Italy
Naples: the raw Italian citytrip
From our hub in Pompei we took the train to Naples for a day trip to the birthplace of pizza. "Napoli", known for one of the world's most beloved comfort food and for it's raw character. While walking thought the streets one thing is clear: this city worships two gods! The catholic God, with a church on every corner of the street, and Diego Maradona, the football god that brought European fame to this city. And although the city seems to be safer these days, the Camorra - one of the oldest maffioso organizations in the world - is still setting its mark on this south Italian city.
Duomo di Napoli
After we arrived in Naples by train, we walked from the central station towards our first stop: the Cathedral of Naples. Tip: walk along the south side and avoid the Porta Capuana area, because it was really dirty and we felt quite unsafe in that area. Arrived inside the Duomo you immediately see the numerous amount of leaf gold used for decoration. We are not really into religion, but when visiting a city we believe religious buildings are partly telling the story of that place, wether it's a church, a mosque or a synagoge, it tells the history of that place.
Wandering along the Spaccanapoli
The 'Via dei Tribunali' and the streets that follow have the combined name of 'Spaccanapoli' - the old main street crossing the city from east to west. We wandered along this vibrant street and spotted many authentic pizza stands. The legend says Napoli is the birthplace of pizza! Other must-see spots along this street are: the statue of Pulcinella, the street-art paintings of Diego Maradona, and the Napoli Sotterranea. This last hotspot is the entrance to the underground world of this city. We were short on time, but if you are able to book you tickets before your visit, you can walk around the halls of early Greek and Roman parts of this almost 3.000 year old city.
Monastero di Santa Chiara
In the middle of Naples' old town you'll find the Monastero di Santa Chiara. This historic building houses a wide range of artifacts and art. But it's also the home of an enchanting inner garden filled with lemon trees and pillars decorated with tiles telling tales of the rich past of Naples and Neapolis (the old Greek city it was before). Wander through the garden and the colonnades and enjoy this peaceful place right in the city center.
Quartieri Spagnoli
This neighborhood is known for its narrow streets and vibrant atmosphere. It is also here where the Camorra - the Napolitan maffia - has its roots. Today it's streets are filled with restaurants and shops to stroll through.
Galleria Umberto I
Our first impression of Naples was rather a city with a lack of impressive buildings, but then we stumbled upon this galleria! Its almost royal appearance made us stay for a while. We scored a delicious piece of pizza near the entrance and took our time to enjoy both the flavors and the view. In the middle of the galleria is a large round square that has impressive mosaic floor paintings of all astrological signs.
Piazza del Plebiscito
This main square in the city center is flanked by a Basilica, palaces and the impressive Teatro di San Carlo. If you have a chance to visit the inside of that last one: don't hesitate! Unfortunately during our visit it was under construction.
Sunset at Punto Panoramico
From the Piazza del Plebiscito we walked to the Punto Panoramico for sunset. Enjoy the cool autumn air while watching the sun set down over the bay of Naples.
Blue hour walk along the bay of Naples
From Punto Panoramico we walked along the bay of Naples all the way to the more vibrant neighborhood of Chiaia. Along the way we passed some nicely decorated hotels for Christmas and saw the Castel dell'Ovo with a backdrop of purple and pink skies.
