Southern Italy rewards the senses: Roman roads and Baroque domes, lemon groves and bold espresso, volcanic soil and sea air. This 7-day itinerary marries Naples’ kinetic energy with Capri’s blue horizons and Matera’s haunting cave dwellings—three wildly different faces of the Mezzogiorno.

Founded by Greeks and adopted by Romans, Naples shaped Western taste (pizza Margherita was “born” here in 1889), while Capri was the island muse of emperors and movie stars. Matera—once known as “the shame of Italy”—is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a poetic place to sleep inside history.

Practical notes: trains and buses tie cities together efficiently; reserve popular restaurants and ferries in high season (May–September). Expect midday breaks (riposo), ZTL city-center driving restrictions, and strong espresso culture. The best times for this Southern Italy itinerary are spring and fall when crowds are lighter and the weather mild.

Naples

Naples is thunder and laughter: laundry flapping over alleyways, scooters humming past saints’ shrines, and the smell of dough blistering in wood-fired ovens. It’s also world-class culture: Caravaggios, the Veiled Christ, and one of Europe’s greatest archaeology museums.

• Don’t miss: Spaccanapoli, Naples Cathedral (San Gennaro), Sansevero Chapel, National Archaeological Museum, Castel dell’Ovo, Lungomare, and a pizza crawl (Sorbillo, 50 Kalò, Starita).
• Where to stay: Centro Storico for old-world atmosphere; Chiaia/Santa Lucia for seaside strolls; Vomero for quieter hillside views.
• Hotels & vacation rentals: Browse VRBO Naples and Hotels.com Naples.
• Getting in: Fly to Naples (NAP)—compare fares on Omio (Europe flights), Trip.com, or Kiwi.com. From Rome, the Frecciarossa train to Napoli Centrale takes ~1h10; search schedules on Omio Trains.

Day 1: Arrival in Naples, Seaside Sunset, and First Pizza

Afternoon: Land at NAP or arrive by train. Drop bags, then stroll the waterfront from Castel dell’Ovo to the Lungomare. Coffee at historic Gran Caffè Gambrinus (try a hazelnut caffè nocciolato) or Il Vero Bar del Professore by Piazza del Plebiscito.

Evening: Pizza initiation: book 50 Kalò (airy, high-hydration crusts) or Gino Sorbillo Lievito Madre al Mare (seaside location). If queues are long, Da Michele (old-school classic) or Starita a Materdei (legend since 1901) deliver the archetype. Gelato at Gay-Odin (chocolate pioneer) or Casa Infante. Nightcap at L’Antiquario (award-winning cocktails) in Chiaia.

Day 2: Centro Storico, Caravaggios, and Spanish Quarter Vibes

Morning: Breakfast like a local: sfogliatella frolla at Attanasio near the station or flaky riccia at Sfogliatella Mary (Galleria Umberto). Espresso at Caffè Mexico (bright orange cups). Wander Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali; visit Sansevero Chapel to meet the Veiled Christ (book ahead).

Afternoon: Lunch at Di Matteo for pizza a portafoglio and fried cuoppo, or graze through Mercato Pignasecca (fried anchovies, olives, cheeses). Dive into the National Archaeological Museum—home to Pompeii’s mosaics, the Farnese collection, and more.

Evening: Spanish Quarter murals and laundry-lit lanes. Dinner at Trattoria da Nennella (boisterous, soulful pastas) or Osteria Il Gobbetto (seafood and scialatielli). Try a babà rum cake at Scaturchio; sip limoncello or a local Falanghina.

Day 3: Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

Morning: Take the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompeii Scavi–Villa dei Misteri (~35–40 minutes, ~€3–4; check times on Omio Trains). Explore with an archaeologist for context and lesser-known corners.

Recommended tour: Pompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist (skip-the-line, expertly led).

Afternoon: Lunch at Caupona (Roman-themed tavern with ancient recipes) or Na’ Pasta inside Pompeii town. Bus or shuttle up to Vesuvius (~30–40 minutes; timed entry to the crater; bring layers and good shoes). Walk the rim for Tyrrhenian views and a sense of the volcano that changed history.

Evening: Back in Naples, dinner at Starita a Materdei (try the montanara fried-then-baked pie) or Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi (innovative toppings, reservations recommended). Sweet stop: Ministeriale chocolate at Scaturchio.

Day 4: Capri Day Trip (Gardens, Chairlift, and Sea Views)

Morning: Hydrofoil from Molo Beverello to Capri (~45 minutes; ~€22–28 each way—compare departures on Omio Ferries). Funicular to Capri Town; stroll the Piazzetta and Via Camerelle. If seas are calm, consider a small-boat island circuit; Blue Grotto waits can be long—go early if it’s a priority.

