalo mozzarella and earthy zest of fresh basil are so good you don ’ t need any more toppings on your pizzas .
Cultures coalesce in Cagliari — a city closer to Tunisia than to Rome . Flanked both by imposing hill forts and the Mediterranean coast , the city is made up of winding alleys , sandy bays and gourmet restaurants . Sardinia has been populated since Neolithic times , and Cagliari ’ s historical sites are just as old . Visit the Tuvixeddu Necropolis , a Punic burial ground believed to be the largest in the Mediterranean , to see ancient tombs dug into the limestone rock as deep as 11m .
Just a 15-minute bus ride to the east is Poetto , Cagliari ’ s main beach , where the party really starts . Booming bars , nightclubs and restaurants pepper its 8km coastline , full of locals dancing away on the warm summer evenings . If you prefer to stay in the centre of the city , tuck into enormous portions of fresh seafood in San Benedetto food market , or take in a show at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari opera house .
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