Have you ever been to Naples? Well, if you are planning a trip to the capital city of Campania, there are some things to know about Naples to make the most out of your trip. Chaos, garbage, thievery…we bet at least once you have associated these things with Naples. We’re not telling you these concepts do not exist there…they exist, at least as much as they do in most of the world’s big cities! Without overestimating these problems, here are some tips to easily handle all this and enjoy your trip.
3 Things to Know About Naples
1. Naples is really chaotic
But if you have been to New York City at least once in your life, you will not find a big difference between the two cities. Just don’t look up; New York buildings might be just a little taller! All kidding aside, the noise we hear every day from the Select Italy office in Manhattan is just like the noise you hear in downtown Naples…the proof of the pudding is in the eating!
Just be careful when you cross the street, and if you have kids traveling with you, always hold their hands and constantly keep an eye on them.
Another problem is bag snatching: yes, it might happen, especially in the historic part of the city, which is usually crowded with tourists, but there’s no need to get scared. Walking around a big city with your bag open or wearing garish jewelry is something you should avoid everywhere. Wear a simple watch, always keep your bags closed, and when in the subway, bus, or waiting in line, just keep your bags in front of you, not behind you!
2. Pizza, pizza, pizza!
Time to talk about the pluses of this very characteristic city…is there a better topic to start with than food?
The list is really long, but let’s just name the very number one symbol among Neapolitan specialties: pizza! Here’s a quick tip for you: there are a thousand places where you can eat authentic pizza in Naples, but we are going to tell you about a really special one: “Antica Pizzeria da Michele.” Since 1906, the Condurro family has made pizza there following the same recipe and they still make only two kinds of pizza: Marinara and Margherita (the first without and the second with mozzarella cheese). It is in this pizzeria that Julia Roberts eats pizza in the movie “Eat, Pray, Love.”
3. The Most Characteristic Location
There are a lot of historical points of interest in Naples, but we would like to focus on the most characteristic. The famous Bay of Naples is absolutely beautiful, however, you have to know where to go to get the best view. We highly recommend the view of the bay from Posillipo (Via Petrarca). From here you will be able to see the islands of Ischia, Capri, Procida and Mount Vesuvius. This is the best place to take pictures to preserve a perfect memory of your trip to Naples.
Since Naples is a seaside city and its bay has three of the most beautiful Italian islands, summer is the very best time of year to visit! So, are you ready to plan your trip to Naples now?