Visiting Naples
During my years, living in London, I received many times requests by my fellow colleagues and friends about: “What to do in Naples”?
Apparently Britons (and not only them) are very passionate about South Italy and even if sometime they fancy to spend some
times nearby the Lago di Como or Venice, once they try the South, they never go back :)
Being a Neapolitan guy I find it is important to describe the feelings I get when I talk about my city. They’re
opposite, Naples is in fact a very particular city, full of problems and uncivilized people. But I’d be an hypocrite in saying
that I don’t love it.
I understand that a tourist might be scared by its noise, confusion, total absence of rules and so on…while instead I, having lived in Naples 19 years of my life, like to focus on other aspects of the city… its landscapes, the constant smile of the people, the perfume of sea in the early morning and its sound on the sand, the sunrise above the Vesuvio. The pizza and the other 30 thousands (ok not that many) typical products produced in Naples and the surrounding areas. The screams and shouts of every market obviously in dialect! The “Vicoli” and “bassi”, the “Capere”, the smells, the atmosphere…everything.
This is why I decided to write this guide to help my international friends to enjoy Napoli in all its sides good or bad as they could be. I’ll drive you through 3 main sections:
- What to see - cultural and non-cultural
- What to eat and where to eat
- Fun and interesting activities
What to see:
Napoli has been one of the first cities built in Italy. Initially founded by the Cumans (a population of Greek origins) it was one of the superpowers of the Mediterranean during the Magna Grecia historical period. After the defeat of the Roman Empire, it became again a superpower under the Borbons (Borbone - Spanish Royal Family) that based here the capital of the 2 Sicilies Kingdom. After the defeat of the Borbon’s family the city started a slow decline and alternated great moments with very sad moments.
Due to its great past, nowadays it is still possible to admire what has been left by over 18 centuries of history and magnificence. So here they come, all the monuments and points of inrerests you would (probably) fancy to visit during your holidays in Napoli:
Palazzo Reale - the Royal Palace
Piazza del Plebiscito
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Catacombe di San Gennaro
Castel Sant’ Elmo
Certosa di San Martino
Maschio Angioino (also known as “New Castle”)
Castel dell’ Ovo
Villa Comunale
Aquarium
San Gregorio Armeno aka “the Presepe’s street” (check on google about “Presepe Napoletano”)
Veiled Christ
Naples Underground
Palace of Capodimonte
Palace of Caserta
Parco Virgiliano
Pozzuoli
Cuma
Lake Avernus
Stadio San Paolo
Naples Cathedral
Spaccanapoli
Santa Chiara
San Domenico Maggiore
Palazzo Venezia
Palazzo Marigliano
Museum of history of Medical Arts
Underground stations
Via Francesco Caracciolo
Giuseppone a Mare (perfect to chill out and listen to the sea)
Marechiaro
Flavian Amphiteathre - Pozzuoli
Agnano (you’ll literally see vapor coming out from the ground)
Vesuvius
Pompeii
Ercolano
Amalfi Coast
Capri
Ischia
Procida
Bagnoli
Submarine natural park of Baia
What to eat and Where:
The Neapolitan food tradition is known all over the world for its own masterpiece: THE PIZZA but together with it there are few other specialities I’d recommend you to try:
Please note that in this list the repeated items are in order from Best to Worse.
