Day 3 of our Italian adventure took us to the wonderful city of Naples which is known for its rich history, pizza (which originated in the city) and passionate football fans. Maradona football shirts are still sold in shops which shows how much he's revered in these parts. In my eyes Naples exemplifies the Italian way of life. It's loud and boisterous, with locals whizzing around on mopeds down its narrow streets without a care in the world.

CINQUE TERRE // FLORENCE & SIENA // NAPLES // AMALFI COAST

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A Spot of Culture

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Naples has one of the biggest historical city centres in the world which has earned it the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination. Naples contains 448 historical and monumental churches (Gesù Nuovo above) which is the highest number in the world for a single city. These Medieval, Baroque and Renaissance-era churches, castles and palaces cement Naples as a centre of art and architecture in Italy. This claim was helped further following the discovery of the remarkably intact Roman ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii in the 18th century.

Even though the city centre has a rich history it can be somewhat of an acquired taste. There is rampant graffiti, crime, and a peculiar layer of dirt that covers everything in sight. Don't expect to see pristine conditions of other major European cities. If you want to visit the elegant part of the city, you can walk around the wonderful Lungomare (the Riviera di Chiaia or Via Francesco Caracciolo), and visit Via dei Mille and Vomero Hill (main shopping areas). I would also recommend you visit Castel Sant'Elmo, a medieval fortress located on a hilltop which overlooks the city and its surrounding area.

From this fortress I was able to give my new drone a proper test flight and as you can see the shots this thing captures are incredible. It's a DJI Mavic Pro which means it has a built in 4k camera that shoots photos and videos with a max range of around 4 miles. This means I can avoid tourist traps and take pictures without feeling stifled. As a futurist it's fascinating to see the the drop in cost and progress of technology first hand. A decade ago these were tools of movie directors, now anybody with some spare change can get one and experiment to their hearts content.

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Napoli is famous for its cuisine as it draws culinary influences from the numerous cultures which have inhabited it over the course of its history, including the Greeks, Spanish and French. Naples is traditionally credited as the home of pizza so it would be a shame not to stuff your face should you ever visit. Just make sure to order a Margherita and get it cooked in a wood-burning oven to get the authentic experience.

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Naples is famous for more than pizza: there’s coffee, too. Neapolitan coffee is short and very, very strong. The edge is taken off its bitter strength with sugar; if you don’t want your coffee to come already sugared, ask for it amaro. On a closing note, Naples is the crime capital of Italy and although we didn't experience any misfortunes it pays to stay alert and avoid unknown areas. Other than that, go, explore and have fun!

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A recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Amalfi Coast lies in the southwestern region of Campania, Italy and is recognised worldwide for its cliff-side Mediterranean fishing villages, lemon tree gardens and idyllic seascapes. We spent a whole day around the Amalfi visiting places such as Atrani and Positano, sunbathing on scorching beaches and drinking lemon beer. Seriously don't know how I went 26 years without trying one but now there's no going back.

CINQUE TERRE // FLORENCE & SIENA // NAPLES // AMALFI COAST

The one place I wanted to photograph most of all on this trip was Atrani. Although Atrani is one of the smallest communes in southern Italy, it has a long history going back to the ancient Roman aristocracy. It became the residence of the most wealthy and powerful families of the Republic of Amalfi until the Pisani invasion in 1337. With little traffic or noise, Atrani is the perfect place to visit for a relaxing getaway. There are few bars and restaurants in the city itself so lounging on the beach with a book in hand is going to be your main activity. But don't fret, there's just one main road along the Amalfi coast so you're never far from adventure.

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Your Journey

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You know that old saying 'It's not the journey, it's the destination'? Well in some ways the drive around the Amalfi Coast was better than the villages we got to visit. Winding mountain roads, fresh sea air, good company and good music on the radio. What more could you ask for?  I'm actually incredibly jealous of the people that get to live here because their way of life seems so relaxed and mellow that it's a stark contrast to the hectic nature of big cities. And yet everything seems to be ticking over, nothing is falling apart and everybody is enjoying their life. If stress gets the better of me I know where I'm moving at the drop of a hat.

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Positano

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Another gorgeous village along the Amalfi Coast is Positano. It acted as a port of the Amalfi Republic in medieval times, and prospered during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. By the mid-nineteenth century the towns population began to decline as the young generation moved to America. Since the 1950s it has attracted a large number of tourists and shows no sign of slowing down. If you find yourself in Positano you can charter a private boat and create your own adventure or soak up the beauty on either of Positano's two beaches: Fornillo (smaller and more secluded) or Spiaggia Grande (the main beach of Positano).

"It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone" - John Steinbeck on positano

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Thanks for taking the time to read my latest article. If you wish to support my work please give it a share using the links below or just follow my social channels

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Italy is a country that's always full of surprises so when Mike Knowles suggested a 5 day road trip it was an offer I couldn't refuse. We spent our days visiting seaside villages around Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast as well as historic cities such as Siena, Naples and Florence. The long drives were helped by the warm mediterranean climate, great coffee, even better food and unforgettable views. If you wish to jump directly to any of the locations please use the links below.

