Naples

When visiting any part of the world for the first time, you will either feel like you’ve seen enough of the place already, or your heart will be stolen that you cannot wait to come back. When paying the lovely city of Naples in Italy a visit, you will definitely fall in love with the place.

Naples is the capital of the Campania region and the third largest city in Italy. If you’ve already been to the staple romantic tourist spots in this part of Europe, you will be able to see the real essence of Italy when you pay Naples a visit. There’s a certain edginess and character to the place which is where you will find the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

When you’re in Naples during the height of summer, the heat can be sweltering and the streets too crowded, but it’s where serious sightseers should be. For first time visitors, an interesting trivia is that Naples is the birthplace of authentic Italian pizza so food lovers would have a blast sampling the local cuisine.

Take a Walking Tour of Naples

What’s so interesting about Naples is the fact that when you first step foot into it, the city offers a mishmash of impressions especially if you’re a first time visitor. For example, some travellers may be turned off by the grimy streets and crumbling facades of the buildings. But when you venture a bit further out into the city, you will have a feeling that you’re really in country which birthed Paris.

To give you a glimpse into the sights that you should expect once you travel to Naples, let’s take a virtual walking tour of the city. First, visit the Piazza Garibaldi which is easily accessible from Stazione Centrale. This is a quite shabby part of Naples where you will be met with salesmen selling their wares.

As you venture west into the piazza, you will already have a glimpse of Naples’ historic center which has a Greek influence. Via Toledo stretches from the west to the north, where shopaholics will have a blast checking out the items which are for sale. For high-end shopping, go to Parco di Capdimonte.

To the south is a place called Santa Lucia which is home to the Piazza Plebiscito and the Teatro San Carlo theatre where you can watch opera. To have a glimpse of what local life is like, check out the Catel Sant’Elmo. Finally, to the west is the upmarket Chiaia and venturing a bit farther will take you to Campi Flegrei where the ruins and beaches are a must-visit.

Listing Down the Top Must-Do Activities in Naples

As big as Naples is, simply taking a day tour is not enough especially if you are staying in the city for quite a bit. Here’s a quick list of the top things to do in Naples:

- Check out the burning fields of Campi Flegrei, where active volcanoes lie.
- Grab a fine meal at Ristorante A’ Fenestella.
- See the Castel dell’Ovo or Castle of the Egg, a 2-century old fortress.
- Spend an afternoon at the Naples Aquarium.
- Shop your heart out at the Via dei Millie, Via Chiala and Via Filangieri in Piazza dei Martiri.
- Visit the National Museum of Archaeology.

There’s no doubt that your heart will definitely be stolen the minute that you step foot into Naples, an Italian city of contrasts – where a glimpse of the past and the modern Italy pleasantly blends together into one delightful mix that is a treat for the ultimate traveller’s senses.