Discovering Naples ..in a week!
Naples is the largest city in southern Italy (third Italian city by population) and among the most populous and densely populated metropolitan areas of the European Union. The city has something for everyone: rich in places of art, beauty, history, narrow streets, wonderful landscapes, attractions and contradictions. From world-class monuments to archaeological treasures, from the best pizza to the amazing street nightlife, Naples will never be boring. Have you landed in Naples for a trip for a whole week? International Community IC Napoli recommends in this section a long itinerary that will take you to discover what deserves to be visited and admired. One week in Naples will not let you explore everything, but it will give you time to fall under its southern charm. We have already organized several itineraries depending on the time requirements of a traveler in Naples, in particular you can consult our itineraries in Naples in one day and in a weekend. In this section we will take care of keeping you company for a whole week in our wonderful city.
MONDAY: The Old Center and the Waterfront
MONDAY MORNING Points of interest: Cimitero delle Fontanelle, Palazzo dello Spagnuolo, il Duomo di Napoli, S.Gregorio Armeno, Spaccanapoli, Piazza S.Domenico Maggiore, Basilica di Santa Chiara, Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo, Via Toledo, Maschio Angioino e Galleria Umberto I. Monday morning we suggest you take the underground line 1 and get off at Materdei station, where our itinerary begins immersed in Neapolitan art and folklore. Once we get off the train, we will move on foot to arrive at the Cimitero delle Fontanelle, a gigantic tuff quarry that preserves the remains of the victims of the great plague of 1656 and cholera of 1836 and is known for the “Anime Pezzentelle” ritual. After the walk in Neapolitan folklore, we will move from the Sanità along the homonymous street to the district of Vergini, where we will take a look at the Palazzo Spagnuolo, characteristic for the wide and numerous arches that intertwine with the trend of the stairs. Our tour continues towards one of the most important artistic streets of Naples, via Duomo. Once out of the Virgins area, we will cross P.zza Cavour and in a straight line we will head towards the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, better known as the Cathedral of Naples, famous for the blood melting of San Gennaro. Our tour continues towards one of the most important artistic streets of Naples, via Duomo. Leaving the Duomo we could give ourselves a quick and tasty appointment with the Neapolitan street food: a few steps from the Duomo you can access Via Tribunali where less than 100 meters, and for only € 1.50, we can taste one of the most famous dishes of Naples : the frittatina of the Pizzeria “Di Matteo”. After the culinary break we will head towards Via S. Gregorio Armeno, where we will cross the Decumano Inferiore, commonly called Spaccanapoli, a road artery of the ancient center of Naples and is one of the most important streets of the city. On the street there are important buildings of great architectural value such as the Church of Santa Maria, the Church of San Francesco delle Monache, Palazzo Venezia, Palazzo di Sangro and Palazzo Marigliano. On the way we will also meet Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the Church of Gesù Nuovo, which is almost at the end of Spaccanapoli, in the homonymous Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, from here we will reach Via Toledo. Via Toledo, whose original name was dedicated to the Viceroy Pedro de Toledo, connects Piazza Dante with Piazza Trieste and Trento, and is a stone’s throw from Piazza del Plebiscito and the Palazzo Reale. At the crossroads with Via Emanuele de Deo, our tour will continue towards Castel Nuovo or commonly called Maschio Angioino. From the Maschio Angioino it will be easy to reach the Galleria Umberto I. MONDAY AFTERNOON Places of interest: Galleria Umberto I, Real Teatro San Carlo, Palazzo Reale, Piazza del Plebiscito, Santa Lucia, Via Caracciolo, Castel dell’Ovo, Piazza Vittoria, Via Chiaia Our tour continues crossing and admiring the Galleria Umberto I, a marvelous and admirable gallery of Italian Liberty art. The walk continues towards the Real Teatro San Carlo, the oldest active theater in the world, adjacent to the Royal Palace, the former residence of the Spanish viceroys and Piazza del Plebiscito, symbol of Naples as well as one of the largest in the city and in Italy place, today, of great events. Once past Piazza del Plebiscito, we will cross the district of Santa Lucia, considered one of the most beautiful and evocative of the city, to cross Via Caracciolo, a long and wide promenade of Naples where there is Castel dell’Ovo, the oldest castle in the city. The fortress dates back to the twelfth century and overlooks the Neapolitan promenade. The curious name derives from the legendary Roman poet Virgilio, who narrates that the castle walls were fortified against external attacks using magical eggs kept in the dungeons. The walk will continue, crossing the pedestrian area of Via Caracciolo, towards Piazza Vittoria. From here we can return to the Historic Center via Via Calabritto and Piazza dei Martiri in the direction of Via Chiaia. This pedestrian area is a reference point for luxury shopping in Naples. Taking it all we will find ourselves in Piazza Trieste and Trento, from here we will again take Via Toledo to return to the Historic Center. MONDAY NIGHT After a long day you will surely be tired. We suggest you take advantage of your stay in Naples and do not miss the opportunity to try the real traditional Neapolitan pizza, known all over the world and declared by UNESCO the immaterial heritage of humanity. To take advantage of the best value for money we suggest you to stay in the area of the historic center, where you will have the opportunity to find a succession of many pizzerias. Among all we recommend three of the most famous in the center: Gino e Toto Sorbillo, Di Matteo e L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (in the latter you can taste only the two classic Margherita and Marinara).