| Name | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza fritta | A fried Calzone | Starita - Via Materdei, 27/28, 80136 Napoli |
| Pizza fritta | A fried Calzone | Masardona - Via Giulio Cesare Capaccio 27 |
| Pizza | You know what I’m talking about | Da Michele - Via Cesare Sersale, 1, 80139 Napoli |
| Pizza | You know what I’m talking about | Sorbillo - Via dei Tribunali, 32, 80138 Napoli |
| Pizza | You know what I’m talking about | Pellone - Via Nazionale, 93, 80143 Napoli |
| Pasta e patate | Pasta with potatoes, scamorza, tomatoes and others vegetables | Nennella - Vico Lungo Teatro Nuovo, 103/104/105, 80134 Napoli |
| Sfogliatella | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfogliatella | Pintauro - Via Toledo, 275, 80132 Napoli |
| Sfogliatella | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfogliatella | Attanasio - Vico Ferrovia 1,2,3,4 |
| Sfogliatella | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfogliatella | Scaturchio - Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, 19, 80134 Napoli |
| Fishfood | Bobò - Lungomare C. Colombo, 20, 80078 Pozzuoli NA | |
| Taralli | Salted and spicy “biscuits” with almonds and pepper ideal with BEER on the seaside | Leopoldo - Via Foria, 212, 80139 Napoli |
| Caffè | You know what I’m talking about | Cimmino - Via Gaetano Filangieri, 13, 80121 Napoli, Italia |
| Caffè | You know what I’m talking about | Chalet Ciro - Via Caracciolo, 80122 Napoli, Italia |
| Caffè | You know what I’m talking about | Gambrinus - Via Chiaia, 1/2, 80132 Napoli, Italia |
| Danubio | http://www.dissapore.com/grande-notizia/danubio-ricetta-tradizionale/ | Leopoldo - Via Foria, 212, 80139 Napoli |
| Casatiello | https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casatiello | Leopoldo - Via Foria, 212, 80139 Napoli |
| Chiacchiere | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_wings | Any “Pasticceria” will have some if you’re in the right period of the year |
| Struffoli | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struffoli | Any “Pasticceria” will have some if you’re in the right period of the year |
| Sanguinaccio | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanguinaccio_dolce | Any “Pasticceria” will have some if you’re in the right period of the year |
| Pastiera | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastiera | Scaturchio - Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, 19, 80134 Napoli |
| Migliaccio | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Migliaccio.html | Scaturchio - Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, 19, 80134 Napoli |
| Zeppola di San Giuseppe | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppole | Any “Pasticceria” at any time |
| Roccocò and Mustacciuoli | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustacciuoli Any “Pasticceria” will have some if you’re in the right period of the year | |
| Babà | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_baba | Chalet Ciro - Via Caracciolo, 80122 Napoli, Italia |
| Cassata | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassata | Chalet Ciro - Via Caracciolo, 80122 Napoli, Italia |
| Cannoli | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannoli | Chalet Ciro - Via Caracciolo, 80122 Napoli, Italia |
| Zeppole e Panzerotti | http://blog.giallozafferano.it/peccatodigola/zeppole-e-panzarotti/ | Any “pizzeria” or “friggitoria” will have some of these |
| Frittatina | http://www.sempliceveloce.it/2014/09/20/frittatine-napoletane.htm | Any pizzeria or friggitoria will have some of these |
| Zucchine alla scapece | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Zucchine-a-scapece.html | Check restaurant menu |
| Melanzane a Funghetti | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Melanzane-a-funghetto.html | Check restaurant menu |
| Salsicce e Friarielli | http://www.misya.info/ricetta/salsiccia-e-friarielli.htm | Around the city you’ll find it |
| Peperoni Ripieni | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Peperoni-ripieni-di-carne-e-salsiccia.html | Check restaurant menu |
| Gattò di patate | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Gateau-di-patate.html | Check restaurant menu |
| Sartù di riso | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Sartu-di-riso.html | Check restaurant menu |
| O per e o muss | https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/’O_pere_e_‘o_musso | Street food! |
| Pasta alla Genovese | http://ricette.giallozafferano.it/Genovese.html | Check restaurant menu |
Fun and clubbing
Basically the city is alive on the week end and in particular on Friday and Saturday night. Even if the nightlife can’t be compared to the London one, it’s still possible to have good night out with your friends:
Drinking spots:
- Vico Belledonne a Chiaia, 4, 80121 Napoli, Italia
- Via Aniello Falcone, 378, 80127 Napoli, Italia
- Via Pendio San Giuseppe, 4, 80078 Pozzuoli NA, Italia
- Via Pendio San Giuseppe, 4, 80078 Pozzuoli NA, Italia
- Piazza Bellini, 80138 Napoli
Clubbing:
- Duel:Beat
- Joia Club
- Phoenix Club
- Arenile
- Nabilah
- Living
- Teatro Posillipo
- La Mela
That’s all folks, thanks for reading this post!
In case of any questions please, don’t hesitate in emailing me at cammarota.en@gmail.com.
Enrico.
Please note all the content of this guide is based on personal preferences and hasn’t been influenced by any of the suggested stores/shops/restaurants.