Naples Toolkit
Let's tell us the truth, most of the time the places that draw Tourists to Naples are Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius.
But Naples is a thriving City worth at least a full day to discover its traditions, culture, museums, art, architecture, churches, food and more!
Naples is the type of City that totally satisfy your five senses:
1) The Touch, the History! Wherever you walk, you will be surrounded by magnificient monuments built minimum 3000 thousand years ago! The Greek , The Roman, The French and The Spanish layer.
2) The Sight. Naples is built on a Coastline that overlooks an amazing Bay. You will admire the Vesuvius, the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida, the Sorrento Peninsula
3) The Smell and the Taste. A Culinary experience cannot be missed! The Espresso Coffee, The Sfogliatella and the Baba' pastries for Breakfast. For Lunch of course Pasta made locally with seafood or with the Neapolitan Ragù! Of course for dinner the Pizza Margherita that was born in Naples, named after the Queen after the Italian Unification!
4) Hearing. The Tradition of the songs written in the Neapolitan dialect and exported all around the world! O' Sole Mio, Funiculì Funiculà, Torna a Surriento, Santa Lucia and more!
Below are some of the main attractions that you should not miss while in Naples.
GETTING AROUND NAPLES
Whether you arrive at the Central Station or the Cruise port or in a hotel in central Naples you may well be fine just walking everywhere. All the main places are easily walked to from any point in the centre.
As ever there is a Naples open top hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that visits all the main sights along three separate routes.
There is a good local bus network.
One public transport option you may well want to take is one of the funicular railway up to San Martino for great views.
The Metro easily takes you to the most important places. It has been elected as the most beautiful Metro of Europe! The architecture, the art are absolutely spectacular!
Cappella San Severo
Among the most visited places of Naples. An old church transformed into a small museum where the most important piece of art is represented by the Veiled Christ, a sculpture made by Pietro Sammartino
Naples Cathedral (Duomo di San Gennaro)
A Gothic cathedral built in the 13th century in the historic centre, about a 10-minute walk from Central Station.
The cathedral is dedicated to San Gennaro, the Patron Saint of Naples. A vial of the saint's blood is brought out three times a year - on the first Saturday in May, September 19 and December 16 - and if it liquefies, all is well.
The cathedral contains some excellent artworks, paintings, frescoes, sculptures and jewels
To one side of the cathedral is the 4th century Basilica Santa Restituta, the oldest chapel in Naples. Under here is an interesting archaeological site tracing the Greek, Roman and early Christian city.
Spaccanapoli and Via Tribunali
The Spaccanapoli and Via Tribunali are the spine of the historic centre of Naples. It is the area where you can breathe the atmosphere and the ancient tradition of NaplesOriginally the heart of the Greek and Roman city, the Spaccanapoli district is a string of narrow, winding streets and is mainly a pedestrian zone. The area has arcades dating back more than 1,000 years.A place not to miss here is the San Gregorio Armeno area. It is a place where you will see the fine artworks representing the Nativity Scene, religious statues but even faunny contemporary statues.
Santa Chiara Church
As you might expect in the old historic centre there are plenty of churches, with many worthwhile to visit. Santa Chiara is one of these and sits on the Spaccanapoli in the south west sector of the historic centre.Santa Chiara Church is part of a large complex that includes a monastery with beautiful cloisters decorated with majolica tiles and frescoes and an interesting archaeological museum.
The National Archaeological Museum of Naples
The Naples Archaeological museum is the most important Archaeology museum of Italy. Exhibits from Pompeii and Herculaneum are well preserved here.The museum has one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman antiquities, including mosaics, sculptures, gems, glass and silver, and a collection of Roman erotica from Pompeii.
Piazza del Plebiscito
Piazza del Plebiscito is the center of modern Naples, just south of the historic centre and only 5 minutes' walk from the cruise/ferry terminal. San Francesco di Paola, on the piazza, is a huge domed church. Palazzo Reale, the Royal Palace, is across the square. Inside you can visit the restored rooms and royal apartments and visit the roof garden where there are good views of the bay.
San Martino Museum
San Martino is on top of a steep hill just west of the historic centre. The excuse you need to come up here is the Museum and Monastery of San Martino from where there are great views of the entire city of Naples spread out below you.
Take the Funicular Centrale, that leaves from Via Toledo by Galleria Umberto, just north of Piazza del Plebiscito for another great experience.An equally good experience is to walk back down the hill not via the circuitous roads but by the many walkways/steps. There is a walkway down immediately in front of Piazza San Martino by the entrance to the museum that winds down past old houses with no vehicular access to the historic centre below. More scenic options are on the other side of the hill where you will see steps marked on most of the tourist maps (see image).
San Martino Museum is housed in the Certosa di San Martino a large monastery complex dating from 1368 next to Sant Elmo Castle, which you can also visit. Museum exhibits are housed in the former living quarters of the monks.
Expect paintings and sculptures from the 13th-19th centuries, the museum is famed for Neapolitan nativity scenes. The monastery gardens have fruit trees, flowers, fountains and magnificent views.