TUESDAY: Vomero and Posillipo hill
TUESDAY MORNING Places of interest: Vomero District, Castel Sant’Elmo, Certosa di San Martino, Piazza Vanvitelli, Via Scarlatti, Villa Floridiana Tuesday morning we start to discover the so-called hill of “Vomero” is a residential area that began to develop in the nineteenth century. Today, the old Art Deco style villas are flanked by modern buildings and the neighborhood is one of the most sought-after (and expensive) residential areas of Naples in the city. You can reach it in various ways, through the metropolitan lines of the company ANM (you can consult all the information by clicking here). The stops are Vanvitelli for the subway line 1, Piazza Fuga if you take the Central Funicular line, Cimarosa if you take the Funicolare Chiaia line, and Morghen if you take the Montesanto Funicular line. Once you reach the Vomero area, the most important steps will certainly be Castel Sant’Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino, today there are museum sites with fee entrance. Inside you can find evidence of the history of Naples and the Certosa, without upsetting the religious vocation of the building. Our walk to the Vomero continues towards Villa Floridiana, a beautiful park that offers a splendid view over the entire Gulf of Naples. Once rested, we will continue our tour to Via Alessandro Scarlatti, one of the main streets of the Vomero district, considered one of the shopping streets of the Neapolitan city, together, for example, in via Luca Giordano, which is located nearby. The street is very elegant and overlooks palaces built in the Umbertine style. We conclude the walk by heading to the bus stop “Cilea – Gemito” where we will wait for the C31 bus line that will take us to the hill of Posillipo, where we will spend our tuesday afternoon. TUESDAY AFTERNOON Places of interest: Virgiliano park Once arrived in the area of Posilippo with the C31 bus line, we will get off at the “Manzoni-parco Virgiliano” stop and we will walk towards the park entrance 100m from the bus stop. The Virgilian Park was built during the Fascist period and opened in 1931 with the name Parco della Vittoria or della Bellezza. It was then called Parco delle Rimembranze, to commemorate the fallen of the Great War and later Virgiliano Park, in honor of the Roman poet. This park is built with a terraced structure, arranged over an area of 92,000 m2 and is located in a strategic position on the promontory of Posillipo, from where it offers a splendid panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples. From its “terraces” you can see at a glance the Sorrento peninsula from Vesuvius to Sorrento, the islands of Capri, Procida and Ischia and Nisida, the coast of Posillipo, Coroglio and the Phlegrean coast from Pozzuoli to Capo Miseno. The park also includes play areas for children, kiosks, bars and a sports facility with a soccer field and an athletic track, ideal for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. For the return in the evening we will move to the area of Mergellina – Riviera di Chiaia, to end our Tuesday tour. To reach Mergellina we could wait for the C21 bus line from the “Pascoli” stop, about 10 minutes walk from the park, or take the bus line 140 from the “Discesa Coroglio – Denza” stop, about 15 minutes walk from the park TUESDAY NIGHT Places of interest: Mergellina, Lungomare, Via Bausan, Riviera di Chiaia, Chiaia, Via San Pasquale, Vicoletto Belle Donne Reached the area of Mergellina, we just have to enjoy the seafront towards the now sunset time. We suggest you to continue the night in the area, in particular the area of the Riviera di Chiaia you will find many long dining options Via Bausan, while, for the evening post, we suggest you to stay on Via San Pasquale – Vicoletto Belle Donne where you will meet many local and bars frequented by the Neapolitan youth environment.
