4 Nights in naples
Naples holds its own and then some. Bella Napoli may seem a more apt sentiment for an era long since passed, but the aging beauty hasn’t succumbed to the ravages of history, politics, and crime. Mini-operettas take place on every street corner, while flashing Vespas scoot across pedestrian piazzas. Small, narrow streets hung thick with laundry are covered in exhaust pouring from a passing bus. An aperitivo taken at Café Gambrinus, the city’s oldest and most elegant café will almost certainly restore your faith. From volcanoes to pizza, Naples truly offers a little something for everyone. Soak it all in with a stroll down Spaccanapoli (literally ‘split Naples’ because it cuts the city in half). In Naples, Eat Pizza & Sfogliatelle, Drink Coffee & Campanian beverages (limoncello and crema di limone, both lemon-based), Wander Aimlessly in the Historic Center, Visit the National Archaeological Museum, See the Veiled Christ at Capella Sansevero, Tour Naples Underground, Pick Up a Figurine for Your Nativity, Go Modern at MADRE, Grab a few day trips through the beauty of Campania Region. The Campania region consists of the five following provinces: Avellin, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli, Salerno. The ocean is one of the biggest lures to visitors of the Campania region. The Amalfi coasts presents a series of mountainside towns that seem to tumble into the sea. Also, not far from Naples are some of the most beautiful islands in the world: Ischia, Capri and Procida. Campania stretches along the Tyrrhenian Sea, from the mouth of the Garigliano River to the Gulf of Policastro. The mildness of the climate, the beauty of the coasts, the richness of its art and history and the love for food make Campania an enjoyable land. Music, sea, entertainment and nature, but also history and culture.
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Within City Walls
City Tour
Visiting the most important cultural and historic sights in Naples, the birthplace of pizza, stops on your morning tour of this exciting city include the Cathedral to visit its charming baroque Treasure Chapel and S. Restituta basilica, dating back to the 4th century. You'll also take a drive to Plebiscito Square to see the Royal Palace and the beautiful neoclassical Church of St Francesco di Paula. After a drive to the Town Hall Square and the New Castle, built by the French Family of Anjou, the tour ends at the terrace at Posillipo, for wonderful views of the picturesque city of Naples. |
For the Kids
The city is oftentimes referred to as the world’s largest open-air museum in that there is an abundance of historical structures, monuments, opera houses, and theaters. The Naples’ Aquarium (Acquario is situated on Via in the public gardens of Caracciolo.), Edenlandia Amusement Park (Campania’s largest amusement park, featuring numerous rides), Museo Nazionale Ferroviario (enjoyed especially by children, this family attraction features old fashioned cars, engines, and railway equipment, displayed in a restored format of railway atmosphere) |
Madre Museum
Madre is the first contemporary arts museum open in a city's historic centre. Some of the world's best contemporary artists are represented, including Horn, Kapoor, and Lewitt, as well as a number of Italian artists such as Fabro, Clemente, and Serra. In addition to the permanent collection, the MADRE houses noteworthy temporary exhibits. From the Cortile della Caffetteria, also called Cortile Banco dei Pegni, you can now access Santa Maria di Donnaregina Vecchia, beautiful Gothic church that holds monument to Queen Maria d'Ungheria carved by Tino da Camaino. |
Sightseeing Cruise
An opportunity to soak in the sunshine, shoot photos of historical landmarks and marvel at exclusive waterfront estates. Spot marine animals and soaring seabirds. Cruise route travels through Naples Bay to view the spectacular homes in Port Royal and out to the Gulf of Mexico to view Naples' most magnificent sunsets and pursue the elusive "green flash". Don't forget your camera! Look closely and you might just see a dolphin family swimming by as you glide through the calm waters! And you never know when we'll encounter eagles, egrets, and other marine & estuary wildlife. |
Even the most die-hard Naples fans might need a break from the city after a couple days, and thankfully there are plenty of places around Naples that are perfect for day trips.
