10 Ideas for Experiencing Campania to the Full

Pizza-making workshops are the perfect way to get in the Neapolitan spirit. You're spoilt for choice in the city, with so many places where you can get down to the business of making the world's most loved dish. Trust the know-how of expert chefs as they reveal the secrets of an art with ancient origins, from kneading the dough on the worktop to cooking your pizza in a wood-fired oven, that's become an icon of the capital of the Campania region.

Already know what toppings you're going for? OK, time for the oven! The grand finale is entirely for your taste buds. Grab your knife and fork and taste your authentic pizza with pride.

At the Parco Archeologico di Paestum e Velia (Paestum and Velia Archaeological Park) in Campania, get an adrenaline rush as you discover the park by hot-air balloon. These sky-high tours will give you an unusual and exciting perspective of the ruins of the ancient city, making you feel like Indiana Jones for a day.

The amphitheatre, Roman forum and aristocratic villas become even more beautiful when viewed from cloud height, and form the ideal subjects for breath-taking photos that will be the envy of your social media followers. And if it's your first time in a hot-air balloon, don't worry: it's a safe mode of transport and operated by professionals who will give you all the reassurance you need. Ready? Let's go! Release the moorings and get ready for the excitement and thrill of an unforgettable ride.

Parco Sommerso di Baia (Baia Underwater Park) boasts historical and cultural heritage goes under the waves. Here, there is a protected marine area that guards the remains of an ancient Roman city on the sea floor. The Baia Underwater Park is part of the larger Parco Regionale dei Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields Regional Park).

Dives are organised in various places that allow you to explore patrician villas, ancient port structures and spa complexes. Over time, the ideal habitat for lush plant life and diverse wildlife has been created among the amphorae and statues. No diving experience? Guides can accompany you as you discover a distant past, among the splendour of a lively seabed.

Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni (Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park) is one of the best places to hike in Campania. This protected area, part of UNESCO's Global Geoparks Network, is crossed by a range of hiking paths suitable for young and old alike that wind through some of Italy's most charming scenery. The variety of ecosystems is one of the park's strengths.

From the beautiful coastal areas to the parts farther inland, dotted with villages and archaeological areas, wild nature alternates with the historical evidence of a refined culture, in a series of tours to be discovered with your camera close at hand.

Ascending Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most famous volcanoes, on horseback is a truly thrilling experience. From your saddle, you'll get an up-close look at the active volcano on this unique excursion. At a walk or a trot, you'll get to take in the one-of-a-kind scenery in the Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio (Vesuvius National Park) accompanied by expert instructors and trained guides.

You'll go through the forests covering the slopes of the crater and climb upwards for a breath-taking view of the Gulf of Naples. Even if you've never ridden a horse before, you'll get all the instruction you need to ensure you have an unforgettable afternoon. A number of local entities organise this kind of excursion, such as Horses Land Vesuvio.

Reggia di Caserta (Royal Palace of Caserta) is a royal residence was built in the 18th century for the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies by the architect Luigi Vanvitelli. Besides the Royal Apartments, you can also visit the Court Theatre and the Palatine Library.

The palace is surrounded by the grand Royal Park, where man has sculpted nature into even, geometrical landscaping. Wide lawns and avenues alternate with stairways, ponds and fountains with statues and grottoes, such as the famous Fountain of Aeolus. There's also a small English garden in the park, where native and exotic plants are free to grow and evolve spontaneously.

The Parco del Cilento (Cilento National Park) is full of amazing places where you can have one-of-a-kind experiences, such as the Grotte di Pertosa-Auletta (Pertosa-Auletta Caves). This cave system stretches for 3 kilometres into the depths of the Alburni Mountains. A guide will accompany you as you discover the caverns sculpted by the movement of the water and limestone.

Together, these two elements have shaped a magical environment, with extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites that are now cleverly lit. The system of caves and tunnels is also home to the Fiume Negro (Black River), the only navigable underground waterway in Italy. Tours last around an hour and include a short stretch by boat, making the experience even more exciting.

The Teatro Romano di Benevento (Roman Amphitheatre of Benevento) is one of the architectural masterpieces that have made this Campanian city famous. Today, you can visit the ruins of the structure built in the second century AD on the wishes of the emperor Hadrian, in Benevento's Rione Triggio neighbourhood. It would have been able to hold 15,000 spectators, was richly decorated with statues and had tiers clad in marble.

Excavated in the 1920s and '30s, it was gradually restored and, over time, has become an amazing setting for concerts, shows and opera or theatrical reviews. You can visit it during the day on a guided tour, or choose the event that interests you most to discover the timeless magic of an ancient Roman theatre.