My City Guide to Experience
The Best of Naples in One Day
I’ve been exploring the Gulf of Naples this week and created a city guide to experience the best of the Naples itself. It’s the perfect guide to get to know the city in just one day. Be prepared to walk quite a lot, but there is no better way to explore a city profoundly on foot.
The stories you hear about Naples are true: the city is dark, dirty and busy. It’s almost like the Napolitans have difficulties understanding the meaning of “maintenance”. The city has lots of dark, narrow streets and garbage can be found at any corner. However, when you would observe this all with an open mind (hi Taoist), you will perceive it as super intriguing, just like I did.
Save the locations in your Google Maps app on your phone (find out how to do that here) and you will easily see the route of my guide. I always use Google Maps to lead me anywhere in the world. Just be careful for pickpockets whilst holding your phone in front of you.
START AT THE TRAIN STATION
The guide starts at train station Porta Nolana or Garibaldi, two main stations that are located near each other. Take a walk towards the west through a typical Napolitan neighborhood. Notice how sunlight shines through dark, narrow streets. Enjoy the unmaintained buildings and the laundry hanging there to dry. I personally think the “imperfection” is so enormously beautiful. I’m always intrigued by streets like these.
ANTICA PIZZERIA
The two oldest pizzerias of the city are Antica da Michele and Antica Port’Alba. I did a great attempt to have a pizza at da Michele that would trigger my salivary glands by just reading about it. However, I didn’t have the patience to wait in the immense line. Cars would have difficulties passing the street full of people. But ok, if you do have the patience, let me know how the pizza was. You could also try the Port’Alba one that’s on the way.
CATHEDRAL SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA
Find the street via Duomo and walk upwards to the Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta. A beautiful church with an amazing interior design. I always love to wonder how they built this all ages ago.