Angela Merkel’s latest visit to Campania brought a notably warm reception from residents, despite continuing debate in Germany about her political legacy. The former chancellor toured the region in October, stopping in Cava de’ Tirreni, Ravello and Salerno before visiting Naples’ National Archaeological Museum and Monte Echia. German tabloid Bild highlighted the contrast, describing the welcome she received in Naples with surprise.
Merkel was photographed with staff at Ba-Bar Monte Echia, whose social media post recalled her decision to welcome Syrian refugees in 2015 and her phrase “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”). The National Archaeological Museum also welcomed her in a bilingual post. Its tribute drew 45,000 likes and 1,200 comments, including messages calling for her return to government.
Her trip included a supermarket stop in Cava de’ Tirreni on 20 October, where she was seen buying Gragnano pasta and buffalo mozzarella. In Ravello, she visited Villa Rufolo with friends, spoke with director Maurizio Pietrantonio and met the town’s mayor, Paolo Vuilleumier. She also visited Salerno’s Giardino della Minerva with agronomist Luciano Mauro.
Campania has long been a destination for Merkel. For more than two decades, she holidayed in Sant’Angelo on Ischia with her husband, Joachim Sauer. She stopped visiting in 2015 because of persistent paparazzi attention, then returned in May 2025 after a ten-year absence, travelling by public ferry. Merkel has also visited Pompeii and Oplontis, reflecting her interest in archaeology and ancient history.
Sources: La Repubblica.