Artifact of some sort from Pompeii.
The atmosphere in Naples is electric both day and night. Cobbled streets open out into pretty piazzas where locals kick back and relax with coffee, and ancient castles rear up when you least expect them to. And there’s the food – mouth-watering pizza that follows a recipe from hundreds of years ago and thick, creamy pasta dishes that keep you full for days.
The rawness of Naples is unrivalled thanks to the many famous offerings of the city. Here’s what to look out for.
Pizza
A visit to Naples wouldn’t be complete without stuffing your face with a traditional Napoli pizza. In fact, this is the place where pizza was invented and, ever since its birth in the 19th century, the Neapolitans have carefully turned it into a delicious fine art.
There are plenty of pizza restaurants dotted throughout the city, but look out for ones that are overflowing with locals if you want something extra tasty.
Ancient Artifacts
Nearby Pompeii is a history lover’s dream, but very few of the sculptures, mosaics, artifacts, and frescoes from the site are actually still there. Instead, many of them have been moved to Naples and now take pride of place in the city’s Archaeological Museum. Not only can you discover the tragic line of history that doomed this part of Italy in 79AD, but you can witness everyday objects and get a feel for what ancient life used to be like.
Art
Italy is renowned for its art and anywhere you go there is likely to be an abundance of masterpieces. In Naples, creatives are definitely going to want to put the Capodimonte Museum on their itineraries. Here, you can wander amongst impressive works by the likes of Caravaggio, Raphael, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Titan, Bellini, and El Greco – all of which shaped the creative world in Italy with their famous lives and work.
Pastries
If you’re not full from eating all the pizza, tuck into some of the melt-in-the-mouth pastries that Naples is famed for. Bakeries line almost every street in the city and, thanks to the area’s mixed heritage – including influences from the French, Spanish, Austrians, and Bourbons – there are plenty of different treats to try.
Castles
Culture vultures will be in awe of the serious number of castles that frame the city. Because it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe, it’s no wonder that Naples is home to an eclectic mix of castles, including the Castel Nuovo, with its impressive marble arch, the Castel dell’Ovo, and the Castel Sant’Elmo.
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