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Naples

Naples Italy Vacation Attractions Tours Hotels

For many years, cultivated people would fondly quote the sentiment, ‘See Naples and die’ as it continued to reflect the belief that Naples was the ultimate in a beautiful locale and that once you had visited the city and its bay, there would be no place more spectacular so there was no need to go on living. In fact until 1861, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was the wealthiest and most industrialized of the all the Italian states, Naples was the third most populous city of Europe (after London and Paris), and certainly one of the most opulent.
No one today would probably make such a dramatic claim – for one thing, millions of people now have the opportunity to visit equally splendid locales – but Naples does remain to this day as one of the most sought-after and rewarding of destinations.
Naples also serves as a base for visiting the nearby Amalfi Coast and the islands of Capri and Ischia, Mt. Vesuvius and the two cities it once buried – Pompeii and Herculaneum – or even the magnificent Greek temples at Paestum. If not ‘to die for,’ Naples is well worth a visit in one’s, lifetime.
Naples Highlights

Route 1: Discovering Naples

As Italy’s 3rd largest city with some one million inhabitants, Naples is a bustling modern city and seaport, a commercial and industrial center, but what visitors come to see and enjoy are the grand old buildings and public spaces, the stage-set atmosphere of the crowded neighborhoods, the museums and churches, and the fabulous great Bay of Naples best viewed from the upper slopes that ring the city.

When you reach Naples you are overwhelmed by the vitality of its atmosphere and its stunning bay under the shadow of the volcano Vesuvius overlooking the islands of Ischia, Procida and Capri. Naples offers a wide range of cultural activities, from a unique historical experience of the city and its surroundings, to high end shopping for tailored and hand crafted products, combined with some of the best culinary traditions in the world.

Sea Promenade (Lungomare Di Napoli)

Get a first glimpse of the city by strolling down the bay for a view of the gulf, Vesuvius and Castello dell’Ovo – one of the city’s landmarks sitting on the small island of Megaride (legend says that it was once inhabited by the mermaid Parthenope). Take a walk along Via Caracciolo, the famous coastline of Naples, and undoubtedly one of the most fun leisure activities in the city. This long and wide pedestrian marina makes it a perfect path for walking and enjoying the sea breeze, while offering a wide range of local restaurants.

Historic Center & Naples Underground

The historic center of Naples is the heart of the city, but also a world treasure. Being the largest historic center in Europe, it extends an area of 1700 hectares and encompasses 27 centuries of history. For those exact reasons, since 1995 this area has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The uniqueness of this area also lies in the fact that it has maintained the original urban structure of the ancient Greeks. The center of Naples reflects the historical and artistic evolution of the city, from the Greeks of the 8th century BC (the oldest part being by the seaside of the city), through the Spanish ‘baroque’ (the western extension of the city, now the posh areas of Posillipo and Vomero) – all these architectural influences are exhibited in many aristocratic residences, palaces and villas built for the cultural elite of the 1800s. The historical center is framed between the Piazza Dante (West), Piazza Garibaldi (East) and Piazza Cavour (North).

From Via Dei Tribunali you’re only a few steps away from the main church in Naples. The Naples Cathedral, or Dome in Via del Duomo – also known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta or Cattedrale di San Gennaro – is devoted to the Assumption of the Holy Virgin and was built in honor of Saint Gennaro, the city’s patron saint. This Roman Catholic cathedral is the main church of the city and the seat of the Archbishop of Naples. Structured in the shape of the Latin cross, due to its many renovations it is characterized by both baroque and gothic features.

Royal Naples

From the city center, grab a taxi or take a walk back towards the sea for the impressive Royal Palace of Naples. The main of four royal residences of the city, it was used by the Bourbon family during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies: the other three palaces were the Royal Palace of Capodimonte located north of the Old Town, the Royal Palace of Caserta outside of Naples, and the Palace of Portici near Vesuvius. The Royal Palace of Naples overlooks the majestic monumental area of Piazza del Plebiscito and is surrounded by other important and impressive buildings, such as the Salerno Palace, the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, and the Prefecture’s building.

