Naples - Neapole

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Naples or Naples[1] is a city in Italy. It is the capital of the region campaign. The city is the third most populous city in Italy, but after the metropolitan area is second, after Milan. It was founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC. by the Greeks and was named Neapolis, which means new city. Due to its vast artistic heritage, the historic center of Naples, has earned its place in UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has one of the largest historic centers in the world and boasts 448 historic and monumental churches, the largest in the world for a single city.

Understandable

The word Naples is a derivative of the Greek word Neapolis, which means new city. The Greeks built the city and lived in the region long before the Roman era. The most spoken language in Naples is Italian or a mixture of Italian and Neapolitan (Neapolitan). Neapolitan is sometimes described as an Italian dialect, but can be considered a separate language. Neapolitan does not enjoy an official status, but it has a rich literary tradition and is still flourishing, in campaign and adjacent parts of Lazio, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Molise and Calabria. That being said, the official language of Naples is Italian and everyone speaks it. Neapolitan has strong Spanish and French influences that come from the occupation of these peoples over the area. Therefore, more Spanish and French words are understood by locals than in other parts of the world. Italy. English is the most frequently spoken foreign language, although its knowledge is not excellent.

Coming

You can easily reach Naples thanks to the network of well-developed roads and railways, which connect the city with the rest of Italy. The city also has an international airport.

By plane

Naples Capodichino Airport offers flights to all Italian cities and to major European destinations. From the airport Alibus It offers bus services, which will take you directly to the city center. The nearest intercontinental airport is Fiumicino Airport from Rome.

With train

Central station in Naples it is very well connected with the rest Italy. The new high-speed train line Rome-Naples is recently put into use. For trains, see the website Trenitalia[2] or call the toll-free number 892021.

By sea

From the docks Beverello and Mergellina the ferries leave for the Gulf Islands and the Peninsula Sorrento.

By car

If you come by car from Rome or from the north Italy you should follow the highway A1 up to Naples. If you come from the south, you will travel to Naples on A3. From bar or Weather in Puglia you will have to follow the route A16.

Got there

Means of public transport

It is quite difficult to have a clear picture of the public transport system in Naples, because different lines are operated by different companies. However, you can buy a subscription per day, with three euros valid on all vehicles. With a ticket of € 1.20, instead, you can travel 90 minutes on several lines, as you wish (bus, subway, funicular).

  • Naples Metro[3]. There are six metro lines in Naples. They are generally safer than public transport, as they are always monitored by cameras and security officers. The most important:

Line 1, recently built, connects the city center with neighborhoods on the hills, such as Vomero and the area with hospitals.

Line 2, much older, connects the three main train stations with Pozzuoli.

Line 6, connects Fuorigrotta with Mergellina.

  • Funicular[4]. The company also operates four cable cars: three of them connect the city center with Vomero, the last connects Mergellina with Posillipo.
  • TRAMS[5]. NMA operates two tram lines (1 and 4), one of which runs along the shore between Santa Lucia - Castelnuovo - Garibaldi (Central Station).
  • bus[6]. NMA also operates all bus lines in Naples, most of which are circular. Naples suffers from a serious traffic jam and buses are usually overcrowded, so if you can try to avoid them.

