Hotels in Castellammare di Stabia

Castellammare di Stabia is a working Neapolitan port town where the Sorrento peninsula begins, best known for its Bourbon-era shipyard, its mineral springs and the ruins of ancient Stabiae, where Pliny the Elder died during the eruption of 79 AD. The Roman villas above town, San Marco and Arianna, have frescoes that rival Pompeii's yet draw only a fraction of the crowds. The town's other draw is Monte Faito, reached by cable car from the centre, with cool beech woods and wide views over the gulf.

Be honest: this is not Sorrento. The seafront is pleasant, but the town is busy, traffic-heavy and a little gritty, and most visitors prefer to swim elsewhere. Its real value is position and price. The Circumvesuviana railway puts Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples and Sorrento within easy reach, and Naples airport is close, all while costing less than the peninsula resorts. Stay near the seafront promenade and the Circumvesuviana station for evening strolls and easy day trips without needing a car.