Just next to the Royal Palace is Castel Nuovo, also known as Maschio Angioino, yet another landmark and symbol of Naples. With its triumphal arch entrance, this medieval castle was ordered by Charles I of Anjou and due to its strategic location by the sea, the ‘new castle’ not only featured the characteristics of a royal residence, but also those of a fortress. Since its initial construction, the castle was called ‘Castrum Novum’ in order to distinguish it from the older ones of dell’Ovo and Capuano. During the reign of Robert of Anjou, the castle became a center of culture that hosted artists, doctors and writers such as Giotto, Petrarca, and Boccaccio.

Castel dell’Ovo (The Castle of the Egg, from Castrum Ovi, in Latin) is the oldest castle in the city of Naples and what stands out most in this castle is the famous view of the gulf. Its name is derived from an ancient legend of the Roman poet Virgil, where in the Middle Ages a magician was believed to be secretly hiding a magic egg that kept the entire fortress standing. Without the egg the castle would collapse and also cause a series of disasters to the city – hence Castel dell’Ovo!

Following the coastline is the Donn’Anna Palace, situated at the beginning of Via Posillipo, a monumental building of the 17th century and one of the most famous ‘palazzi’ in Naples – home of the Cultural Foundation Ezio De Felice. This building remained unfinished, yet it has the spectacular charm of an ancient ruin, often confused to be among the remains of the neighbouring Roman villas, which characterize the coast of Posillipo. Of great interest is the inside theater, which opens to the sea offering a beautiful view of Naples.

Museums

The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, one of the earlier established museums of Europe, boasts one of the richest and most valuable collections of works of art and artefacts of archaeological interest in Italy. Originally belonging to the royal dynasty of the Bourbon family, who were the founders of the museum, the museum houses over three thousand objects of exemplary value in different thematic sections and hundreds of thousands of artefacts dating from prehistory to the late antiquity. The museum is divided into two main areas: antiquarian (inherited collections from the Farnese, Borgia, and Bourbon families) and typological (objects found in excavations in the cities buried by Vesuvius, the sites of the ancient Magna Graecia, and ancient Italy). Be sure not to miss Canova’s statue of Ferdinand I of Bourbon in the middle of the monumental staircase of the museum.

For a modern art experience visit the MADRE museum of contemporary art, and check out the current exhibitions and the permanent collections of the works of internationally renowned artists, among which you will find: Andy Warhol, Alberto Burri, Lucio Fontana, and Robert Mapplethorpe.

If you find yourselves with some extra time, be sure also to visit the Cappella di San Severo for the breathtaking artistic work of the Cristo Velato in the Museum of San Severo (Via F. De Sanctis), the Museo del Mare (Museum of the Sea, Via di Pozzuoli 5), the PAN-Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli (Vi dei Mille 60), and the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro (Via Duomo 149).

Route 2: Pompeii & Ercolano

The sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum (Ercolano) offer an unparalleled glimpse into the daily life of the ancient Roman Empire. Both cities were in fact buried in the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Since the eruption, it was only in the 18th century that excavations led to the opening of the site for public visits. The destruction of Pompeii and the nearby coastal town of Herculaneum is undoubtedly history’s most told natural disaster, since the ancient Roman cities were buried under layers of volcanic rock and ash, frozen in time until their rediscovery and exploration.

Pompeii

The site of the city of Pompeii is quite simply amazing! You have the opportunity to visit an entire city organized with an ideal urban structure including public offices, a Basilica, private homes and villas, theaters, shopping streets, a gym and a wellness center, a brothel, and even a laundry shop! Private and public walls decorated with frescos, jigsaws and even the first examples of political campaign advertising are also present.

The main entrance to the site is Porta Marina, one of the six doors-entrances into the old city of Pompeii; the others are Porta Ercolano, Porta Vesuvio, Porta Nola, Porta Sarno, and Porta Stabia. A long walkway will provide a springboard for arriving into the heart of the excavations. One of the great things about the archaeological site of Pompeii is that it’s not a ‘museum display.’ Since it is still being excavated and researched, it’s easy to run into fences beyond which geologists and archaeologists are digging, rebuilding, and restoring.

