Founded by the Ancient Greeks between the seventh and sixth century BC, Naples, the capital of the Campania region south of Rome, is a dazzling Italian city full of contradictions. One minute you wander on dusty streets with crumbling facades and the next you're surrounded by luxurious baroque bombast on breathtaking palmed fringed piazzas.
This fantastic city will leave you with loads of shopping bags, enthused and satisfied. "Vedi Napoli e poi muori", the saying goes, or "See Naples and die", referring to being overwhelmed by what an incredible and beautiful city Naples really is, full of life and full of passion.
Get past its reputation of a polluted and dangerous city and you will discover Naples to be one of the most attractive cities in Italy, bursting with historic, artistic and gastronomic treasures. Pizza originated here and is taken very seriously. When you pick one of the many great pizza places, make sure to choose one with an original wood-burning oven.
Naples is a large, sprawling city and there are many areas that have hostels and hotels, however, the historic centre is quite popular with visitors looking for up market lodgings. Many of the cheaper hotels are to be found in the square by the train station, but the accommodation in the historic centre is still reasonably priced and may be a better choice.
Top Attractions in Naples
Top attractions in Naples include the National Archaeological Museum, impressive baroque castles and the harbor. The narrow winding streets full of little shops and restaurants invite you to culturally-inspired leisurely afternoons and gastronomic pleasures.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale is the largest museum in the world that showcases Roman architecture. The museum houses objects and wall paintings that have been removed from Herculaneum and Pompeii.
The Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte features Baroque and Renaissance Italian paintings. Surrounding the museum is a beautiful park.
Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Piazza Santa Maria and Piazza Bellini are great tourist centres with numerous cafes and bars.
Naples Surrounds
Beautifully located between a sleeping volcano and Camp Fiegrei, Naples is the gateway to the wonderful Islands of Capri in the Bay of Naples and a great starting point to explore near-by historical sites such as Hurculaneum and Pompeii, which are well-known Roman cities devastated in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The sites are open every day and offer exciting glimpses of life that was lived 2,000 years ago. Visitors can also trek to the summit of Mount Vesuvius, which is considered to be one of the most treacherous volcanoes in the world. The Paestum Greek temples date back as far as the sixth century BC.
Naples Hotels
Naples accommodation is usually cheaper compared to Rome and other cities in northern Italy, though the quality varies considerably. Cheap hotels in Naples might mean a shortage of hot water, power outages and baths that are on the small size. Hotel accommodation ranges from budget, mid-range to five-star luxury within the historic centre at the waterfront. Mid-range typically includes traditional and older renovated hotels, while five-star accommodation features all the amenities an experienced traveller would expect to find.