To see

Church

  • Cathedral of San Gennaro, Via Duomo, 147, 80138 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 449097, free admission. It was built around the end of the 12th century. Over the centuries it has undergone multiple restoration works, partly to repair the damage caused by earthquakes, and secondly to increase its artistic beauty. The relics of St. Gennaro, the patron saint of the city Naples, are kept in the cathedral.
  • Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara [7], Via Santa Chiaira, 49 / c, 80134 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 552 3298, free admission. This church has its origins in the year 1300 and was restored after the Second World War, during which it was damaged during an air attack. It has been restored to its original Gothic style. Do not miss the funeral monument of Robert I of Anjou. In the nearby Piazza del Gesù, there is a wonderful monastery, which must be seen.
  • Church of San Lorenzo Maggiore[8] , Via dei Tribunali, 316, 80138 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 454948, free entrance to the church, for excavations: 4 EURO. This is a magnificent building dating from the 13th century, which was restored in the 17th century. Around Christmas, a life-size Nativity Scene is installed inside the church.
  • Church of San Gregorio Armeno, Piazza San Gaetano, 1, 80138 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 552 0186. An eloquent example of the Neapolitan Baroque. The church is completely covered on the inside with frescoes and consists of chapels that were designed in 1580 with a beautiful marble fountain in the center of the church.
  • Church of Jesus New[9], Via San Sebastiano, 48, 80134 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 557 8111, free entry. The opulent interior of this church, with multicolored marble and altars inlaid with semi-precious stones, is worth seeing.

Historic buildings

  • Royal Palace, 80131 Naples, Italy. This is a Renaissance-style area dating back to the 17th century. It was the residence of the Spanish Viceroys. The royal gardens are full of alleys flanked on the sides by trees, magnolias and stone oaks, with rare plants, statuettes and secret gardens.
  • Capodimonte Palace, Via Miano, 1, 80131 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 749 9111. This palace, which was built by order of Carol de Bourbon in 1738, dominates the entire city and from here you have a beautiful view over the Gulf of Naples. This building had a double role, of museum and royal residence, from the very beginning. The adjacent forest, where the sovereigns went hunting, has about 4,000 centuries-old trees.
  • Castel Maschio Angioino - Castelnuovo[10], Via Vittorio Emanuele, 80133 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 420 1241, entrance fee :: 5 EURO. This castle was built at the end of the 13th century on the instructions of the Anjou family and became an important cultural center where artists and writers such as Giotto, Petrarca and Boccaccio lived. The Aragonese dynasty extended the building with two towers and an Arc de Triomphe. The Cappella Palatina is also worth a visit.
  • Castel dell'Ovo[11], Via Eldorado, 3, 80132 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 795 4593, the price depends on the exhibition. This is a large 12th century fortress that is a dominant presence on the seafront in Naples. It has been a royal residence for many centuries and has played a very important strategic role.
  • Castel Sant'Elmo[12], Via Tito Angelini, 20a, 80129 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 578 4030, entrance fee: 1 EURO. This castle is a star-shaped building with six corners dating from 1329, being first used as a prison. It is surrounded by forts and ramparts and is located above the city.

Museums

  • National Museum of Archeology[13], Piazza Museo Nazionale, 19, 80135 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 442 2149, entrance fee 6.50 EURO, audio guide: 4 EURO. This is the most important archeological museum in Europe and contains the collection of objects that belonged to the Bourbon family and a series of sculptures and other objects found at Pompei and Ercolano. famous Tyrannicides and all the sculptures from Gallery of the Grand Masters must be seen
  • Capodimonte Museum and Gallery[14], Via Miano, 1, 80131 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 749 9111, entrance fee: 7.50 EURO, after 14.00 - 6.50 EURO, audio guide: 4 EURO. This museum, opened in 1950, houses works of art dating from the 13th-18th centuries and which belonged to the Farnese family and were inherited by the Bourbon family. Roman Collection which includes works of art by Michelangelo, Titian, El Greco, Raffaello and Botticelli, is an essential part of the visit to the museum.
  • San Martino Museum , Largo San Martino, 1, 80129 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 578 1769, entrance fee: 6 EURO. This museum is housed in the beautiful Certosa (Carthusian Monastery) di San Martino and is dedicated to Neapolitan history and culture. There is an interesting section on Nativity Scenes that shows examples from the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Royal Palace Museum[15], Piazza Plebiscito, 1, 80133 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 580 8111, entrance fee: 4 EURO. This is the museum of the Royal Palace from the 17th century where the furniture, sculptures, porcelain and paintings that belonged to the Bourbon dynasty are kept. The Palace's Holy Art Collection can be seen in the palace chapel.

