Zwei kleine Italiener, tie träumten von Napoli… is a song by German singer Conny Froboess, who performed it at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962. It is a song about ‘Two little Italians dreaming of Naples’ and I always have this song stuck in my head when Naples comes up. Naples is the third-largest city in Italy and located in the region of Campania. Even though it might not be your average tourist destination, it definitely has a lot to offer.
Eat pizza!
The original Neapolitan pizza was invented in Naples and you can find it everywhere in the city! It's a dream of a pizza with local buffalo mozzarella. Similar to the German law of purity for beer, Naples has the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana when it comes to pizza - a rule that the pizza dough must consist only of wheat flour, yeast, salt, and water. The most famous restaurant is probably L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, which only serves the traditional margherita and marinara pizza. It was featured in the movie Eat, Pray, Love and you might have to wait for a couple of hours until you'll be seated. You'll be rewarded with a dream of a pizza - for 6€. If your stomach can’t handle the long wait, try Pizzeria Di Matteo for fried stuffed pizza, St Attilo for a sun-shaped ricotta-filled pizza, or Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo, where you might still have to queue but the dough alone will remind you why they say patience is a virtue.
EAT SFOGLIATELLA
Sfoglioatella is an Italian pastry native to the Campania area, which has been sold since 1818. The pastry dough consists of several layers, then shaped into a pocket form and usually filled with different delicious fillings such as orange-flavored ricotta, candied lemon, or almond paste. In one of the many bakeries in Naples, you can also get other yummy sweets such as Pasterias, Babas, Zeppolas, or Graffa Napoletana. If you don’t know what each of those is, believe me when I say you can hardly make a wrong choice when purchasing desserts in Naples.
In fact - eat all the food!
I did not know that street food was so big (and good) in Naples before I went. But apparently, Naples is famous for its fried street food - Friggitorie. Of course, you can also get a slice of pizza to go, but you will also find many places selling a cuppo, a cone of mixed fried foods. Often you can choose between ‘di terra’ (from the land) or ‘di mare’ (from the sea). Crocche di Patate are fried potato balls, Alici Fritte fried anchovies. Fried everything, for everyone.
Visit Naples Archeological Museum
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (or MANN) is an archeological museum with tons of remains from ancient Rome but also has works from Greek and Renaissance times. It is probably not surprising, that you find many artifacts from nearby Pompeii in the museum as well. If you - like me - were fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have had Latin in school, you might spot a familiar mosaic or two. I came across the cave canem (‘beware of the dog’) mosaic, which was pictured in one of my Latin books in high school.
Explore the castles
In ancient times, Naples was apparently called the ‘city of the seven castles’, as it was the only city with seven castes within its boundaries. So take your pick between Castel dell’Ovo, Castel Nuovo, Castel Sant’Elmo, Castel Capuano, Castello del Carmine, Castello di Nisida or Forte di Vigliena. Castell dell’Ovo is the oldest castle in the city, located right next to the sea, and comes with a fun legend: The Roman poet Virgil is said to have placed an egg in a little cage into the castle’s foundations, saying the city would be safe until such time as the egg wouldn’t break.
Go to Capri
Capri is an island off the Sorrento peninsula and has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic. It is particularly famous for its Blue Grotto, which the German painter and writer August Kopisch talks about in his book ‘The Discovery of the Blue Grotto on the Island of Capri’ in 1838. which made the grotto so famous. The island has been a popular destination for many artists, writers, and celebrities. You can easily reach the island by ferry from Naples as well as from Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. From Naples, the ferry takes around 80 minutes.
Wander through the streets of Quartieri Spagnoli
Its historic city center, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, has long been renowned for its beauty, with generations of poets and artists coming from all over the world for inspiration. The Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Neighborhood) has busy, narrow streets with many historic churches and a series of impressive murals. Visit Pignasecca market and get lost in the little alleys taking in the smells, noises, and busy-ness.
Stroll the Piazza Del Plebiscito
The Piazza del Plebiscito is a large public square in the center of Naples. After having been used as a car park for a while, thankfully the G7 summit in 1994 decided to redesign the place, so it is not an impressive square surrounded with historical buildings, which sometimes hosts open-air concerts. Nearby buildings include the Royal Palace, the Basilica of St, Francis of Paola, the Prefecture, and the Palace of Salerno.
Go to Pompeii
Pompeii is probably one of the most famous tourist attractions in the region of Campania and maybe even the world. You can easily take a train from Naples which takes you to the ancient city ruins of Pompeii, which were destroyed during an eruption of the volcano Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Once you’re there you can either do a guided your, get an audio guide or just stroll around the ancient ruins by yourself with a free map and pocket guide. Read more in my City of Ashes - Pompeii City Guide and my Tips for Visiting Pompeii.
Enjoy the views and bella italia
Go to Naples, enjoy all the sights and history but don’t forget to enjoy Bella Italia as well. There are tons of opportunities in Naples to enjoy a good view of the city and the sea, many small cafes where you can have a coffee or gelato and watch life go by and many restaurants with all the delicious Italian food. So before you head on to your next stop to take the most amazing Instagram pictures in Positano, enjoy Naples and la vita Italiana.
“The Italian proverb says “See Naples an die” but I say, see Naples and live; for there seems a great deal worth living for.”
Is there anything I forgot on my Naples Bucket List?
Kate recommends: Since I have already mentioned it in the post, I think I have no choice than to recommend a copy of Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Hilbert, when visiting Naples. Yes, there is a slightly cringe-y movie with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem, however, the book is actually based on the memoir chronicles of the author’s trip around Italy, India and Indonesia after her divorce. She spent four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life (“Eat”), which is what I can only recommend when visiting Naples.