City break Naples
Naples is one of those cities which you only learn to love when you also see and experience the lesser known sides of the city. The historic centre is ideal for a nice stroll while admiring the historic buildings. Just outside the centre are lively working-class neighbourhoods, where you can experience the real Naples. Start your day with a cup of Italian coffee and end the day with traditional Neapolitan pizza. Enough fun things to do in Naples!
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8 tips for your city break Naples
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In the beautiful historical centre of Naples you can't miss the Naples Cathedral (Duomo di Napoli), an imposing white cathedral from the 13th century. In Santa Lucia, but also in the Spanish Quarter, Quartieri Spagnoli, you'll find the image of Naples that you often see in the film. Here the laundry flies between balconies and you walk along stairways and narrow streets between the honking Vespas and Fiat 500s.
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Near the Santa Lucia harbour district lies the largest and most beautiful square in Naples the Piazza del Plebiscito and also the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale) and the Teatro San Carlo (Royal Theatre of Saint Charles). Next to the theatre is the massive Castel Nuovo. Don't forget to order an authentic Margherita pizza from a stone oven in this neighbourhood.
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For the best view of Naples, the main attractions and the Gulf of Naples with the islands Capri, Ischia and Procida you should visit the old port. From the old fort Castel Sant'Elmo the view is beautiful. The ferries to the islands leave from the harbour in front of the castle
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If you walk along the waterfront of the city you can already see it in the distance: Mount Vesuvius. You can also climb to the top of the volcano, but you need to be in good shape for this!
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When you say Vesuvius, you immediately think of Pompeii. This town is world famous for its fascinating Roman excavations and is therefore a major tourist attraction. From Naples you can easily get there by train
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Naples is bursting with cultural heritage, events and interesting museums. In the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale), for example, you can see the prosperity and rich culture that the city has known. Also visit the oldest opera theatre in the country: Teatro di San Carlo.
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Don't like opera very much, but rather listen to some modern music? In June and July, popular rock bands perform on several days during Noisy Naples.
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The most important archaeological museum is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, MANN (National Archaeological Museum). Here you can see a beautiful collection of classical art treasures, including sculptures, frescoes and mosaics from Pompeii.
Information about Naples
Naples is beautifully situated on the Bay of Naples. 'See Naples and Die' is a familiar expression. Many people think this means that you have to see 'the most beautiful city in the world' before you die. Busy and hectic, but also full of historic buildings, museums, archaeological gems and a vibrant street life.
Due to its favourable location, Naples has had many influences. Greeks, Romans, Lobards, Vikings and Garibalans, tried to incorporate it. In the historical centre you can still see a lot of the history of this city; historical buildings, classical remains, medieval castles and palaces from the Renaissance and the Baroque. Naples is one of the oldest cities in Europe, it was founded in the 8th century BC by the Greeks. They called the city Neapolis ('new city'). The port city was one of the most powerful cities in Italy. Around the 4th century B.C. the Roman Empire became more powerful and the Greek influence became less and less.
4 facts about Naples
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The city expanded further with the construction of luxurious Roman villas, aqueducts and bathhouses. The eruption of Vesuvius in the 1st century destroyed nearby Pompeii. In the castle on the hill (Castel dell'Ovo) built by the Greeks, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustulus, was imprisoned. After the Romans, the city had many different rulers. From 1503 to 1734, Naples was under Spanish rule and then became part of the Italian kingdom
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In the 16th and 17th centuries, Naples was home to several famous artists, including Caravaggio, Salvator Rosa and Bernini. But after a period of growth and industrialisation, things did not go as well for Naples from 1860 onwards. A large part of the city became impoverished after the departure of the wealthy and this gave the Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia, more and more power. Italy and Naples have many beautiful places, but also places where you shouldn't come. Scampia is such a place. It's best to avoid this area.
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A few days a year there is a special event at the Cathedral, for example on the 19th of September. The archbishop then removes a silver reliquary with two glass ampoules containing the coagulated blood of San Gennaro (the patron saint of Naples) from the chapel. An incredible miracle then takes place: The centuries-old blood of Saint San Gennaro liquefies
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To experience the real historical Neapolis, you have to go about forty meters underground. Visit Napoli Sotteranea, an impressive system of tunnels and burial chambers with 60 entrances.