Bonetto Cristian - Lonely Planet Naples, Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast

Campanians have a way of making other Italians seem just a little uptight. Despite the demands of modern life, there is always time for an impromptu espresso at the local bar or a bite of juicy gossip on a sun-bleached piazza. One minute youre choosing produce at a street market, the next youre in the middle of a feverish discussion of the weather, the in-laws or Napolis on-field performance. No one is a stranger for long, and a casual chiacchiera (chat) could easily land you at the bountiful table of your new best friend.

By Cristian Bonetto, Writer

My family might hail from Italys north, but my heart is tied tightly to Naples and Campania. This is the nation at its most intense, a place of brawny espresso in scorching cups and hairpin coastal roads. The region thrives on drama, from opulent palazzi (mansions) replete with scandalous tales to ghostly ruins in the shadow of Vesuvius. That the Bay of Naples resembles a giant amphitheatre is hardly coincidental. Bursting with twists, turns and inimitable pathos, no other corner of the bel paese (beautiful country) makes me feel so incredibly alive.

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