WEDNESDAY: Ercolano and Vesuvius
WEDNESDAY MORNING Expenses required: Tickets for the circumvesuviana: € 4.40 (2 tickets for € 2.20); Entrance to the site of the Herculaneum excavations: € 11 (reduced € 5.50 – FREE every first Sunday of the month); Herculaneum ticket – Vesuvius: 10 € (Round trip); Entrance to the Vesuvius: € 10; Total day: € 35 – € 25 How to reach Ercolano: via the Naples – Sorrento circumvesuviana line from P.zza Garibaldi, the stop to go down is that of Ercolano Scavi (click here to see timetable). Buried under a blanket of ash and lapilli due to the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, together with the cities of Pompeii, Oplonti and Stabiae, the ancient Herculaneum was brought to light by chance only in 1709 because of some works related to the construction of a well. Today the city of Herculaneum, together with the ruins of Pompeii and Oplonti, is part of the UNESCO list of archaeological sites in Campania. In particular, we advise you not to miss some of the stops on the site: La Villa dei Papiri; Padiglione della barca di Ercolano; For more information and reservations, we leave you here the official site of the excavations of Herculaneum: http://ercolano.beniculturali.it After the morning visit to the excavations of Herculaneum, we will head towards the meeting point to reach the crater of Vesuvius by shuttle. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON Once we reach the Great Cone of Vesuvius we will have a guided tour included in the cost of the entrance, we will only have to enjoy the view and the walk. The Vesuvius National Park was officially born on 5 June 1995 to conserve animal and plant species, plant and forest associations, geological singularities, paleontological formations, biological communities, biotopes, scenic and panoramic values, natural processes, the hydraulic and hydrogeological balances and the ecological balances of the Vesuvian territory. The territory of the Vesuvius National Park is a concentration of naturalistic riches, history of volcanology, breathtaking landscapes, centuries-old crops and traditions that make the Vesuvius area one of the most fascinating and most visited places in the world. at the meeting point of Herculaneum and we will return to Naples city via the circumvesuviana line from the Ercolano-Scavi stop (click here to see timetable). WEDNESDAY NIGHT Places of interest: Piazza Bellini, Piazza S.Domenico Maggiore As for the evening on Wednesday we suggest you take a walk through the historic center, in particular there will be two points of aggregation particularly frequented by the Neapolitan youth where you can spend a pleasant evening among numerous bars and clubs in the area: Piazza Bellini and Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore.
THURSDAY: Trip to Capri
THURSDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON Expenses required: times and prices change often. We leave you below the references of the major companies that deal with the route: SNAV, CAREMAR, ALILAURO How to reach Capri: In Naples there are two ports from which ships leave for Capri: the Molo Beverello and Calata di Massa. The Molo Beverello is in front of the Maschio Angioino, in Piazza Municipio, while Calata di Massa is more to the east (ie on the left having the sea in front). From the Molo Beverello hydrofoils leave, from Calata di Massa fast ships and ferries. Fast ships and ferries are slower and cheaper than hydrofoils and are the only ones that can embark motor vehicles. Lush, extraordinary, with a mild climate, Capri is the Mediterranean island that has seen over time intellectuals, artists and writers, all captured by its magical beauty. A mix of history, nature, worldliness, culture, events, which meet here every day and which gave life to the Myth of Capri, a legend without equal in the world. Things to see in Capri: La grotta azzurra – I faraglioni; La piazzetta di Capri; Villa jovis; Monte solaro; Giardini di augusto e via krupp; Punta carena e faro; Arco naturale e pizzolungo; Marina grande; La migliera; Villa san michele; Centro di Anacapri. THURSDAY NIGHT Places of interest: Quartieri Spagnoli After a long day in Capri you will surely be hungry. For Thursday evening we suggest you go to the Quartieri Spagnoli area to find refreshment in one of the Neapolitan trattorias, symbol of the city and of Neapolitan folklore: Trattoria Da Nennella. In this restaurant you can try the traditional Neapolitan cuisine accompanied by the sympathy and the involvement of the staff that will not fail to make you at dinner fun and cheerful. Waiting to sit at the table, we suggest you enjoy the aperitif from Cammarota Spritz, a bar near the trattoria. Here you can taste an aperitif at reasonable prices and enjoy the youthful environment that regularly attends the place and makes it, to date, one of the most important aggregation points of the Neapolitan youth environment.
