Life in the back streets
by CliffClaven
Life in the back streets of Naples is like a rollercoaster ride through a Fellini film. Every day brings quaint and quirky episodes of life in a Neapolitan family block. Old Cliffie remembers the time his neighbour across the landing locked herself out, leaving her three-year-old child inside. While mother and aunt wailed like some demented Greek chorus, the prostitute from downstairs, arms across her ample bosom, tutted and hummed and the retired streetsweeper from upstairs bent his head to the keyhole and terrified the shocked three-year-old even more by repeatedly yelling: Vai, vai, in coppa 'a seggia (Go on, get on the chair)! The crowd grew larger and filled the landing, a policeman arrived and lost his hat in the mêlée and old Cliffie's flatmate set up a table in the doorway and started selling drinks.
Walking Tours of Naples
by wilocrek
During my last visit to Naples I stayed at the Hostel of the Sun and they offered several different walking tours during the day and at night. It was very inexpensive...less then 10 euro for most of them and alot of fun if you don't mind the younger, backpacking crowd. Just google "Hostel of the Sun - Naples" or go to www.hostelbookers.com to get contact info and you can email them for more info. The Hostel of the Sun is the starting point for the tours and the hostel is located by Castel Nuovo. You don't have to be a guest to take part of the various tours. The night tour is the most fun as it shows off the city at night and then ends with pizza and beer's....if drinking not your thing I believe they had soda as well!
Brandi: overrated
by bavarianandy about Brandi
The bithplace of Pizza Magharita, but to my taste really overpriced and overrated restaurant. We had much better pizza in small and cheap places in Napoli. Pizza has been the food of the simple people and does in my opinion not really fit to a fanzy place like this.
Spaccanapoli
by myriam_c
This is the heart of the centro storico. This very long and straight street cuts Naples in two parts and goes all the way from the collina del Vomero to the Central Station.
Via Tribunali is famous for the craftsmen of Napolitan Christmas Cribs (Manger Scenes). Year round you can see craftsmen making the cribs. Of course this has become a real industry and the street is like a chain of small shops selling cribs and other Christmas decorations, as well as typical Napolitan souvenirs, like pulcinelle statues and portafortune (peperoncini).
Each Christmas the Via Tribunali becomes a popular pilgrimage destination, both for tourists and enthusiasts. The street is a heaven of lights and colours and Christianity and paganism merge.
When time is not a problem...
by pjallittle
When time is not a problem for you, there is a lot to see in Naples but we don't hear too much about it. Nearby is one of the more famous sites on Earth, that of Pompeii, or Pompey.
Then, of course, the Amalfi Coast. Another major site is the Blue Grotto, this is heavily advertised by the Cruise ships. It would be a shame to come this far and not experience all of them, most people don't. To do any of them justice requires a number of days and people coming to this area just fail to allot the requisite time.
Hopefully, some of these observations will cause you to apportion your time a little differently. There is so much to see in Italy, though, one can hardly blame you for wanting to see all that you can of the other marvels of Italy.
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Frescoes above entrance into cloister (Apr 2010)
Recycled Roman materials
Former Natural Sauna
Street in Herculaneum