Afternoon: Walk to the Gardens of Augustus for the canonical Faraglioni view; then bus to Anacapri for the chairlift to Monte Solaro (panoramas to the Amalfi Coast). Lunch at Lo Sfizio (Caprese specialties from lemon grove-chicken to ravioli capresi) or Da Gelsomina (Anacapri countryside, house rabbit and views).

Evening: Aperitivo at Bar Tiberio in the Piazzetta or a sunset spritz in Marina Grande. Return hydrofoil to Naples. Seafood dinner in Borgo Marinari—Da Emilia (fisherman’s classics like spaghetti alle vongole) or Zi Teresa (old-school waterfront).

Matera

Matera is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, its honeycomb of cave homes (sassi) carved into ravines. By night, the limestone glows gold; by day, rock-hewn churches reveal Byzantine frescoes and tales of resilience.

• Top sights: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, Casa Grotta, Santa Maria de Idris & San Pietro Caveoso, Palombaro Lungo (vast underground cistern), MUSMA contemporary sculpture, Matera Cathedral.
• Eat & drink: Pane di Matera DOP, orecchiette with cruschi peppers, lucanica sausage, Aglianico del Vulture wine. Favorites include Trattoria del Caveoso, Ristorante Francesca, Oi Mari (cave pizzeria), Baccanti, and Area 8 for creative cocktails.
• Hotels & vacation rentals: Sleep in a cave suite in the Sassi or opt for upper-town terraces. Search VRBO Matera and Hotels.com Matera.
• Getting there from Naples: Morning bus is simplest (~3.5–4.5 hours; ~€15–25). Compare routes on Omio Buses. Trains involve a change in Salerno/Bari.

Day 5: Naples → Matera, Cave Check-In, and Palombaro Lungo

Morning: Depart Naples by bus to Matera Centrale (~4 hours). Book on Omio Buses. On arrival, grab a light lunch: focaccia barese and burrata at Quattroquarti Crostaemollica or a panino with capocollo.

Afternoon: Check into your sassi lodging. Start at Palombaro Lungo beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto—an immense underground cistern that powered the city. Then wander belvederes overlooking the Gravina canyon.

Evening: Aperitivo at Area 8 (DJ sets, craft cocktails) or Vicolo Cieco Salsamenteria (charcuterie and wine). Dinner at Trattoria del Caveoso (orecchiette with cruschi peppers, slow-cooked lamb) or Oi Mari for cave-baked pizza. Gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli (try ricotta–fig).

Day 6: Rock Churches, Ravine Hike, and Cathedral Sunset

Morning: Coffee and a cornetto at Caffè Schiuma. Visit Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario to see how families lived in one room with animals. Continue to Santa Maria de Idris, the photogenic rock church perched over the ravine, and San Pietro Caveoso.

Afternoon: Lunch at Ristorante Francesca (elevated Materan cuisine; cavatelli with lamb ragù is a highlight). Cross the ravine via trail and footbridge to Belvedere Murgia Timone in the Parco della Murgia Materana—bring water and sturdy shoes; views back to the sassi are unforgettable.

Evening: Golden hour at Matera Cathedral; the façade lights up like parchment. Dinner at Baccanti Ristorante (cellar dining, Basilicata wines) or L’Abbondanza Lucana (regional tasting menu). Nightcap: amaro Lucano.

Day 7: Market Tastes and Departure

Morning: Breakfast with Pane di Matera DOP at Panificio De Palo dal 1950; pick up cruschi peppers and ceramics as souvenirs. If time allows, stop at MUSMA for contemporary sculpture in cave galleries.

Afternoon: Depart Matera. For flights home, Bari is the closest airport: bus to Bari Centrale (~1 hour) and onward to BRI (~1h15 total). Check Omio Buses and Omio Trains. Compare airfares on Omio (Europe flights), Trip.com, or Kiwi.com. Returning to Naples? Plan ~4 hours by bus.

Where to stay (quick picks):

• Naples: Chiaia seafront apartments, Centro Storico B&Bs in 17th‑century palazzi, or Vomero terraces for quieter nights. Browse VRBO Naples or Hotels.com Naples.
• Matera: Cave suites inside the Sassi for atmosphere; modern stays near Piazza Vittorio Veneto for easier luggage access. See VRBO Matera and Hotels.com Matera.

In a week you’ll taste the pulse of Naples, feel the sea spray off Capri, and sleep inside Matera’s living museum. This Southern Italy itinerary blends iconic sights with local flavors and smart logistics—leaving you with time to linger over one more espresso and one last view.