8 Aprile 2014

See Naples in one day? Mission Possible!

Naples is an extraordinary city lying on its wonderful bay. The Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano and famous in history for its eruption in 79 AD, the Historic Centre (largest in Europe) declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the pleasant Posillipo hill from where to enjoy breathtaking views… these are just some of the wonders that can be discovered in Naples. Not to speak of countless folk traditions, the cult of the dead, churches, mysteries, legends that make the city unique and obligatory stop on a trip to Italy.

Let's start by saying that Naples, with its surroundings, is a city that deserves at least 5 nights before moving to the nearby and beautiful Amalfi Coast. The ideal would be to spend 2 full days in the city of Naples, 1 day in excavations of Pompeii (or Herculaneum) and in the crater of Vesuvius from which to enjoy an impressive view, and 1 day in the Phlegraean Fields where the Roman Emperors (including Nero) loved lounging in the SPA during their holidays.
However, many tourists don’t spend more than two nights in this city. Here is a list of things to do and see in Naples in 2 days, many of which are feasible also in a single day… but later we will tell you how to do:

1) Stroll the streets of the Old Town, including the famous Spaccanapoli, to breathe the typical atmosphere of Naples and discover some of the over 480 beautiful churches and perhaps tasting the street food (rice balls, potato croquettes, pancakes pasta, neapolitan sandwiches...)
2) Visit the church of Gesù Nuovo and Santa Chiara Church and of course the Sansevero Chapel where you can admire the Veiled Christ, considered the most beautiful sculpture in the world
3) Stroll along Via San Gregorio Armeno (Christmas Alley) discovering the workshops where they make the cribs
4) Visit the monumental area of Naples, Piazza del Plebiscito, San Carlo Theatre and Galleria Umberto I
5) Walking along the boardwalk where you can discover the Castel dell'Ovo and the Borgo Marinari
6) Go up the Posillipo hill to reach the Virgilian Park from which to admire the wonderful and lesser known view of Ischia, Procida and Phlegraean Fields
7) Visit the Fontanelle cemetery in the neighborhood "Sanità" (or, in the absence of time, the Hypogeum of the church of Purgatorio ad Arco in the Old Town) to discover the tradition of the cult of the dead in Naples, an incredible mix of religion and superstition
8) Eating a delicious neapolitan pizza (completely different from those you will find in the rest of Italy) maybe at pizzeria Starita in Materdei or at Michele a Forcella or at Gino Sorbillo in via dei Tribunali (in Naples pizza is good everywhere)
9) Tasting a neapolitan "sfogliatella" in the pastry shop Pintauro in Via Roma or a "babà" in the pastry shop Mary in the Galleria Umberto I
10) Sip a neapolitan espresso perhaps at one of several Bar Mexico present in the city (where you can sip a very high quality coffee (we particularly recommend the "Harem" blend) or in the ancient and stylish Gran Caffè Gambrinus, or at Caffè del Professore
11) Visit the ancient underground aqueduct in the path of Napoli Sotterranea or the fascinating Galleria Borbonica (where you can make a caving visit) where the population took shelter during the bombing of World War II. Very suggestive also the Catacombs of San Gennaro, also underground
12) Visit the majestic Sant'Elmo Castle from which to enjoy an amazing 360-degree panorama of the Bay of Naples

These are just some of the wonderful discoveries you can do in Naples. As mentioned earlier, two days would be ideal to see most of the attractions but if you only have one day to dedicate to the city (for example, if you stop in Naples just a few hours during a cruise) we suggest you a very funny Vespa tour of Naples organized by NapolinVespa Tour where, in just 5 hours, you will see almost all the steps suggested. NapolinVespa organizes different types of tours in Naples, one on the Amalfi Coast and one in the Phlegraean Fields but also gives the opportunity to build a customized itinerary (Pompeii, Vesuvius, Ischia, Capri ...). The Vespa tour is suitable for anyone (including families with children) and it takes place in maximum security and tranquility. Some funny tour guides will accompany you to discover not only the city but they’ll make you live Naples like a true neapolitan.

Anyway let'go to Napoli and you'll have a great experience! 
The following video is a taste of the Vespa tour arranged by NapolinVespa Tour: