A city with a rich history yet brimming with vitality and temperament, Naples immediately draws you into its own rhythm. A journey to where the heart of Southern Italy beats is an experience you should have once in your life.
Captivating history, countless monuments, a historic center declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and superb food - they all come together in Naples. The third-largest city - and perhaps the most authentic - in Italy, birthplace of pizza and Vesuvius, doesnt have Romes sheen, Milans elegance, or Florences beauty. Yet it has a distinctive, authentic charm well worth discovering.
Naples: Everything worth experiencing
The historic center
A stroll through the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be unforgettable. Narrow lanes, picturesque squares, majestic churches, striking buildings, little shops selling local products, old-fashioned grocers, traditional pizzerias, and underground passageways create a distinctive setting that blends yesterday and today in a uniquely seamless way.
The castles
On Piazza Municipio stands Castel Nuovo, the imposing medieval fortress that served as a royal residence and a home to artists and intellectuals. The castle also houses a museum with paintings from the 15th-18th centuries. Castel dell’Ovo is Naples oldest castle, dating from the 12th century. It sits on the Megaride peninsula and is perfect to visit at sunset, offering unique views of Vesuvius as well as the Mergellina and Posillipo areas.
Take the funicular to the citys highest point, where youll find Castel Sant’Elmo. This castle dates to 1275 and stands next to the Monastery of San Martino. From here youll enjoy wonderful views over the city stretching all the way to Vesuvius.
The museums
Visit the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to see mosaics and frescoes from Pompeii and other towns destroyed by Vesuvius eruption, as well as the fascinating Cabinetto Segreto with a singular collection of erotic works from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Its also worth a stroll through the Museo di Capodimonte, housed in the palace of Charles III and home to works by Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, and Andy Warhols Vesuvius. Equally impressive is the Palazzo Reale, the citys royal palace, which hosts a rich collection of artworks and furnishings from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The MADRE Museum of Contemporary Art features a very interesting collection with works by major 20th-century artists (Jeff Koons, Anish Kapoor, etc.).
The churches
The striking Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint San Gennaro. In its chapel are kept the saints relics and two vials of his solidified blood. Equally beautiful is the church-monastery of Santa Chiara, with striking mosaics on every column, bench, and cloister. Other famous churches worth seeing include San Francesco di Paola, a neoclassical basilica with a 53-meter dome, Pio Monte della Misericordia with Caravaggios painting "The Seven Works of Mercy", and Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo, an unusual church built in a rustic style with black bricks.
Underground Naples
Its worth leaving the southern Italian sun for a while for an atmospheric tour of Naples fascinating underground world. Visit the catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, dating from the 2nd century and adorned with early Christian frescoes. Also, for those interested, theres the Napoli Sotterranea tour: 40 meters below the citys historic center youll discover, among other things, the remains of a Greco-Roman theater and a Roman market with intact shopfronts. Tours last about two hours and offer a unique experience.
Pizza
San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo mozzarella, a thin and crisp dough, baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. Authentic Neapolitan pizza is reason enough to visit Naples. Beyond the traditionalmargherita, in Naples youll also try the marinara (garlic, oregano, olive oil, and tomato sauce). For pizza you wont forget, note these addresses: Da Michele (the citys most famous pizzeria), Sorbillo, Di Matteo, Pizzeria Starita, L Antica Pizzeria da Michele, and the restaurant Pepe in Grani just outside Naples.
And the other flavors...
Naples is also the birthplace of Napoletana sauce and the Caprese salad. The local cuisine loves seafood too: polpo affogato (octopus in sauce), zuppa di pesce (fish soup), and risotto alla pescatora (with seafood) are among the standout dishes. Il Piccolo Ristoro, Mimi alla Ferrovia, and Trattoria Da Nennella are among the best spots for seafood delights.
Try Neapolitan street food at Friggitoria Vomero, enjoying on-the-go crisp bites of zeppolelle (little pieces of pizza dough), panzerotti (potato croquettes stuffed with salami and mozzarella), and arancini (rice balls). If you have a sweet tooth, dont miss sfogliatelle (crisp pastries filled with sweet ricotta), pastiera (cake with ricotta, chocolate, and wheat), and rum baba.
Pompeii
You cant leave Naples without visiting the Roman city of Pompeii (23 km from Naples)that was destroyed in AD 79 by the eruption of Vesuvius. Set aside at least half a day to wander its streets, among grand villas with exquisite decorative frescoes, shops, baths, and public buildings that remain largely preserved. Highlights include the Amphitheater, the Great Theater, the Odeon, and the Market area. Youll also seethe Houses of the Vettii and of the Faun, as well as the Villa of the Mysteries with its distinctive frescoes.
The Amalfi Coast and the nearby islands
Between Naples and Salerno, the famous Italian Riviera awaits with villages perched amphitheatrically on cliffs, emerald waters, romantic spots, and a cosmopolitan aura. Sorrento, Ravello, Amalfi and Positano are the key stops on one of the Mediterraneans most beautiful routes.
Also, from Naples ferries and catamarans depart for Capri and Ischia, two islands that are destinations in their own right. Cosmopolitan Capri has established itself as the island of la dolce vita, while Ischia, the largest island in the Gulf of Naples, is known for its lush vegetation, thermal baths, and picturesque fishing villages.
