Naples
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- Summary
This is Naples, the city that introduced pizza to the world, an age-old metropolis in the shadow of one of history's most compelling volcano, and a modern hub working hard to put the brakes on a reputation for deteriorating conditions and replace it with the galleries and cafes of a hip and trendy travel destination. Which means you'll have little to worry about as you enjoy a number of ancient landmarks and piazzas, some well-established nightlife areas, some exceptional views from both the lungomare (waterfront promenade) and various viewpoints like those at San Martino in Vomero. Naples also proves to be a prime place from which to trek up the incredible Mount Vesuvius, contemplate some of the most famous ruins of Roman civilization (Pompeii, Herculaneum, etc.) or indulge in the precipitous cliff-side towns of the gorgeous Amalfi coast.
One of the oldest cities on Earth, Naples has an abundant cultural cache that varies incredibly by district. In the old town (Centro Storico), you'll pass between a number of piazzas adorned with centuries-old churches and palaces, the most prominent of which are the Piazza del Plebiscito and Piazza Trieste e Trento. The pedestrian streets here are in abundance as well, lending the area a charm only slightly tarnished by the prevalence of graffiti. Chiaia is a modern seaside district that has benefited from continuous renovation, with both its promenade, the Castel dell'Ovo, and a section of newly pedestrian streets near the Villa Comunale providing plenty of interesting options for travelers. Arguably the most trendy neighborhood is Vomero, with its cafe-filled piazzas and hill-top viewpoints, while more cultural opportunities exist up the coast in fringe locales like Pozzuoli (an access point to more ancient ruins and the incredible Phlegraean Fields, where volcanic gas still bubbles at craters like Solfatara) or the aforementioned ruins near Mount Vesuvius.
This is only the tip of the Naples iceberg. Browse our adventure page if you want to learn more about the bounty of scuba diving, swimming, and hiking both along coast and around islands like Ischia and Capri. Our Naples culture page gives further insight into unique attractions like the underground city and Ischia's castle with an island to itself, Castello Aragonese. The nightlife page gives you to hip spots in Centro Storico, Vomero, Chiaia, and beyond, while our cuisine write-up gives you a heads up on where the classic pizza joints are and why asking for a slice of pepperoni pizza will get you quite a surprise. Even a few days in Naples before heading further into the heart of Italy may just win you over.
