Flights to Naples with Air France from ZAR 11,328*

Naples - journey to a place where the beauty of the natural world and mankind's artistic genius come together to produce a city like no other!

Naples is one of Europe's great cities. Founded well over 2,000 years ago, this city of some 1 million people has had an influence on European art, literature and psyche that far outweighs its size or economic clout. A must-see destination on the European 'Grand tour' itinerary of the rich and famous for two hundred years, Naples boasts a huge historic centre, an enormous selection of beautiful churches, a lovely location on the Bay of Naples and easy access to some of the most iconic Roman ruins anywhere on the continent.

Reached by a 15 hour flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town Naples is famed for its climate. Winters are mild and the Summers can get quite hot, with a distinct rainy season during the Autumn and Winter. Naples is not as busy a holiday destination as many other parts of Italy, so good-value airplane tickets are available at all times of the year.

You'll need to make sure you have the correct travel documents with you for a stay in a Schengen Area member state such as Italy. The local language is the Naples dialect of Italian. Some people will have a grasp of English, however. The local currency is the Euro and Naples is one hour behind South African time.

Naples' city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to its wealth of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. There are an enormous number of churches scattered throughout the city - some 448 are deemed to be of historical interest. The most noteworthy religious buildings are:

• The Duomo
• The Sansevero Chapel
• San Domenico Maggiore
• Gesù Nuovo
• Santa Chiara
• San Lorenzo Maggiore
• The Royal Chapel in the Palazzo Reale
• San Gregorio Armeno

Naples has been occupied by foreign invaders at various times in its history, and many have left their mark in buildings and areas like the Castel Nuovo (Angevin), the Spanish Quarter, the Royal Palace (Spanish), the Bourbon Tunnel (a popular tour of the tunnels is available) and the Castel dell'Ovo (Norman).

Travel back into time to one of Naples' - and Italy's - best-known Roman-era attractions

Any stay in Naples, no matter how short, should take in a trip to the outstanding Roman sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. These 'ghost towns' have fascinated people ever since their rediscovery in the 16th and 18th centuries at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. Many artefacts from these towns are now on display in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, which is considered to be the most important archaeological museum in the whole country. The journey to the city is worth it for this magnificent museum alone!

Another of Naples' most interesting sights has something in common with Pompeii and Herculaneum: its underground location. The catacombs of San Gennaro date from the 2nd century AD and feature mosaics and early Christian frescoes.

The city and region are also famous the world-over for good food. The home of the original pizza, Naples specialities also include peppered mussels, marinated anchovies, fried cod and a variety of delicious sweets and pastries. Popular local wines include Lacryma Christi, which is produced on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and is available as a white, red and rosé wine.

Naples has also been a major player in the development of modern theatre and music. The Teatro di San Carlo is the oldest working theatre in Europe, whilst the city saw the invention of both the six-string guitar and the mandolin.

Should you want to head out of the city, perhaps to see the enormous Palace of Caserta, why not take a look at the rental car options on the Air France website.