Costiera Amalfi
A unique view is offered by the Amalfi Coast: bays, coves and picturesque small towns which miraculously cling to the mountain. The light blue colour of the sea, the green of the Mediterranean scrub, the colours and the lines of the small houses, merge perfectly creating one of the most beautiful routes on the Italian coast. Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Vietri sul Mare and Positano are some of the precious pearls that make up a necklace of small towns (12 altogether) on the coast. They look like small living Nativities, with their ancient alleys, arches and little squares that enchant visitors with their atmosphere, sounds and scents. |
Isle of Capri
Island offers a landscape of wild beauty sculpted by wind, sea and man's clever work, a steep and very irregular coast, encircled by the famous Faraglioni, big and eccentric rocky reef, and by many caves with suggestive light-games. The well known cave Grotta Azzurra, in little square of the theatre of the island's 'Dolce Vita'. Certosa of San Giacomo houses a museum with two recovered statues. In Anacapri, the Casa Rossan is eyecatching within the coloured landscape, of 'L'Isola Dipinta' Besides cultural attractions, the fascination of sea and nature, Capri also offers not only boutique shopping but also “made in Italy” items and typical products. |
Ponza
The principal island in Italy's Pontine archipelago is one of the most naturally gorgeous and downright fun islands of Italy, and just far enough from the mainland to be an impractical destination for mass tourism. So much the better for those who do go to the trouble of making a trip here, because what you'll find is a rare Mediterranean gem that has kept its Italian identity intact and undiluted. Not that Ponza is "undiscovered." On the contrary, it's a summertime escape that enjoys feverish devotion among the bella gente. If you want to avoid the holiday scene altogether, just come in May, June, and September -- locals will tell you this is when their island really shines. |
Procida
The charming island of Procida with flourishing gardens and fragrant lemon and orange groves bewitch visitors with their lush beauty. Procida is the smallest and oldest island in the Bay of Naples and is, like Ischia, of volcanic origin. The places in Procida most attractive for their architecture include Marina Grande, the old village of Terra Murata, the Fisherman’s village of Marina Corricella and the Port of Marina Chiaiolella. In these places, you will find the many characteristics of the traditional architecture including arches, external staircases, balconies, pastel colouring and especially the "Vefio" with its typical wide span open arch. |
Pompeii & Herculaneum
No trip to Naples would be complete without a trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum. The archaeological sites of the former (especially those involving fleeing figures frozen in volcanic lave), have remained firmly embedded in most people's memories since history class at school, sight of Mt Vesuvius towering over the bay has always held visitors spellbound. In Pompeii don't miss Antiquarium di Boscoreale or Scavi di Pompeii. Allow at least three hours for visiting Pompeii; longer if you intend to see the amphitheatre and the Villa dei Misteri. In many ways Herculaneum is arguably a more interesting place to visit than Pompeii. Surrounded by volcanic rock, its location gives you a far clearer idea of the magnitude of the volcanic eruption. Herculaneum is thought to have been a glitzy seaside resort for wealthy Romans, and so boasts villas even more elaborate than those of Pompeii. |
Paestum
The Greek temples of Paestum, dating from the first half of the 6th century BC, could very well be the best preserved in the world. Paestum offers quiet moments.Archaeology, nature and traditions are the three distinguishing features of the Cilento National Park and of the Vallo di Diano, a crossroads for cultures and peoples since prehistory. A precious vestige of this region is Paestum, which boasts the three best preserved Greek temples in the world: Hera’s Temple, the oldest, Neptune’s Temple, the biggest, and Ceres’s Temples, which was actually dedicated to goddess Athena. In 540 A.D, the coasts of Cilento saw the landing of the Phocaeans, the founders of Elea (today Velia), ancient town known for being the residence of great philosophers like Parmenides. Don’t miss a visit to the Certosa di Padula, one of the largest monasteries in the world. |
Reggia di Caserta
The Royal Palace, symbol of Caserta and Unesco World Heritage Site, is one of the most important monuments of the Italian artistic heritage. It is a real masterpiece of architecture and decoration and a precious holder of works of art. Inside the Palace, visitors are astonished by the continuous succession of works of art, stuccos, bas-releifs, frescoes, sculptures and inlaid floors. A colossal work: four courtyards, 1200 rooms, more than 30 impressive staircases including the famous Grand Staircase with 116 steps, framed by a huge splendid park. An integral part showing the majesty and beauty of the Reggia di Caserta (Royal Palace of Caserta) is the wonderful Park. An Italian garden of wide lawns, squared flowerbeds. The English Garden not as symmetrical as the Italian one, full of indigenous and exotic plants, like the wonderful Cedars from Lebanon. |
Benevento
An aura of history permeates the ancient land of the Samnites, A province filled with history, archeological visions and marvellous landscapes, and it surprises for its atmosphere of composed mysticism that has always characterized it. The Benevento province, with its silences and sensations that only a pristine environment could offer, is the ideal destination to spend a relaxing vacation and follow charming itineraries to discover a slower-paced world, far removed from the frenzy of the cities. A journey to discover the now-forgotten world of the Samnites. These are places of bright beauty, impossible to forget, that gain one’s heart and mind with their most concealed aspect: the farming and pastoral culture still tied to their traditions, to this land they have always cultivated with passion, to the old crafts, to the popular beliefs, a cultural heritage passed down from generation to generation. |