Other destinations

The best way to see Naples is to walk around the old streets and discover the hidden wonders of this city:

  • SpaccaNapoli. This road is named after the fact that it divides the city into two halves. It is a long and straight road or more roads 2 km long and 6 m wide. There are narrow alleys on both sides of the street. Here live those who are part of the working class of Naples. Walking along SpaccaNapoli, it is possible to follow an itinerary in one of the most characteristic areas of Naples, which corresponds to Decumano inferior from the Greco-Roman city, which contains churches, historic buildings, squares and craft workshops.
  • Vomero. This is an extremely quiet area of ​​the city, being the opposite SpaccaNapoli. It is full of museums, monuments, shops and historic cafes. An unforgettable experience is a funicular trip on Montesanto, from where you can have a beautiful view over Castel Sant'Elmo and on Charterhouse of San Martino.
  • Spanish neighborhoods - one of the most fascinating places in the city. When Spanish rule began around 1530, the city underwent major transformations: churches, palaces and roads were built, including the beautiful Via Toledo, which took its name from Don Pedro di Toledo. This was the period when Spanish Quarters they flourished, in the area that is now limited by Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Toledo and has an area of ​​about 800,000 square meters.
  • Via San Gregorio Armeno. This road is famous all over the world thanks Nativity Scene. Here it is Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno. It is the center of the city for many artists and commercial businesses.
  • Galleria Umberto I, Via San Carlo, 80132 Naples, Italy, phone: 39 081 405311 was built at the end of the 19th century. Galleria Umberto is an imposing building with four iron and glass wings and a huge dome in the center. The style is similar to that of Vittorio Emanuele Gallery from Milan.
  • Posillipo Hill. This hill separates Gulf of Naples of Pozzuoli from the Roman Cave. Since ancient times, this area has been considered a residential area. Even the name proves it: Pausilypon (Greek) means a respite from pain. The beautiful villas can still be admired today. One of these is Palazzo Donn Anna.
  • Naples underground. This is a city located under the city of Naples which is very old: archaeological excavations have discovered artifacts dating back 5,000 years. The Greeks built imposing funerary monuments under the city, while the Romans built aqueducts, caverns and tunnels. Tourists can now visit some parts of these underground areas if they are accompanied by a guide.
  • Piazza del Plebiscito was recently renovated. It is the most beautiful square in Naples. It is built in the form of an amphitheater and is surrounded by monuments as they are Basilica of St. Francis of Paola, which is similar to St. Peter's Basilica from Rome, the Royal Palace and Galleria Umberto I.
  • Weather in Piazza Bellini it is a lively place, full of open-air cafes that are crowded around the monument built to commemorate the composer of the same name and the archeological site that brought to light the ruins of the Greek walls.
  • Piazza del Gesù Nuovo is divided into two by SpaccaNapoli. Here are some of the most important monuments of the city: Palazzo Pignatelli, Spire of the Immaculate, Church of Jesus New, Santa Chiara Monastery.

To do

  • Centro Sub Campi Flegrei, [16]. Diving center, offering diving and snorkelling, in the Gulf of Naples, around the Phlegraean Islands and in the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baiae (the so-called sunken Pompeii). Open all year.

Organized tours

  • Context Naples, ☎ 39 06 48 20 911 [17]. An organization of scientists leading visits to museums in Naples, as well as trips to Pompei, Ercolano, Paestum and Flegrei Campi. Visits to the city include a visit to the Archaeological Museum. From 35 €.
  • Dynamic Earth Adventures[18]. An organization that offers personalized trips to Vesuvius and Pompei led by experienced tourist guides and academics in the field.

To learn

To work

Money and shopping

If you want to buy some typical handmade local products, it is ideal to walk through Spanish Quarters: this area still has the largest number of old craft shops. Capodimonte porcelain, cameos and gouache they are especially famous. The latter are small paintings, which represent the most charming and characteristic Neapolitan landscapes, dating from the eighteenth century.

