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Saunas, Jacuzzis, pools and treatments.

The islands and the Sorrentine Peninsula are liberally criss-crossed with hiking trails galore, of every degree of difficulty from a country stroll to a full day’s all-out trek to unfrequented parts. Many are ancient, even prehistoric goat trails that pass by spots of timeless beauty. If you have time to work in a day of hiking while here it’s well worth it for the intimate contact you will have with this beautiful landscape (see Walks).

Enjoy a swimming pool filled with natural mineral water.

To gain access to any beach here – at least the good parts – you will need to pay, but for around €15 to €20 per day you receive the use of a sunbed and an umbrella. There are plenty of beaches to choose from, including sandy stretches in Forio and Ischia Porto. More out-of-the-way options include San Montano and Sorgeto.

The walks and hikes on this island are plentiful. A memorable trek is up Monte Epomeo from Forio, through Fontana, taking about 40 minutes.

The parks in Naples are best for jogging, primarily Villa La Floridiana (see Villa La Floridiana, Naples), which has plenty of foliage to block out direct sun. Further afield, Parco Virgiliano has plenty of space for a run. For in-line skating, Naples’ seafront has flat stretches.

Circumnavigating Capri in one of these tiny pleasure canoes (1- or 2-person) is an unforgettable experience, taking about five hours if you stop to check out the occasional grotto or go for a swim. A treat is sailing through the arched hole in the largest faraglioni rock, but make sure no power boats are doing it at the same time, or you might be swamped.

Beginning at the public gardens next to the Palazzo Reale, take the seaside road around the Santa Lucia quarter and past some of Naples’ loveliest areas, including the island of Castel dell’Ovo and the green splendour of the Villa Comunale.

A very precipitous path goes straight down to this tiny beach. A few fishermen’s homes cluster here, with their boats neatly moored along one side, and there’s a bar-restaurant.

This small cove, just beyond Positano, has a bit of beach you can generally call your own, as few tourists stop here. However you will share the cove with local fishing boats, a couple of bar-restaurants, a diving centre and the coast’s premier disco, Africana (see Praiano).