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Naples is raw, high-octane energy, a place of soul-stirring art and panoramas, spontaneous conversations and unexpected, inimitable elegance.
As Italy’s
third largest city, Naples may not have the beauty of Rome but it does have a
huge personality of noise, old charm and in places, grime.
It can be
found sprawling along the shores of the Bay of Naples between the Mediterranean
and the towering Volcano Vesuvius.
Many
visitors are drawn here by the close proximity to the Amalfi Coast and the
wonderfully preserved archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Over the
centuries Naples has endured numerous rulers such as the Greeks, Romans,
Byzantines, Normans, French, Austrians and Spanish. Evidence of each of these
eras is dotted throughout the city leaving a rich heritage of diverse cultural
influences, making Naples a fascinating city to explore.
Naples
historic centre (centro storico) is a
maze of narrow streets
and piazzas, divided in two by Spaccanapoli, a long narrow cobbled street. Here
you will find a multitude of craftsman, cafés and shops to browse. A change of
pace can be found in the Spagnoli
Quartiere (Spanish Quarter).
Naples is
also the home of pizza and there is no shortage of restaurants offering their
take on the classic Margerita.
Naples
really is a city that will tantalise your senses.
Southern
Italy’s Mediterranean climate is generally milder and sunnier than the north,
with dry summers and wet autumns and winters in Naples. The height of summer brings sweltering
temperatures and crowds. Generally spring and autumn are the best times to
travel as the weather is pleasantly warm and sunny.
The average
monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
12 |
13 |
15 |
18 |
23 |
26 |
29 |
30 |
26 |
22 |
17 |
14 |
|
Night |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
15 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
5 |
It may not
quite be Milan but Naples has enough shopping opportunities to keep you happy.
For the big designer names such as Gucci and Max Mara head for via Calabritto,
whereas high streets names (e.g. Diesel and Sisley) are in Piazza de Martiri
and via Chiara.
The city’s
main shopping street is via Toledo although there isn’t a huge range of shops
in comparison to other Italian cities. For atmosphere you must visit
Spaccanapoli, a narrow street that stretches for 2km, lined with small
boutiques, craft shops, cafés and restaurants.
There are
also several markets, the most popular of which is the daily Pignasecca (via
Dante) or for colour try the fish market, Porta Nolana. There are also antique
markets such as Corso Malta (every Sunday) and Naples Antique Market (every
other weekend).
Favourite
souvenirs are the world famous capodimonte pottery and porcelain, carved coral,
Amalfi paper, nativity scenes and clothing.
For lovers
of classical music Naples offers San Carlo, one of the top opera houses in the
world. Teatro Diana also stages many classical concerts. If you prefer rock and
jazz try Palapartenope (vai Barbagllo Corrado) or the Otto Jazz Club (Salita
Cariati).
To make
sure you know what’s on where for music, theatre, clubs and bars, check out the
Qui Napoli magazine. This is
especially useful as many of the bars and clubs come and go quite quickly (and
others only open in the main holiday season) so it will help you keep track of
the latest venues.
Some of the
current favourite clubs and bars are:
January
May
July
August
September
Your hotel
will be able to provide you with details of local excursions and tour
operators. However below are a few suggestions to get you started.
The tap
water is safe to drink in Naples. There is a reciprocal health agreement with
certain EU states which means dental and medical costs can be received at a
reduced rate upon presentation of a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance
Card). However medical insurance is still vital as costs can be very expensive.
Although
much has been done recently to clean up Naples’ image, petty theft is still
quite common. Therefore you are advised to take the usual precautions with your
valuables when in crowded areas and never leave valuables in your car.
