My husband was born in a village by the sea near the city of Naples. It's not located on the famous Amalfi Coast, which is on the south side of Naples in front of Capri Island, but it's a peninsula on the north side of the city in front of Procida and Ischia Islands.

Even though it's not as famous as the Amalfi Coast and the Islands, it's a place of significant naturalistic and historical interest.

The village is called Bacoli, it is surrounded by the sea on three sides and borders on the municipalities of Pozzuoli and Monte di Procida.

It's a volcanic area formed as a result of repeated eruptions, plenty of volcanic hills and lakes and covered by a lush vegetation. Thanks to the fertile soil, fruits and vegetables are widely cultivated and grow abundantly and rich in flavour.

One of these hills, called "New Mountain", is said to have been born overnight with the debris of a burst.

The territory is constantly threatended by the volcanic activity. The most dangerous threat it's not linked to the famous Vesuvius Volcano but to the enormous underground volcanic caldera; in case of eruption it would destroy everything for miles, all the way to the city of Naples. Consider that we are talking about a very densely populated area.

There's another phenomenon called "bradisismo", which could cause the ground to collapse, even dozens of centimeters per day, as happened in the 80's.

Volcanic activity isn't the only threat the people of Bacoli face; unfortunately they have to deal with another big problem: the organized criminal group "Camorra", which interfere with the economic and social fabric of all the Campania Region (and beyond). So many people, particularly among the youngest ones, move to other regions with a lower crime rate and a better quality of life.

I think that, due to the difficulties they've been facing for centuries, people who live in Naples area have developed an ability to live in the present, without eccessively worrying over the future; I also think that decent people (not involved in criminal activities) are prone to develop empathy and artistic sensitiveness; maybe this is the reason for the thriving popular culture expressed in different ways, from the Theater Company founded by De Filippo, to the Cinema Icons, to the different genres of music in Naples' dialect (from melodic, to blues, to new rap trends).

Without a doubt we can define Naples as a city full of contrasts!...But, as I realized I was extending the focus to all the Naples area, I'd like to return on the smaller reality of Bacoli.

Due to its beautiful landscapes, Bacoli has numerous wedding locations and restaurants overlooking the sea or the lakes. In this area, as in almost all the south of Italy, traditions are still alive and cherished. People here are more likely to get married than in the north of Italy, where people are less bound to traditions and prefer live together without formalities. So there are a lot of weddings and ceremonies celebrated in Bacoli.

The restaurants are top quality both for the excellent ingredients (especially local fresh seafood and vegetables) and for the cooking tecniques (from raw-served food to elaborate recipes).

The prices are surprisingly affordable: with an average of 40 euros per person you can eat a satisfying meal.

The use of fresh ingredients is part of their culture and you are unlikely to be scammed in these restaurants.

You are more likely to hear about some restaurant owners overpricing their meals at Capri or on the Amalfi Coast, but most of the times the higher price is justified by the beauty of the location or by the deliciousness of some culinary rarities.

Now it's time to add another big reason why I would suggest visiting Bacoli: its history!

To be continued.....(part 2 - history)