If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

credit: Bryce Edwards

Where do you think of visiting if you imagine that you are going to take a trip to Italy? Do you dream of checking out the canals of Venice? Do you picture yourself enjoying the fashion capital of Milan? Are you the kind of person that would book a tour through the historic landmarks in Rome? Or perhaps you envision yourself wandering through the art history of Florence? It’s hard to narrow down your choices for an Italian vacation. But perhaps you should think about going to an area of Italy that isn’t as likely to be the first place that you think of when you plan an Italian vacation. Maybe you should think about going to Naples.

Naples is a city in the south of Italy which has many of the great features that you would want from the ideal Italian vacation. It has a rich history which is not only filled with political and social importance but is also marked by lots of important movements in art and the Italian culture. It has the beauty of natural attractions such as the Mount Vesuvius volcano. And it sits on the coast so you’ll be enjoying the Mediterranean waters of a relaxing trip in Italy. You’ll get a really neat experience of Italy in a place where you won’t be fighting with quite as many tourists to enjoy the area. And of course, you’ll be close enough to all of the other famous spots in Italy that you can take some neat day trips to those well-known destinations which might have been the first to come to mind.

If you do decide to book a trip to Naples, here are some of the things that you will likely want to see while you are there:

credit: pizzodisevo

• Castel Nuovo: One of the things that you should make sure to see during a trip to Naples is a castle. This serves to reinforce the romance that you’ll feel all throughout your stay in the region. There are several historic castles to choose from in the area but this is the one that most travelers prefer because of the beauty and history it contains. It’s also a castle that looks most like the storybook castles that you heard about as a child and so it’s a place where magic feels like it’s in the air.
• Cathedral of Naples: Many people who visit Europe want to go to the famous churches that are located there. This is the main one to check out in Naples. It’s been around since the early fourteenth century so there is a whole lot of history held within its walls. There is also some beautiful artwork by famous Italian painters that you can see when you visit this place of worship.
• Chapel of the Monte di Pieta: This religious building was constructed in the sixteenth century and is a landmark because of the beauty of its design. There are sculptures here as well as a courtyard surrounding the area. It’s part of a larger palace that has historic importance in the city.

credit: beggs

• Gulf of Naples: If you’re seeking to find the best beaches in Italy then you’re going to want to head to this coastal area. There are several well-known islands in this area where celebrities, artists and the average person may go to retreat from the world and experience the romance of a Mediterranean beach vacation. For those people who are interested in making sure that they experience the area’s history while they are there, this is also where the ruins of Pompeii, an ancient Roman city, can be found.

credit: Finizio

• Mount Vesuvius: This is a stunning volcano to the east of the city that you can’t miss when looking out at the Naples skyline. You’ve probably heard its name before and that’s because it is the only volcano in Europe to have erupted in the last century. In addition to this, you may have heard about this volcano because it is famous for destroying the Roman City of Pompeii. It’s rare that you get to go see a natural wonder that is also such an important part of the history of an entire country.
• Palace and Museum of Capodimonte: During the nineteenth century, the area surrounding Naples and including Sicily was called the Two Sicilies. The king of the Two Sicilies had this palace built so that he could enjoy it as a summer home. Today it stands as a historical monument to that period of the past in Naples. It is a historic palace and also holds a museum where you can learn more about the history of this area.
• Palazzo Como: This is a palace within the urban part of Naples which looks a lot different from the castles that you would normally picture a palace to look like. That could be because it was built by edgy artists in the area in the middle of the 15th century. It could also be because it’s located right in the downtown part of the city.
• Palazzo Serra di Cassano: This is another palace in Naples but one with entirely different architecture. It was designed to represent an architectural movement that took place in the early eighteen century and was unique to Naples. It stands today as a testament to that period of Naples history.
• Phlegraean Fields: Just to the west of Naples you will find that there is a natural area that looks nothing like what you’ve probably seen in the past. It’s a landscape feature called a “caldera”. This is basically like a bowl-shaped cavern that forms in the ground sometimes after a volcano has erupted. The land beneath the volcano essentially just caves in. That’s exactly what happened here and it serves as a natural landmark that many people like to take the opportunity to see when they are in Naples.
• Piazza del Plebiscito: When you’ve had a chance to spend some time in Italy, you’ll learn that an important part of any city there is its main piazza. This is basically the town square and is usually a place that is busy with modern activity but which also holds an important role in the history of the area. Naples is no exception to this trend and you’ll find this main piazza to be a place where you can experience an interesting aspect of the city.
• Teatro San Carlo: If you have any interest at all in the performing arts then you’re going to want to check out this famous old opera house. In fact, opera is an important part of the cultural history of Italy so you may want to make a stop at this famous landmark even if you typically think that opera isn’t your thing.
• Underground Naples: There are a series of unique volcanic caves that lie underneath the city itself. These can be toured as a visitor to the area and are definitely worth checking out as something unique that’s both historic and modern, both natural and urban.

credit: wEnDaLicious

In addition to all of the great landmarks that there are to see on a trip to Naples, you’ll want to make sure to enjoy some great food. And the dish that you won’t want to miss here is pizza. Sure, you can get it anywhere in Italy (and anywhere in the world) but it was first created in Naples so you’ll be enjoying the history of the area while you enjoy its food.

Tags: Europe | Italy | naples | travel | vacation