CINQUE TERRE // FLORENCE & SIENA // NAPLES // AMALFI COAST

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Cinque Terre

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The week started in La Spezia, a town located midway between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea. With its long military history, La Spezia is one of the more developed cities along the Italian coast and serves as a hub to the five hamlets of Cinque Terre (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore). You can visit each town by train but I would recommend buying a pass for the ferry which allows you to explore at your own pace. The surrounding area is affectionately known as 'The Gulf of Poets' as for centuries its idyllic seascapes and beaches have attracted writers and artists from all over the world.

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Manarola

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Perched on a rock outcrop are the medieval hamlets of Manarola (a name that derives from dead souls temple 'Manium Arula'). Its harbour is formed by a terraced promenade and boats hanging at the foot of the city walls. The rocky cove is popular with swimmers and divers alike who flock here in the scorching summer months. On the hills above you'll find terraces with vines growing on them. These are the vines of the 'Cinque Terre', a dry white wine that's sold in each village and most restaurants along the coast. The wine is purchased directly from the winemaker so make sure to grab a glass with your meal to enjoy the real taste of Italy.

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Vernazza

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A small ferry ride later we arrived in Vernazza, a town straight out of a postcard. Vernazza has a long history as a fishing village and is the quaintest (and steepest) of the five villages on the Cinque Terre coast. Famous for its web of narrow lanes and steep stairways, Vernazza is full of little cafes as well as cosy trattorias that are open until late in the evening. Laws state that cars cannot enter the village which ensures a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for the locals and tourists alike.

The faded pastel buildings provide the perfect backdrop for a spot of people watching. In Vernazza there's a whole generation that didn't grow up with television and so spend time posted at their windows or going for long strolls around the village. As the sun sets everything is illuminated by windows and street lights and the entire village takes on a unique aesthetic. If the weather is nice I would recommend grabbing a glass of wine, a gelato (ice-cream) or some local seafood to complete the Vernazza experience.

With its pastel coloured houses and stunning sea views at every turn it's easy to see why UNESCO turned the area of Cinque Terre into a National Park. If you're looking for a relaxing getaway I could not think of anywhere better.

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Lerici

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The Italian Riviera is littered with beautiful towns, only problem you're going to have is deciding which ones to miss! On our drive up to Siena we had breakfast in Lerici, and although it was a Tuesday morning the locals were out in full force sunbathing on rocks and generally making the most of this hidden gem of a town. The most interesting part of Lerici is the historical quarter around the Via del Ghetto between Piazza Garibaldi and the castle, and the stroll along the picturesque waterfront promenade - including of course a pause in one of the many cafes and restaurants.

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Continuing on from PART 1 of my Eastern European journey I found myself in Western Ukraine. After a sweaty but comfortable 24 hour train ride a whole new part of the country was open for exploration. I visited Lviv, Kalush and my birthplace Ivano-Frankivsk to see just how much I remember from those innocent childhood years. I tried to document the personal journey using the arsenal of gear I brought with me but of course a photo or a video will never paint the complete picture.

PART 1 // PART 2 // PART 3

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Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine

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Built in the mid 17th century as a private fortress of the Polish Potocki family, Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly known as Stanislav) was part of several historic empires. It also served a strategic purpose during World War I and World War II due to its prominent position at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. It was one of the key cities of the Austro Hungarian Empire, the essence of which can be felt through the city to this day.

I was overcome by a strong sense of nostalgia and melancholy as I strolled through the streets and parks of Ivano-Frankivsk. When you're a kid a city seems so grand and imposing and full of possibilities. Now, 17 years later I come back as a new person with new experiences and fears and ideas. It's not the city that changed, it was me. Now I was projecting myself onto a city I once knew, I waved to it and the city waved back.

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"At the end of all our exploring we will arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time" - T.S. Elliot

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Seeing a big city from above is always a humbling experience. Like one big organism, a city continues to function year after year and most of its inhabitants are merely observers to the complex machinery of nature. I would recommend everyone see their city from above. Climb onto a roof if you have to but if you've never seen your city from a unique viewpoint you owe it to yourself to do so.

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Kalush, Ukraine

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Kalush is a city set in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, in the Ivano-Frankivsk province of western Ukraine. Most of my childhood was spent here, running around with friends from sunrise to sunset, climbing trees, riding bikes and getting up to all sorts of hijinks without a care in the world. The general aesthetic of the city remains the same but there is a slight sense of hopelessness in the air. People are getting by in any way they can while the economic and political situation is not making things easy for them.

But life happens. My old friends are now grown up and married with children. My old playgrounds are overgrown as children are glued to TV screens and have no time to go outside and play. The city is filled with more shops while the living wage has hardly increased which makes the whole situation unsustainable in the long run. As much as I enjoyed going back home it was a sombering experience and put a lot of my own troubles in perspective. It confirmed my belief that problems are inescapable, it's how you deal with them that matters. You can either give up and try and shift the blame or grab the situation with both hands and fight, fight like your life depends on it. You will regret it if you don't.

"I realize five years went by and I'm older,
Memories smoulder winters colder,
But that same piano loops over and over and over" - Mike Skinner

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I never edit these articles, if anything it's a stream of consciousness that is bursting to get out. A picture is worth a thousand words so please enjoy the images even if you can't relate to the text and remember to be nice and sympathise with everyone. We're all in this together ✌️

PART 1 // PART 2 // PART 3

As always stay classy and if you have a story you wish to share please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #DVSN

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