Naples

Things to Do in Naples

Laura Thayer — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:45:44 +0000

Deciding what to do when traveling is often one of the most challenging parts of planning a vacation in Italy. I pour through books, read countless articles online and tend to ask friends or on Twitter for restaurant recommendations and insider tips. Since I discovered NileGuide, I’ve found the website invaluable for planning trips, especially in helping me plan just how many things I can squeeze into each trip. It has been with pleasure that I’ve been working on expanding, developing and fine-tuning the Things to Do in Naples Top 10 lists for NileGuide.

Photo of Castel dell'Ovo courtesy Luca Mascaro

Not sure where to start? Start out with the Top 10 Things to Do in Naples where you’ll find the city’s must see museums, attractions and places you’ll kick yourself for not seeing during your holiday in Italy. Are you a museum nut like me? Check out the Top 10 Naples Museums for the best of the best with a few unexpected stops thrown in. Fancy a castle … or four? Have fun exploring the Top 10 Naples Castles, Palaces & Historic Buildings for some real adventures. Traveling to Naples with your family? Check out the Top 10 Kid-friendly Things to Do in Naples, Italy. Tired of being cooped up inside? Discover the beauty of Naples with the Top 10 Outdoors Things to Do.

I could go on and on, but instead I invite you to head over and explore the Top 10 lists of Things to Do in Naples, Italy. You’ll find the best religious sites, cultural activities and much more. Happy travel planning!

Webcams in Naples, Italy

Laura Thayer — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:59:00 +0000

When I was younger there was nothing I loved more than going to the bookstore, grabbing as many travel books as I could carry and finding a cozy spot to flip through the pages, getting lost in the beautiful photographs and dreaming of traveling one day. Now with webcams around the world, it’s just a few clicks before I can be in my favorite places around the world! When I am away from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, I find myself watching the webcams even more. With the time difference I can see the moonlight shining across the Bay of Naples, the early morning colors and sunrise and see moments of daily life that remind me of home. I’ve been searching out the best webcams in Naples, and here are the clearest and most beautiful I have found so far. Whether you are dreaming of returning to Naples or planning your first trip, I think you’ll enjoy checking out these webcams in Napoli!

View of the pretty Port of Santa Lucia and the Castel dell’Ovo in the Borgo Marinaro

View of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius

View of Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius from Sorrento

If you have other webcam favorites in Naples, please leave a comment and share and we’ll keep this list growing!

Buon San Valentino from Napoli!

Laura Thayer — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:54:59 +0000

Although you might not think of romance when it comes to the Napoli Sotterranea, the labyrinth of passageways that lie under the city of Naples, that is where I found this beautiful sentiment scratched into the wall along with generations of graffiti … “Life without love is a desert.” Despite the chaos surrounding it, the power of that message seen in the murkiness of the underground tunnels was particularly moving.

Wishing you a beautiful Valentine’s Day full of love!

And … we’re back!

Laura Thayer — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 19:23:08 +0000

After many months of silence here on the Naples Local Flavor Blog, I am happy to announce … we’re back! I’ve been hard at work helping NileGuide create the Amalfi Coast travel destinations for 2011, which has kept my hands full. I invite you to visit the Amalfi and Ravello destination pages and the Amalfi Coast Local Flavor Blog. The Amalfi Coast is an excellent day trip from Naples, or an extension to your visit in the Naples area, and now you’ll find more information and forums for questions over at the NileGuide Amalfi homepage! It’s great to be back working with the Naples destination, and I look forward to sharing travel tips, information and inspiration for this beautiful and fascinating city.

Photo courtesy Zingaro. I am a gipsy too.

Photo Friday: Window into Naples

Laura Thayer — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:47:14 +0000

: By Laura Thayer

Last month Jessica Spiegel from the WhyGo Italy Travel Guide stopped by my personal blog, Ciao Amalfi!, and wrote about Finding “Real” Italy in Venice & Naples. Jessica visited Naples for the first time last year and was smitten. I love reading about her experiences and impressions of Naples, especially the beautiful and intoxicating decay of the city. I was recently reminded of her article when I came across this photo I took just opposite the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore. There is something simply and incredible about the beauty of Naples, even in its ruins like this old palace.

Photo Friday: Evening Light in Piazza Plebiscito

Laura Thayer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:12:24 +0000

By Laura Thayer

I love taking photographs for a myriad of reasons, and find it hard to leave the house without a camera. You just never know when you’ll happen across something unforgettable – a glimmer of light, a cascade of colors in a street market, an impromptu street performance or a gorgeous sunset. I capture these moments in time in order to be transported back to them at a glance and remember their beauty, energy and power. There are moments are just too beautiful to let go of. On Fridays I’ll be occasionally sharing some of my photographs so you too can be transported back to the beautiful city of Naples.

