Naples

Naples is the gateway to some of the most beautiful Italian landmarks and sites and, without a doubt, the most popular one is the Amalfi coast with Sorrento being the jewel in the crown. The steep rocky coastline is probably one of the most photographed areas here. A trip to the lava entombed Pompeii is a must for the history enthusiast and a hike to the top of the Vesuvius volcano will give you stunning views of the Gulf of Naples.

Naples is ideal for a short city break or before venturing further on. It has the architecture, the food, the Italian mad driving and it encompasses the Italian la dolce vita. We visited Naples a few years ago and I wrote a detailed blog about the city, link here. As we had already seen the main sites on the previous visit, this time we used the funicular to get to the leafy and upscale Vomero district. The main attractions here are Castel Sant’Elmo and the nearby monastery. The monastery has some beautiful examples of Italian art, from religious sculptures, paintings, nativity scenes to the detailed portrayal of the Italian life a few centuries back. There are also some stunning views of the city and the Bay of Naples.

Naples 101

If you are planning a trip to Naples, there are a few tips to bear in mind whilst in the city. Firstly, if possible, stay on the front, near Castel dell’Ovo. There are some really nice hotels here overlooking the bay and it is great for people watching and entertainment. The main tourist areas can get extremely busy and sometimes a bit intimidating. Not all the areas are tourist friendly so stick to the main tourist trails. Secondly, nobody will stop for you when crossing the road so you just need to go for it. Be confident but be very very careful. 

You won’t go hungry whilst in Naples which is the birth place of pizza and has over 800 pizzerias so you can easily take a pick. The traditional Neapolitan pizza is just simply tomato, mozzarella and basil with no other fancy toppings. However, the one to try whilst in Naples is pizza fritta, the fried pizza, which is a popular street food. The other food to try is sfogliatelle, a sweet puff pastry filled with the ricotta cheese. Absolutely delicious.

Island Hopping

Capri is the most popular “day trip” island which is accessible from Naples by a ferry. We visited it on our previous trip and it is definitely worth a visit (link here to the Capri blog). However, if you are after a less pretentious and glitzy island, head to Ischia which is such a tonic after the hustle and bustle of Naples. The ferry is around €20 one way and the crossing takes around 45 min. 

Ischia is a haven of lush vegetation with forests, citrus groves and vineyards. The island has a stunning coastline with a mix of dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches and coves. It is also known for its natural thermal springs. We took a city bus which goes round the island and you can hop on and off at different villages and beaches. The bus ride is an experience in itself as the roads here are steep and some stretches are only designed for one car so there is a lot of beeping and swerving. We stopped at the beautiful little village of Saint’Angelo  which might be one of the popular places to visit in Ischia.

We stayed in a family run hotel in Porto d’Ischia which is a charming main port of the island. There is lots of greenery here, beaches, restaurants and, of course, ice cream parlours. An interesting Ischia food fact is that rabbit is a popular Sunday dinner option here!

Castello Aragonese is the main historical attraction of the town. It is perched on a rocky islet and offers panoramic views of the sea and the island. Just a note that the climb to the castle requires some stamina but the end results is worth the effort.

Overall

We will definitely be back to Naples as it is a fabulous gateway to explore the Campania region and the islands of its coast. We might actually get to climb the Vesuvius!