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The author, supported by the classicists and art historians on the Blue Guides editorial board, has updated this new edition with a wealth of detail. Now with useful Blue Guide Recommended advice on hotels and restaurants. The whole region is covered from the Bay of Naples, with some of the most famous remains of antiquity in the world, to fashionable Puglia in the heel of Italy.
4 responses so far ↓
Reader // Jun 12th 2008 at 10:38am
I used “Blue Guide Southern Italy” on a trip to the Amalfi coast from which I have just returned. I have one correction and one suggestion.
The correction has to do with directions to get to the museum at Capodimonte in Naples. On p. 97 you give directions to the museum as follows: “Regular bus services run from the city centre to the museum: no. 24 from Piazza Vittoria via Piazza Dante stops at the Porta Grande.” It seems that there is no longer a bus no. 24. Rather you must take bus R4 from the Museo Archeologico nazionale; there are bus stops along the via Santa Teresa degli Scalzi.
My suggestion is to visit and then, if you agree, to list as a particularly fine and welcoming restaurant Rau: Emotional Food, Vico Satriano, 8c 80121 Napoli +39 081 245 50 57
Peter McCormack // Jul 31st 2008 at 10:50am
I have just returned from a holiday to southern Italy, in the Salerno region, and I used the 8th Edition (1996) Blue Guide to Southern Italy. Please excuse me if my comments have been superseded by later editions.
To me it is particularly commendable that the Blue Guides make reference to Commonwealth War Cemeteries, which I try to make a point of visiting where possible. Unfortunately, I found the information in the Guide at pages 218 and 181 about the cemeteries at Caserta and Salerno respectively to be somewhat misleading, although I did eventually find the cemeteries.
Caserta
The Guide states that the cemetery is “immediately east of the civil cemetery”. This is misleading. The cemetery is actually surrounded on three sides by the civil cemetery. Its entrance is about 100 metres east of the large entrance to the civil cemetery, which is at the southwest corner of the civil cemetery. In other words, the entrance to the military cemetery is about halfway along the sourthern boundary of the civil cemetery. The war cemetery is surrounded by an opaque wall, and is easily missed. To state that it is east of the civil cemetery suggests that it is part of a different “block”, and this can lead to confusion and “going round in circles”! Also, an unfortunate but doubtless necessary innovation is that the Commonwealth Cemetery is now kept locked at all times. To gain admission, one needs to know the four digit code to unlock the gate, which can be obtained by phone from the Rome office of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The local civic staff were not “up to speed” on this, although they gave me the relevant Rome phone number. I understand from the Rome office that the war cemeteries at Rome and Taranto are also now locked, and the same 4 digit code applies. Incidentally, the Caserta War Cemetery is not sign-posted, and without a map of Caserta one would be toiling to find it. Essentially it is about 1to 2 miles northeast of the Royal Palace of Caserta.
Salerno
The Guide states that “Montecorvino, 10km further east” is the site of the “Salerno British Military Cemetery”. This is seriously misleading. It may well be situated in the territory of the commune of Montecorvino - there are two villages in the nearby hills which include Montecorvino in their titles - but the cemetery is nowhere near either Montecorvino. Rather, it lies on the north side of the State Road 18 between Pontecagnano (to the west of the cemetery) and Battipaglia (to the east). It is obvious to anyone driving past. Mention in the guide of Montecorvino sent me off on a wild goose chase in the hills! Also, correctly speaking, it is a Commonwealthrather than simply a British cemetery. - there are for example quite a number of Canadian graves.
I hope these comments are of some assistance, and apologise again if they are inapplicable to more up to date editions.
support // May 8th 2010 at 1:45pm
Hello, I have a copy of Muirhead’s Southern Italy (including Rome, Sicily and Sardinia) dated 1925, which is not on your list. Is this the first edition? Thanks, Ken. http://www.siansrarebooks.com
Anne S. Pettigrew // Aug 24th 2010 at 7:49am
Page 231: From Ischia town along the causeway to the Castello of Alfonso, the Magnanimous: All you say is that it is private, but this is a very worthwhile site. For 10 Euros, you can explore the island castle with four historic churches, two of which are in ruins. There are beautiful views of the town, the sea, and the waterfront from a number of vantage points and from two terrace cafes, where you can rest your feet, take refreshment, and enjoy the spectacular scenery and the peaceful atmosphere on the islet. There is also a hotel in the historic fortress. It was a highlight of my visit to Ischia.
Page 248: The footpath/staircase linking Ravello to Amalfi by way of Castiglione, which starts down the mountain at Via Santa Barbara to the right of the entrance to Villa Cimbrone, is steep and still. I saw only lizards and a couple of cats as I made my way down it. Near the bottom, the way is blocked by two barriers limiting passage for a short distance of the trail which has been damaged by erosion.
Page 351: The Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia is closed for remodeling and retrofitting until further notice. A few items (pinakes, two bronze heads, and Riace Bronzes) from the museum are on display in a public building on Via Cardenale Portanova about four blocks up from the intersection with Via Giovanni Amendola, on the left. Unfortunately, the Riace Bronzes are in the prone position, as if for restoration, and are therefore, hard to see and appreciate, although there is an interesting video about their recovery and restoration.
Page 364: The Miramare Hotel has been closed for three years.
Page 366: The Gala’ Restaurant not only has a great view of the shoreline and of Sicily, but it also excellent local and Sicilian cuisine and gracious service.
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