Naples is famous for its leather goods and gold and silver jewelry.

If you are interested in purchasing the Nativity Scene figurines, which are made of terracotta, the best place is Via San Gregorio Armeno: here you can find all kinds of figurines, all handmade.

All the big fashion names can be found in the nearby area Riviera di Chiaia, which includes Your Poetry, Piazza dei Martiri, Via Calabritto, Via dei Mille and Via Montevago. There is a historic Neapolitan men's fashion store in Weather in Piazza Vittoria: Marinelli. From 1914 you can buy T-shirts, sweaters, scarves and, most famous, ties from here. Some of the most loyal customers of the store were Luchino Visconti and Aristotle Onassis and also Gabriele d'Annunzio and Gianni Agnelli.

To eat

Getting to know Naples also means tasting the delicacies and strong tastes of the city's cuisine. These tastes are the result of "combining" with the cuisine of other cultures, over the centuries the Arabs, Normans, Spaniards and French ruled the city, each contributing to the gastronomy of the city.

The result is a unique type of cooking. Import into Italy of products from the "New World": potatoes, peppers, beans, coffee and especially tomatoes, ingredients that are commonly used in Neapolitan cuisine, was fundamental to the creation of traditional dishes of the city.Napoli is very well known throughout the world for the pizza, but also for pasta sauces, fish dishes, desserts.

A typical example of a Neapolitan menu can start with a mozzarella in the carriage, which must have the anchovy included and then continue with a plate of spaghetti alla puttanesca or spaghetti with shells or with maccheroni sos Ragu napoletan, which takes several hours to make and is the rival of the Bolognese sauce.

As a main course, you can order stuffed with mussels (shells). Then, according to the fish dishes, there is nothing better than a good matured cheese. In Naples it exists scamorza and caciocavallo.

Some parts of the Campania region are covered with vines, such as the area Avellino. This area produces some famous wines: Greek of Tuff DOC, Taurasi DOCG and Fiano di Avellino. The latter is ideal as an appetizer or to accompany the fish dishes. Other wines to mention are Lacryma Christi of Vesuvius, which can be white, red or pink and Aglianico del Taburno.

The menu can continue with a dessert: a crone, a kind of specific cake that is usually flavored with rum or a sfogliatella or struffoli. You should not miss the opportunity to taste real Neapolitan pastiera, a specific pastry that is made from wheat and ricotta cheese and then flavored with orange blossom essence.

This dish must be accompanied at the end with coffee and a coffee killer (liqueur after dinner), especially in Naples. Get ready to taste one of the best coffees you've ever drunk: Neapolitans are true masters at turning coffee beans into a work of art. After the coffee, you have to try limoncello, a wonderful after - dinner liqueur made from lemon peel from Sorrento or from the coast Amalfi and which are often used to flavor creams and desserts.

To drink

Naples it is becoming more and more popular, especially among members of the younger generation, both Italians and foreigners. The nightlife of the city is full of vitality. Bars and cafes are concentrated around Weather in Piazza Bellini, Piazza Santa Maria La Nova and Piazza San Domenico Maggiore and become crowded around 23.00. If you want to venture to the outskirts of the city, there are many bars and clubs near the port and on Lungomare from Pozzuoli.

