Naples Off The Beaten Path

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The building, wanted by Marquis Nicola Moscati was built in the 1738 by Ferdinando Sanfelice who was a famous architect. It’s characterized by the original and scenographic internal staircase called as “hawk wings”, or “opened” or “ridable” because of the strange habit of the Spanish Chevalier Attienza, who was the second Palace’s owner, to go upstairs on his horse. The staircase splits two courtyards in succession. The internals are richly decorated with stuccos in Rococo style. Above the access doors to the apartments there are stucco decorations with bust-portrait medallions in the middle. Recently renovated, the Palace houses today a cultural foundation, the “Guarattelle” institute that is a place of theatre’s production. On the top floor will be located the Totò museum who was born in the quarter (Totò was a famous italian actor borned in Naples).
[by Egicom05 - Street of Naples]

ADDRESS
Via Vergini, 19
DIRECTIONS
By car: take the motorway Tangenziale and exit at Capodimonte.
By metro: Cavour square stop. Pass through the market-street of Vergini and go straight, the buildong is on the left side of the street.

The name of this street is connected with the ancient presence of Greek families, among them the phratry of Eunostidi who were devoted to chastity and virginity and for this reason the Neapolitan called the street “of Vergini”. The double bifurcation, at uphill and at downhill, of this street give it the shape of two “Y” symmetrical placed. The shape has been modelled by the natural
phenomenon of the “Vergini lava” because of mud, rubbles and water fall, that during the floods covered up everything. In the past years many buildings were destroyed, especially religious, rebuilt at an upper level like: S. Maria of Vergini and S. Maria Succurre Miseris churches. Along this street there are other two churches: Padri Missionari Vincenziani Convent and S. Maria of Misericordiella.
[by Egicom05 - Street of Naples]

ADDRESS
Via Vergini.
DIRECTIONS
By car: take the motorway Tangenziale and exit at Capodimonte.
By metro: Cavour Square stop. From here, after two minutes of walk, on the right side there is the access market- street to Vergini.

Quartiere Vergini-Sanita' is an alternative tour itinerary in Napoli, because its streets, its lanes aren't characterized by elegance and notoriety of the other neapolitan quarters, but they hold the true folk life, made up by ancient folklore, religious traditions and everyday life. The access street to the quarter is through the market-street of Vergini, near Cavour square. Because this area was out of the urban city, it was used esclusively like cemetery place until XVIII century. During the XVI century, the expansion of the building-trade increased and in 1.600 were realized big charitable, religious and conventual complexes like convents of Santa Maria della Sanita', and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. During the 700 were built numerous private and important buildings like: Spagnolo Palace and Sanfelice Palace. At the end of the century was built the Sanita' Bridge to connects Royal Palace with Capodimonte Palace that was isolated and stepped over the quarter. During the 900 with the expansion of the middle-class city to the coastal areas, this zone was left to the poor classes and to a progressive deterioration.

See also votive aedicule
[by Egicom05 - Street of Naples]

It was the only northern access to the urban city until 500. This Door was called in this way bacause led to the catacomb where S. Gennaro, who was the city Patron Saint, was buried. On the door you can look a fresco of XVII century realized by Mattia Preti, it is an ex-voto after the terrible plaguae of the 1656. From here you have to go in Fuori Porta S. Gennaro Street, at the end of this you are in Vergini Street.
[by Egicom05 - Street of Naples]

ADDRESS
Porta S. Gennaro Street
DIRECTIONS
By car: take the motorway Tangenziale and exit at Capodimonte.
By metro: Cavour Square stop. From here you have only to cross the road.

The birthplace of Sophia Loren has plenty to do if you will be in Naples for an extended period of time. Food, history and plenty of public transportation make this an enjoyable trip for anyone looking to take a break from the Naples area.
(look at VT pages for pozzuoli)

Vesuvius is the only active volcano in continental Europe. From the top you have a amazing view of hole Naples. My friend decided to climb the mountain and tried to persuade us to do so, if only we knew that If it is not possible to climb from the bottom. You have to take a bus or jeep to the top and then it is only the last 200 meteres you will able to climb right to the top. It has a bowl shape with a big and deep hole in the middle. In its rich history this volcano has buried towns such as Pompei and Herculaneum. After the last eruption in 1944, a vast crater was formed at the peak, covered with ash, and the plume of smoke which had become part of the classic imagery of Vesuvius disappeared. If you are in Naples dont miss to visit Vesuvius.

Herculaneum was a smaller town close to the city of Pompeii. Its main industry was fishing. When Vesuvius erupted in August of 79 AD, Herculaneum was buried under nearly 60 feet of superhot mud. When the mud cooled, it set nearly as hard as concrete. This makes excavations very difficult, but scientists continue their work to learn about the people and the town of Herculaneum.

Sorrento is situated on a plain above the sea, overlooking the Bay of Naples. The view from Sorrento stretches back to the north, encompassing Vesuvius, the city of Naples, and the island of Ischia. The town is exceedingly popular with tourists, particularly the British - indeed, English appears at times to be Sorrento's first language. It has a pretty old town, a harbour with ferry departures to Capri, Amalfi and Naples, and is within easy reach of the Amalfi Coast, Pompei, Herculaneum and the city of Naples. There is some good walking in the peninsula, and plenty of restaurants and bars for the less energetic.