Five Questions with Bonnie from NapoliUnplugged.com

Laura Thayer — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:47:00 +0000

There’s no better way to get the sense of a place than from people who live there – who walk the streets and absorb the vibrancy of local traditions. That’s precisely the Local Flavor that I hope to present here on the Naples Local Flavor Blog. To share more about life in Naples, I am happy to introduce a new interview series to introduce you to expats and Neapolitans who will share their insight on living, traveling and exploring Naples.

I pleased to kick off this new series by welcoming Bonnie from the fabulous website NapoliUnplugged.com. If you’re planning a trip or move to Naples, you simply must check out this website. More than just a resource of information, NapoliUnplugged is a labor of love by Bonnie, who passionately promotes the beauty of daily life in Naples. For those who love reading about Naples, also be sure to visit the Napoli Unplugged Blog and catch a glimpse of daily life in Naples on Bonnie’s Napoli Unplugged Photo Blog. Many thanks to Bonnie for her hard work on NapoliUnplugged.com and all she does to share the beauty of Naples, Italy!

How long have you lived in Naples? What brought you here?

I have been living in Naples since my husband took a position here just about five years ago. Everyday I wake up and am in awe of this city and at how fortunate I am to live here.

Do you have any tips for visiting Naples?

Be cautious but not afraid. Naples is a city and all that that entails, but it is not the house of horrors it’s been portrayed as. Use the same precautions you would use in any other major city. Keep your valuables close, travel in pairs or small groups, and try to meld in. Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast are popular tourist destinations, but Naples is a working city, so you might want to meld in a bit more. Skip the shorts and petal pushers and white sneakers and fanny packs in favour of jeans or trousers with comfortable walking shoes. And unless you are taking a picture, put your camera away. It’s best not to walk around with your camera draped around your neck.

Live like a local. If you really want to experience Naples, skip the hotel and rent an apartment. Find a place in a local neighbourhood like Centro Storico and spend a few days walking in the shoes of the Neapolitans. Shop at the small family run grocery stores or the local markets like Porta Nolana or the Pignasecca where you’ll find some of the best seafood in the world, the freshest produce imaginable, bread baked daily, and of course the famous Neapolitan staples like Mozarella di Bufala. Pick up a €2,00 bottle of market wine and bouquet of flowers and cook up your own Michelen star meal.

Take local transportation. A €3,10 UnicoNapoli daily ticket will get you around all day on the buses, metro and funicolari to virtually anywhere in the city you want to go.

Take your caffè at the bar. At €.70 vice around €2,50 to sit at a table you can drink in the culture while you sip your caffè. Don’t forget to pay for it at the register first and it’s always a nice gesture to leave a €.10 or €.20 tip on top of the receipt on the bar. If you do opt to sit at a table, it is yours for as long as you like and you won’t be rushed. In fact, you will need to ask for your bill, as it is the custom to leave you be until you are ready to go. Keep in mind that a small can of coke will also run you around €2,50 but the upside is that you will usually get some type of bar snacks with it.

Eat gelato before dinner! The Neapolitan’s meal hours might be quite different than you are used to. Caffè and a cornetto in the morning, a large meal around 2:00 p.m. and a light dinner around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. And 4:00 or 5:00 in the afternoon, that’s the time for a gelato, winter, spring, summer and fall.

Don’t mind the queue. Neapolitans are notorious for gathering in a horde rather than lining up. Just when you think you’re next in line, three people will step in front of you. Don’t take it to heart, it’s not because you are a tourist. Either be patient or be pushy.

Slow down and breathe in the culture. Rome wasn’t built in a day and you surely won’t see Naples in a day either. Choose just a few key sites to visit during your stay then spend the rest of the time relaxing at a local caffè, wandering the many hidden streets and alleys, or taking in the sun along Naples’ famed Lungomare.

What is your favorite walk in Naples?

There are so many it’s hard to choose. There are the narrow cobblestone alleys of Centro Storico, the picturesque walk through the Virgiliano Park in Posillipo, the shopping streets in Vomero and along Via Toledo and Via Chiaia, the market streets of Porta Nolana. Then there is the spectacular walk along Lungomare. But my favourite walk by far is through the Sanità neighbourhood, one of the most characteristic areas of Naples.

Do you like Neapolitan cuisine? What do you enjoy?

Of course!!! I love all Neapolitan food, well most of it anyway. My number one favourite is Pasta Fagioli, thick, creamy, the ultimate comfort food. I’ve had it in the north but they just don’t make it like they do down here in Napoli. I also love Spaghetti alla Puttanesca. In the summer we live on fresh mussels, Spaghetti alle Vongole, Bruschetta al Pomodoro, Insalata Caprese, Prosciutto e Melone, and of course gelato!