To get out

To sleep

  • B&B Luna Caprese, Via Chiatamone 7, Chiaia, 80121 Napoli. Located in the Chiaia district of Naples, B&B Luna Caprese offers elegant and spacious rooms with satellite TV and partial views of the Gulf of Naples.The air-conditioned rooms and apartments have a flat-screen TV and a minibar. They have an 18th-century style with antique furniture. A light breakfast of cereals, fruit and pastries is served every morning. Guests can relax using the free Wi-Fi internet access.
  • La Ciliegina Lifestyle Hotel 4 *, Via Paolo Emilio Imbriani 30, Plebiscito, 80133 Napoli. Just 250 meters from Naples’s Opera Teatro di San Carlo, near the harbor, Hotel La Ciliegina offers state-of-the-art rooms with hydromassage showers and LCD TVs. All rooms at the hotel are air conditioned and feature a minibar, safe and handcrafted furniture.The hotel has a rooftop terrace with a jacuzzi and sun loungers. The terrace offers panoramic views of Naples and its surroundings. Castel Nuovo and the Augusteo Funicular are 300 meters away. Naples Train Station is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and Capodichino Airport is 9 km away from the hotel.
  • B&B Del Corso, Corso Garibaldi 340 / C, Central Station, 80139 Naples. Offering free Wi-Fi, B&B Del Corso is just 600 meters from Naples Garibaldi Train Station. Rooms are air conditioned and come with an LCD TV. Rooms have a balcony, each room has simple décor and antique wooden furniture. B&B Del Corso is located 10 minutes from Naples Cathedral. A 15-minute bus ride will take you to Maschio Angioino Castle.
  • Hotel Palazzo Decumani, Piazza Giustino Fortunato 8, Historical Center, 80100 Naples [20], phone: 39 0814201379. $ 171 - $ 291 / night. This hotel is located in the city center, a 5-minute walk from the Duomo di Napoli. Set in an elegant 20th-century building, it features modern décor and free parking. The spacious rooms are decorated in a modern style. They have satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi internet. Albergo Decumani is 1.3 km from Napoli Centrale Train Station and a 10-minute walk from the port.
  • Hotel Piazza Bellini, Via S.M. Of Istanbul, 101, Historic Center, 80134 Naples [21], phone: 39081451732. € 72 - € 112 / night. Set in a 16th-century building, Hotel Piazza Bellini is set in the historic center of Naples, 300 meters from Museo Metro Station. The uniquely decorated rooms combine modern design with artistic elements. Rooms come with original paintings by local painter Alessandro Cocchia. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning, LCD TV and balcony. The hotel includes a courtyard, decorated with stone statues and alleys. It is furnished with armchairs and sofas. It is a 5-minute walk from the Spaccanapoli shopping area. Duomo di Napoli is 700 meters away, and the port is 1.2 km away.

To communicate

Stay safe

Naples it is a unique city, and this is also shown in the distribution of wealth. Keep in mind that the city center is not a rich area of ​​the city. The bad reputation of the city of Naples in terms of safety is mainly the consequence of a false stereotype, as the level of security is comparable to any large European port city (Barcelona, Marseille, Amsterdam). Police and Carabinieri are fighting hard with the local mafia (camorra in the Neapolitan language). In any case, the camorra is not a threat to tourists, but still small thefts happen, but not as often as in other European cities. Of course, avoid empty and dimly lit streets at night. The people of Naples are extremely kind and can help you find some attractions that are not featured in tourist guides.

Anyone coming to the historic center of Naples should take a few general precautions:

  • Do not leave valuables in plain sight.
  • Do not wave money or other valuables.
  • It is recommended not to carry a bag, as it can be ripped off by thieves.
  • Do not wear watches that are too expensive.
  • Do not wear expensive or glittering jewelry.
  • Do not use an expensive camera or camcorder.
  • Don't get lost on dark alleys, especially in the Spanish Quarter.
  • Pay attention to the values ​​around the main station, as there are many thieves in the area.
  • Some people claim to offer old pictures of Naples or as gifts but then they expect you to pay for them.
  • Beware of those who want to involve you in fake road accidents.
  • It is advisable not to wear the shirts of some football clubs, especially Juventus FC, AC Milan, Internazionale Milano, AS Roma, Lazio SS or Fiorentina. The Neapolitans support SSC Napoli and have great rivalries with these clubs.

Everyday life

See also


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