Naples [1] is the capital of the Campania region in Italy and the largest city in Southern Italy. It was founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC by the Greeks and was named Neapolis, which means new city. Because of its vast artistic heritage, the historic centre of Naples has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination. Its territory, particularly the iconic sight of the gulf of Naples, along with the colorful folklore (the pizza, the celebrated Mount Vesuvius, the music) is recognized abroad as on of the most powerful symbolic images of Italy. However, many Neapolitans do reject such stereotypical portrayal.
Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius
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SEE DO EAT
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 SEE
Most sites in Campania (including Pompeii) accept the Campania Card for tourists (free entry). Some cards also include a pass for the local public transportation.
- Castel dell'Ovo (sant' Elmo)- Porto Santa Lucia Naples' known port with the Egg Castle on a small half island. The castle currently houses the Museum of Prehistory.
- Castelnuovo (Maschio Angionino) A huge castle at the shore which houses a museum.
- Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte [3]- Napolitan National Gallery, a must-see! Displays the Burgia, Farnese and Borbon collections with mainly Renaissance and Baroque Italian painting. Among the famous artists on display: Tizian, Giovanni Bellini, Annibale Caracci, de Ribera and Giordano. A beautiful park surrounds the museum.
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale [4]- Naples Archeological Museum houses wall paintings and different objects removed from the Pompeii and Herculaneum excavation sites. In addition, you can admire the Farnese collection of Roman sculptures (including the famous sculptures of the Caracala Baths). E9.00 for admission. Guidebook in English must be purchased from the gift shop because the item descriptions are in Italian only.
- View of Margellina (from via Orazio or via Petrarca)
- Certosa di San Martino
- Parco Virgiliano A nice park with a stunning view of the surrounding area. It is about half an hour off the city centre, but certainly worth the effort! Not to be confused with the Park in which Virgil's tomb is found.
- Piazza del Gesù and Piazza S.Domenico Maggiore The New Jesuite church is among the most extravagant Baroque churches in the world! Across the street you will find the Santa Chiara Monastery [5]. It is worth a visit for its beautiful garden decorated with frescos and coulorful columns. If you continue towards S. Domenico Square you will pass by the St Angelo on the Nile Church with its Donatello's altar. The Sansavero Chappel nearby is also well known for its marble sculptures of veiled figures.
- Napoli Sotterranea [6]Underneath San Lorenzo Maggiore medievil church.
- Catacombe di San Gennaro Medievil catacombs on Capodimonte hill.
- Quadreria dei Girolamini [7] A beautiful small picture gallery mainly of Italian Baroque painting and some works of famous De Ribera. Free of charge and just across the street from the Duomo.
- Duomo [8] Naples' main church with two luxurious chapels. Underneath it you can find excavation of a Roman site. Near the duomo you can find the St. Gennaro Treasury museum, with arts exhibits from the duomo and another heavily frescoed chappel.
- Pio Monte della Misericordia [9] A church and a picture gallery both belonging to an old charity organisation. The gallery mainly displays Napolitan Baroque paintings.
- Teatro San Carlo [10] Naples' famous opera house.
- Piazza del Plebiscito Naples' main square. Surrounding it you will find the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale - open to tourists), the San Carlo Theatre and the Galleria Umberto.
- Acquario - Villa Comunale A park near the shore with Europe's first public aquarium in its centre. Nearby is the Cortes Museum of Applied Arts.
- Galleria Umberto A shopping passage from the 19th Century.
- Museo Duca di Martina in Villa Floridiana [11]
- Museo Civico Filanghieri [12]
- Citta' della Scienza [13]
- Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina [14]
- Pinacoteca della Accademia di Belle Arte [15]
- PAN - Palazzo delle Arti di Napoli [16]
- Raccolta Mura
- Museo del Mare (Naval Museum) [17]
- Fondazione Pagliara
- Piomonte di Pieta' in Palazzo Carafa A Manierist church and a picture gallery. Open only on weekends.
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Observe and absorb, the character and culture of Napoli is immense, the dirt and grime has more flavour than I've experienced in any other city. This is the Italian recipe for reality and it is great fun.
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EAT
Pizza comes from Naples. Look for pizza margherita, the original one, with tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella toppings. Eating a pizza in Florence or in Rome is not the same as eating it in Naples!
In Naples every pizzeria makes a good pizza, but if you want to eat pizza where the real Napolitans go, go to Da Michele (Via Cesare Sersale, 1-3) or Trianon a Forcella (Via P. Colletta 46, it's just in front of Michele). These pizzerias make the authentic pizza, but be careful because they are located near Forcella which is not the safest part of Naples. So don't wear your Rolex when you go there!!! In particular, Michele has a unique feature: they only do pizza Margherita or Marinara (just tomato, garlic and oregano, and a splash of oil, of course!). They say that these two kinds are the original pizza, if you add too much toppings you'll lose the real taste of the pizza, that is very simple, made only of a good, thin base, good tomato, and fresh mozzarella (if this is the case).
Some others places very popular among the Neapolitans are almost all the pizzerie in Via dei Tribunali: in particular Di Matteo (# 94), Il presidente, Sorbillo, and his sister, a few doors away (informally known as "la vecchia", the old lady, from the owner of the pizzeria, a very small places with only 4 or 5 tables, that looks like a pizzeria of 50 years ago - very hard to find, but it's worth it!)
It's easy to find a good pizzeria, just look for one without tourists!
Neapolitan cuisine in general features much seafood, befitting its status as an ancient and still functioning port. You will find many sauces based on garlic sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil, tomatoes, and local red wines. Some of the sauces are arrabbiata ("angry") or fra diavolo ("brother Devil"), which means they will contain hot pepper. It's a great cuisine. Enjoy!
Mozzarella is also typical of the region, you should not miss the opportunity to taste the fresh real one!
The city and region are also famous for their pasticceria (pastries), which is often filled with ricotta cheese, among the best are:
- Bar Riviera Very good sweets, from 'zeppole' to 'sfogliatelle' passing through 'babà'. Riviera di Chiaia, 181 - 081 665 026
Struffoli is the typical Christmas sweet.
Pastiera is the typical sweet of Easter: anyway you can find it all year long. It is made basically of ricotta cheese melted with steamed corn and sugar, and then baked.
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