Sights

Naples

What to see & Discover

MY FAVORITE DISCOVERIES

COURTYARD OF THE MUSEO DI PALEONTOLOGIA

I've already mentioned that you should always keep your eyes open for beautiful courtyards in Naples. We only discovered the courtyard of the Museo di Palentologia this way. And it's a particularly beautiful one! Above all, we were almost alone there. Only occasionally did another couple stroll through the green courtyard. So we were able to enjoy some peace and quiet away from the hectic city.

The Chiaia district

Chiaia is a rather affluent district that is located on the waterfront. It was therefore somewhat quieter and cleaner here. We particularly liked the many small boutiques and cafés. There are also a few art galleries. We parked our car at the Villa Comunale park and set off from there to Chiaia. The park is also ideal for a short walk. The landscaped gardens offer a picturesque view of the sea and the city.

GALLERIA UMBERTO I

The Galleria Umberto I shopping arcade is very attractive - even if you don't feel like shopping at the moment! The gallery on Via Toledo in the old town of Naples impresses with its architecture. The large glass dome that covers the shopping arcade is particularly worth seeing. Thanks to its location, the Umberto I Gallery is also a great starting point for discovering even more of Naples' old town. For example, the famous Teatro San Carlo opera house is located directly opposite.

PIAZZA DEL PLEBISCITO

The largest square in Naples is located directly in front of the Palazzo Reale, the royal palace. I was particularly impressed by the backdrop. The Piazza del Plebiscito is wonderfully framed by the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola and the Palazzo Reale. Due to the size of the square, however, this frame is in no way constricting; on the contrary, the effect of the surrounding buildings can only really be appreciated in this way. By the way: if you are already in Piazza del Plebiscito, be sure to visit the inner courtyard of the Royal Palace.

VIA BENEDETTO CROCE/

STRADA S. CHIARa

Ok, admittedly: This corner is only very special for Bene and me because “our” streets meet here, so to speak. And there are two churches right where the streets intersect! Crazy, isn't it? If that's not a sign, haha. But regardless of that, it's worth coming here. The Basilica of Santa Chiara in the Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara and the adjacent Piazza del Gesù Nuovo are well worth a visit. Via Benedetto Croce is also adorned with many interesting buildings. And for all those interested in soccer: If you walk down the street for about 3 minutes, you will pass the Bar Nilo. This is the café with the shrine to Diego Maradona!

MORITZ TIPS FOR AN EVENING IN NAPLES

01

Piazza Bellini

If you want to go for a drink in the evening, then Piazza Bellini is the place for you. Here you will meet some young people spending the evening with their friends in one of the many bars or simply in the square.

02

Castel Sant‘Elmo

The Castello is located on the Vomero and towers over the city. Once you have climbed the mountain, you can enjoy a magnificent view over Naples. This view is particularly romantic in the evening, when the city is bathed in a thousand lights.

WHAT I NEED TO SEE ON MY NEXT VISIT

01

GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE TUNNELS & CAVES OF NAPLES (NAPOLI SOTTERRANEA AND GALLERIA BORBONICA)

Several underground tunnels run beneath Naples and its surroundings. These were developed many years ago by mining as geothermal zones, creating caves and underground structures that are said to be very interesting!

02

PHLEGRAEAN FIELDS

The Phlegraean Fields are located to the west of Naples and are the only supervolcano in Europe. The area is characterized by high volcanic activity. Gas can escape from time to time. As a result, the ground can become very hot. In addition, the soil is sometimes yellow in color due to the volcanic activity. What is particularly interesting is that you can camp at Campeggio Vulcano Solfatara near the Solfatara volcanic crater! However, it is best to find out here beforehand whether it is open.

Other sights

In addition to my 5 favorite spots, Naples has much more to offer! For example, we particularly liked the entire area around Castel Sant'Elmo. It's not just the castle that's worth seeing there!

You should also definitely make a detour to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius! I've summarized everything you need to know about this in a separate blog post here.

Like all major cities in Italy, Naples also has a cathedral: the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta is the main church in Naples. No less interesting than the cathedral is the small baroque church Cappella Sansevero, which is home to numerous marble sculptures.

There is also plenty for museum lovers to discover in Naples: The Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the Mueso di Capodimonte, the Certosa e Museo di San Martino and the Gallerie d'Italia are the best known among them. You will find many small art galleries in the Chiaia district. Or you can visit a slightly different museum: the Catacombe di San Gennaro.

Those interested in culture can visit Naples' oldest café, the Caffè Gambrinus. Or take an evening out for an opera performance at the Teatro San Carlo. You can experience even more culture on a guided tour through the ancient ruins of Celanapoli. Or head to one of the old city gates - the Porta San Gennaro.

If you prefer a little less sightseeing, you can walk to the Lungomare promenade and take a stroll along it. As you stroll along the promenade, you will be rewarded with a view of Naples, the surrounding castles and Mount Vesuvius. Afterwards, you can sit down in one of the many cafés and restaurants.

I have put together a list of all the places on Google Maps.

You can find the list here.