Entering from the main entrance, first on your right is the Temple of Venere, a temple that was said to be one of the most beautiful of Pompeii, consisting of a portico decorated in marble resting on a podium. Unfortunately its remains have been completely stripped, making any interpretation quite difficult. Following the main path will lead you to the Forum, the center of public life. Although it is now to the southwest of the excavated area, the Forum would have been surrounded by important government, religious, and business buildings of the city.

To the west side of the Forum is the Basilica, the most important public building of the city, and the place where justice was administered and trade was performed. North of the Basilica and on the western side of the Forum is the Temple of Apollo. This is one of the oldest temples of Pompeii, built in fact between 575 BC and 550 BC: many of its Etruscan items are now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Naples. Next you will find reconstructions of findings, vases, pots, and dishes, but most incredible are the casts of real people trapped from the eruption; casts of bodies found in their own homes or gardens, also including the cast of a dog. This experience is sure to leave you breathless. Moving ahead, you will find the House of Vettii, believed to have been the home of two brothers (Aulo Vettio Restituto and Aulo Vettio Conviva), who started off as freed slaves and became very affluent and popular. This house contains many stunning frescoes, including the ‘vestibule,’ and in other parts of the building are illustrations of couples making love, cupids, and mythological characters.

The exploration of Pompeii ends spectacularly with the Amphitheater and the Great Palaestra (Gymnasium). The Amphitheater is located in the most easterly corner of the excavated area and stands near the Sarno Gate entrance, which leads towards the river Sarno. Completed in 80 BC, it can hold approximately 20,000 people, while it is the earliest surviving Amphitheater in Italy and one of the best preserved in the world. The theater was used for gladiator battles or other sports and spectacles involving wild animals. Today, during the summer, plays and concerts are often held here.

Opposite the Amphitheater is the Great Palaestra (Gymnasium), whose central area, including a pool, was used for sporting and social activities. It was built during the imperial period to replace the previous one (Palaestra Sannitica) and holds a secret inscription that can be found on a column on the west side arcades: this is a cryptogram confirming the presence of the Christians in Pompeii.

Before you depart Pompeii, take a walk outside of the walls of the city for Villa dei Misteri (Villa of the Mysteries) – a Pompeii favorite (and also a train station stop!). This magnificent villa was once a house with curious illustrations perhaps of women being initiated into the Cult of Dionysus, containing fine frescos as well as humorous ancient graffiti.

Ercolano

Found by chance as a result of excavations for the construction of a well in 1709, Ercolano or Herculaneum as it was known (stemming from Hercules) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by over 300,000 tourists every year. Smaller and less opulent than its neighbouring Pompeii, this Etruscan city is notwithstanding a gem of its own.

Located on a promontory under Vesuvius, at the time of the great eruption in 79 AD Ercolano was a satellite center of nearby Naples and essentially a residential and commercial town. At the time of the eruption, unlike Pompeii, which was buried by a rain of ash, Ercolano was overwhelmed by a flood of mud and volcanic debris between 8 and 10 meters; this solidified and preserved the tops of the buildings and all of the organic materials, such as wood, fabrics, and even remains of food, all of which offer a unique insight into the private life of its citizens. Another interesting discovery is that of Villa dei Papyri, one of the largest and most lavish Roman residences ever explored. Excavated by order of Charles of Bourbon between 1750 and 1764, the villa contained a large library of papyrus with Greek and Latin texts.

For the adventurous types, do consider making the most of the lovely local climate and take a fascinating walk up to Vesuvius starting from Ercolano’s castle through the national park. Enjoy 12 kilometers (~7 miles) of breathtaking views of the entire gulf, passing by groves and vineyards where the exquisite wine Lachrima Christi is produced.

Part II: The World Renowned Amalfi Coast

Within driving distance from Naples lies the world-renowned Amalfi Coast. Situated along the south coast of the Sorrento Peninsula, forming th