One thing you love about living in Naples?

The people. Of all the things I’ve seen and experienced here in Naples, it is the people that I treasure most; warm, loving, and open; fierce and protective; proud and opinionated; passionate and animated.

Naples Spotlight: Romeo Hotel

Laura Thayer — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:00:27 +0000

Thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter (you can follow me @NG_Naples), I was introduced just recently to a fabulous hotel in Naples called the Romeo Hotel. This is one of those rare hotels that is so achingly beautiful that it makes me wish (just a little) that I didn’t live so close to Naples. Because if I didn’t then I’d have an excuse to stay there! Nevertheless, a visit to this hotel is top of my list, especially to check out their restaurants and fabulous views. The Romeo Hotel is the newest addition to the NileGuide Naples destination hotel listings. Welcome!

Courtesy Romeo Hotel

Located near the waterfront with panoramic views of the Bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius, the Romeo Hotel offers a tantalizing blend of modern design, elegance and luxury in the heart of Naples. Designed by Paul Tange from the world famous architectural form of Kenzo Tange & Associates, the Romeo Hotel displays cutting edge contemporary design with a fine selection of artistic works by contemporary Italian artists and designers in its rooms and suites, the on site spa and conference rooms and the top notch bar and restaurants.

Courtesy Romeo Hotel

The décor is a series of intriguing contrasts that create a new form of beauty, and play well against the vibrant cultural contrasts of Naples. The view of Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples from the restaurant Il Comandante is impressive. The Romeo Hotel is well situated for exploring Naples with the Castel Nuovo, Palazzo Reale and Piazza Plebiscito located nearby. It’s just a short walk to the main tourist port in Naples where jets and ferries depart regularly for Capri, Ischia and destinations on the Sorrento Peninsula.

Many thanks to Alex @newsinitaly for introducing me to the Romeo Hotel! You can follow the hotel on Twitter @romeo_hotel.

Events in Naples – June 2010

Laura Thayer — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:20:07 +0000

Are your travels taking you to Naples, Italy this month? Great news! There’s a lot to do in Naples in June, and the beautiful spring weather makes being out and about all the more enjoyable. Here’s a look at some of the events going on in Naples this month:

Napoli Film Festival, June 5th-11th, Castel Sant’Elmo

This year the Napoli Film Festival is dedicated to two Neapolitan greats: Totò and Massimo Troisi (known to many Americans from the film Il Postino.) Italian cinema lovers won’t want to miss appearances by stars Riccardo Scamarcio (one of my favorite Italian actors!), Pupi Avati, Isabella Ferrari and the great film composer Ennio Morricone. Download the program here.

Courtesy NapoliFilmFestival.com

Napoli Theater Festival, June 4th-27th, Locations around Naples

The Napoli Theater Festival started in 2007 and continues to be an exciting showcase for theater in fantastic locations throughout the city. Visit Napoli Unplugged or the Napoli Theater Festival website for more information on performances and schedules.

Current Exhibitions

Novecento a Napoli (1910-1980), until July 31st, Castel Sant’Elmo

Vita di Michelangelo, June 9th – August 22, National Archaeological Museum

Ryan Mendoza: The Possessed, until June 28th, Madre Museum

Franz West: Autotheater, until August 23rd, Madre Museum

The Azzurri go to the World Cup 2010 South Africa!

Laura Thayer — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:10:01 +0000

It’s just about time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to kick off in South Africa, and that’s no small matter for a calcio (soccer) crazed country like Italy. Soon the Azzurri, as the Italian national team is called referring to their bright blue jerseys, will be heading off to South Africa for their first game. This year the defending champions carry with them the hopes of repeating their glorious win in 2006.

FIFA 2010 World Cup

What does this mean for Neapolitans? Well, anyone who has been to a Naples soccer game knows just how passionate Neapolitans are when it comes to soccer. If you haven’t been yourself, read about my friend Lisa’s experience at a Naples game earlier this spring. While most Neapolitans are big Naples soccer fans, that gets put aside when it comes time for the World Cup. Plus, Italy’s team captain and 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro is a hometown boy, and his younger brother Paolo currently plays for the Naples team. You can bet there will be some serious rooting going on!

Image courtesy Getty Images

Here’s the scoop: The 2010 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11th – July 11th and you can get all the details on the Italian team here on their team page. Italy is in Group F and first plays Paraguay on June 14th in Cape Town, South Africa. Then they travel to Nelspruit in northeast South Africa to play against New Zealand on June 20th. (I hope they get frequent flyer miles!!)

Best of luck to the Azzurri as they head off to South Africa!!