Naples, Italy

Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third largest city in Italy and the biggest in Southern Italy. Its name comes from the Greek Neapolis meaning new city. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit.

Where is Naples

Naples is in the region of Campania in Southern Italy, about 2-hours south of Rome. It sits on the coast on the northern edge of the Bay of Naples, one of the most beautiful bays in Italy. Its harbor is the most important port in Southern Italy.

Getting to Naples

Naples is the main transportation hub for southern Italy with several major train lines. The train and bus stations are in the huge Piazza Garibaldi, on the eastern side of Naples. Naples has an airport, Aeroporto Capodichino, with flights to other parts of Italy and to Europe. A bus connects the airport with Piazza Garibaldi. Ferries and hydrofoils run from Naple's Molo Beverello to the islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida, and Sardinia.

Local transport in Naples

Naples has good public transportation and lots of traffic problems so it's best to avoid having a car in Naples. Naples has a large but crowded bus network, trams, a subway, funiculars, and a suburban train line, the Ferrovia Circumvesuviana, that will get you to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento.

Naples tourist offices

There are tourist offices in the main train station, Piazza Gesu Nuovo, and Piazza Martiri. There's also information at Wikitravel.

Local food in Naples

Pizza, one of Italy's most famous foods, originated in Naples and pizza is taken very seriously here. You'll find lots of great pizza places but be sure you look for one with a wood-burning oven! Spaghetti also became popular in Naples and today the best is with clams or mussels. Seafood is abundant and very good in Naples, too.

Where to sleep in Naples

It's easy to find Naples hotels, as it's a large city with a huge number of visitors each year, there's something for every budget. You can also stay in Amalfi hotels or Sorrento hotels for a different and more laid back atmosphere in this area.

Local weather and when to go

Naples gets quite hot in summer so spring and fall are probably the best times to visit. Since Naples is near the coast, it's more temperate in winter than interior cities of Italy.

Naples festivals

Naples has one of the best New Year's Eve fireworks displays in Italy. During Christmas, hundreds of Creches or nativity scenes decorate the city and the street Via San Gregorio Armeno in central Naples is filled with displays and stalls selling Nativity scenes. There are many decorations for Easter, too, and a huge parade.

Two huge religious festivals are held in September, the Festa di Piedigrotta on the 7th and San Gennaro on the 19th. During the summer, there are music festivals, too.

Top tourist sights in Naples

Top attractions in Naples include the National Archaeological Museum, Duomo, Spaccanapoli district, shopping, the harbor, castles, and other museums.

Here are the top attractions in Naples:

• The National Archaeological Museum of Naples has one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, including mosaics, sculptures, gems, glass and silver, and a collection of Roman erotica from Pompeii. Many of the objects come from excavations at Pompeii and other nearby archaeological sites
• Castel dell'Ovo, the oldest castle in Naples, sits in a prominent position on the harbor and is used for exhibitions and concerts
• Piazza Mercato has probably been a market square since Roman times
• Piazza del Plebiscito is the center of modern Naples. San Francesco di Paola, on the piazza, is a huge domed church. Palazzo Reale, the Royal Palace, is across the square (closed Wednesdays). Inside you can visit the restored rooms and royal apartments and visit the roof garden where there are good views of the bay
• Via Toledo, a pedestrian street, is one of the main business and shopping streets
• Spaccanapoli is one of the main streets crossing Naples and is the heart of the historic center. Teeming with people, the street holds many interesting churches, shops, and other buildings. The Spaccanapoli district is a string of narrow, winding streets and is mainly a pedestrian zone so its a fun place to wander around. Via San Biagio dei Librai, in Spaccanopoli, has some of the best antiquarian book dealers in Italy, terracotta religous and nativity figurines, and a doll hospital. Via San Gregorio Armeno is famous for its nativity workshops
• Via dei Trivunali is one of the busiest streets in old Naples. It has arcades dating back over 1000 years.
• The Duomo is a 13th century Gothic cathedral dedicated to Naple's patron saint, San Gennaro. A huge festival is held when a vial of his blood is taken out of its storage place in hopes that it will liquefy. On one side of the duomo is the 4th century Basilica Santa Restituta (the oldest church in Naples) with columns believed to be from the Temple of Apollo, good ceiling frescoes, and archaeological remains from the Greeks to the middle ages. The 5th century baptistery has good 14th century Byzantine-style mosaics
• San Lorenzo Maggiore is a 13th century medieval church with extensive Greek and Roman remains underneath (closed Mondays)
• Funiculare, inclined railways, take you up the hill to the Vomero district where you'll find fabulous views, Castel Sant'Elmo, and Certosa and Museum of San Martino. Funiculare Centrale, one of the longest in the world, leaves from Via Toledo by Galleria Umberto. The other two are Funiculare di Chiaia and Funiculare di Montesanto
• Castel Nuovo, a huge castle erected in 1279-1282, houses the Civic Museum (closed Sundays). Inside are 14th-15th century frescoes and paintings, silver, and bronzes from the 15th century to present
• Teatro San Carlo, known for its perfect acoustics, is the best place to hear opera in southern Italy. Opened in 1737, it's the world's oldest surviving opera house although it was rebuilt in 1816 after a fire
• The Capodimonte Museum and Park, built as King Charles III's hunting lodge, houses one of Italy's richest museums with a great picture gallery and collection of majolica and porcelain. You can wander around the royal apartments and the surrounding park, too
• The Orto Botanico, botanical garden, is one of the best in Italy
• Naples University, founded in 1224, is one of Europe's oldest universities
• Bay of Naples - Many interesting destinations on the Bay of Naples and in Campania can easily be reached from Naples

Written by Jack on 10 June, 2008 in Destinations.

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