FRIDAY: Sorrento in Amalfi Coast
FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON Expenses required: Tickets for the circumvesuviana: € 8.20 (2 tickets € 4.10); Bus tickets to Capo Sorrento: € 2.40 (2 tickets € 1.20); Total day: € 11 How to reach Sorrento: via the Napoli – Sorrento circumvesuviana line, the stop to get off is the terminus of Sorrento (click here to see timetable). Set in a picturesque position on a tufaceous terrace overlooking the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento is the most famous town on the Sorrento coast. Known resort since ancient times, Sorrento fascinates tourists and visitors with its breathtaking views, the landscape of gardens and citrus groves, the marinas, the charming old town, an interesting historical and religious architecture, the ancient tradition of inlaying and of laces. In particular, we advise you not to miss some of the stops on the itinerary: Vallone dei Mulini; Museo Correale; Chiesa di San Francesco; Piazza Tasso; Basilica di Sant’Antonino; Il Duomo; Sedile Dominova; Marina Grande e Marina Piccola; I Bagni della Regina Giovanna; FRIDAY NIGHT Places of interest: Piazza Bellini, Piazza S.Domenico Maggiore As for the evening on Friday we suggest you take a walk through the historic center, in particular there will be two points of aggregation particularly frequented by the Neapolitan youth where you can spend a pleasant evening among numerous bars and clubs in the area: Piazza Bellini and Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore.
SATURDAY: Discovering the Royal Palace of Caserta
SATURDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON Expenses required: Tickets for the train 6.20 € (2 tickets of 3.10 €); Entrance to Historic Apartments, Park and Garden 12 € (6 € reduced – FREE on the first Sunday of the month); Total day: € 17 – € 11 How to reach Caserta: through the regional railway line of the Ferrovie dello Stato, the stop to get off is Caserta (click here to choose the timetable). To see it from afar, the Royal Palace of Caserta is spectacular. UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was owned by the Bourbons of Naples and is the largest royal residence in the world by volume. In particular, we advise you not to miss some of the stops on the itinerary: Museo della Reggia di Caserta; Scalone D’Onore; Teatro; Collezione Terrae Motus,; Parco Reale; Giardino Inglese; SATURDAY NIGHT Places of interest: Via Coroglio As for Saturday night, we suggest you reach the Via Coroglio area, which can be reached via the underground line 2 at the Bagnoli stop (you can check the timetable here). Via Coroglio is the most popular nightlife area in the Neapolitan area on Saturday nights, in fact you will find many nightclubs along the entire coastline of the area. Among the most famous we recommend: Arenile, Club Partenopeo and Riva Club.
SUNDAY: Discovering the Pompeii ruins
SUNDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON Expenses required: Tickets for the circumvesuviana: € 6.40 (2 tickets for € 3.20); Entrance to the site of the Pompeii excavations: € 15 (reduced € 9 – FREE every first Sunday of the month); Total day: € 22 – € 7 How to reach Pompei: via the Naples – Sorrento circumvesuviana line from P.zza Garibaldi, the stop to get off is the Pompei Villa Misteri (click here here to see the timetable). Pompeii is the largest archaeological site in the world, you just have to spend a whole day to visit it all and let yourself be enchanted by its magical atmosphere of antiquity that will make you relive the greatness of past eras. In particular, we advise you not to miss some of the stops on the site: Il Foro e il Tempio di Apollo; L’Anfiteatro; Casa del Fauno; Teatro Grande; For more information and reservations, we leave you here the official site of the Pompeii ruins: http://www.pompeiisites.org/Sezione.jsp?titolo=Pompei&idSezione=12