Naples , city founded by the Greeks with the name "Neapolis", metropolis of about 1 million inhabitants, capital of culture and privileged stage of the "grand tour" of the European Nobles since the 18th century and still until the 1900s, a city that thrives on contrasts, with nuances and "thousand colors" (cited by singer Pino Daniele), with intense aromas and breathtaking landscapes, to be experienced on the surface, but to be known and understood in its subsoil, which is expressed by day, but enchants by night, capital Unesco of Pizza, founder and homeland of street-food, eternal home of poets such as Virgil and Leopardi, historically very interesting and which could be told even just by quoting the almost hundred records held. Visiting it is one of those all-encompassing experiences which, once done, you will keep in your heart for life, which will never leave you indifferent, which will force you to love it or hate it, but which if you love it will enchant you through the song of the Partenope siren at the point you can't wait to come back. Naples, according to many and not least CNN Turismo, is one of the Stops to visit at least once in a lifetime and these are our 10 reasons to do so.
1) Naples, unique in the world, offers its tourists the opportunity to retrace, touch and experience the history of the last 3,000 years.
There are several examples in the world of cities steeped in their history which, monothematically, are showcases of their past of maximum splendor and in any case of a precise historical arc. But this is not Naples, as it offers its visitors not a historical period, not a period of maximum splendor, but bears witness to itself throughout its centuries of history, from its foundation to today, a unique opportunity world where you can relive, layer upon layer, the traces of every People who Conquered, Lived, Loved it! This is why Naples is a living book, which allows you to study its history, understand it, but above all to experience it, walking inside it, touching it, seeing it, smelling it. A story that starts from when it was founded in the 9th BC by the Greeks in the area that includes the islet of Megaride (the current Castel dell'Ovo), to then tell us about all the peoples who have come and gone and the events connected to them in the centuries. In fact, Neapolis, after the Greeks, was conquered by the Samnites, then it was a Roman city, Duchy of Byzantium in 763 AD, to then pass under the power of the Normans, the Swabians and again the Angevins; in the Renaissance it belonged to the Aragonese, then the Spanish, a brief parenthesis under the French of Napoleon first and then the Austrians, to finally return to the Bourbons of Spain. This makes Naples an incomparable experience, incomparable to others. The multi-cultural city par excellence, which offers tourists vestiges, remains and testimonies of its entire historical journey. In Naples, thinking of taking the Metro, you will be able to run into a Roman port with an almost intact ship of the time, you will walk on streets of Greek stones, you will touch the lava layers of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, you will visit churches with bell towers the Minarets of Islamic tradition, you will walk underground among Roman cisterns to emerge through private homes to discover Roman amphitheaters; you will visit catacombs which house the tomb of the Patron Saint of the City San Gennaro, Royal Palaces, Castles, Galleries with Domes in Iron and Glass among the oldest in Europe, you will retrace the era of the Industrial Revolution 1800/1900 seen through Transport (see Museum of the railways).
There are several examples in the world of cities steeped in their history which, monothematically, are showcases of their past of maximum splendor and in any case of a precise historical arc. But this is not Naples, as it offers its visitors not a historical period, not a period of maximum splendor, but bears witness to itself throughout its centuries of history, from its foundation to today, a unique opportunity world where you can relive, layer upon layer, the traces of every People who Conquered, Lived, Loved it! This is why Naples is a living book, which allows you to study its history, understand it, but above all to experience it, walking inside it, touching it, seeing it, smelling it. A story that starts from when it was founded in the 9th BC by the Greeks in the area that includes the islet of Megaride (the current Castel dell'Ovo), to then tell us about all the peoples who have come and gone and the events connected to them in the centuries. In fact, Neapolis, after the Greeks, was conquered by the Samnites, then it was a Roman city, Duchy of Byzantium in 763 AD, to then pass under the power of the Normans, the Swabians and again the Angevins; in the Renaissance it belonged to the Aragonese, then the Spanish, a brief parenthesis under the French of Napoleon first and then the Austrians, to finally return to the Bourbons of Spain. This makes Naples an incomparable experience, incomparable to others. The multi-cultural city par excellence, which offers tourists vestiges, remains and testimonies of its entire historical journey. In Naples, thinking of taking the Metro, you will be able to run into a Roman port with an almost intact ship of the time, you will walk on streets of Greek stones, you will touch the lava layers of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, you will visit churches with bell towers the Minarets of Islamic tradition, you will walk underground among Roman cisterns to emerge through private homes to discover Roman amphitheaters; you will visit catacombs which house the tomb of the Patron Saint of the City San Gennaro, Royal Palaces, Castles, Galleries with Domes in Iron and Glass among the oldest in Europe, you will retrace the era of the Industrial Revolution 1800/1900 seen through Transport (see Museum of the railways).
2) City of Cribs.
We are now in the full Christmas atmosphere and the historic center, especially San Gregorio Armeno, is teeming with tourists hunting for the beautiful shepherds made by the artisans of the historic shops that inhabit the historic "Via dei pastori". The crib tradition of San Gregorio Armeno has very ancient origins, dating back even to the classical era. Today, among the classic shepherds who "inhabit" the nativity scenes, we can also find the many personalities who, during the year, have made themselves known for the most diverse reasons. And here you can find Giorgia Meloni rather than Queen Elizabeth but also Damiano dei Maneskin or the three-star Michelin Chef, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Maradona, Beyonce and many other characters.
We are now in the full Christmas atmosphere and the historic center, especially San Gregorio Armeno, is teeming with tourists hunting for the beautiful shepherds made by the artisans of the historic shops that inhabit the historic "Via dei pastori". The crib tradition of San Gregorio Armeno has very ancient origins, dating back even to the classical era. Today, among the classic shepherds who "inhabit" the nativity scenes, we can also find the many personalities who, during the year, have made themselves known for the most diverse reasons. And here you can find Giorgia Meloni rather than Queen Elizabeth but also Damiano dei Maneskin or the three-star Michelin Chef, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Maradona, Beyonce and many other characters.
3) Capital of Records.
Naples is one of the top cultural capitals of Europe and of the world over the centuries has accumulated such a quantity of records, to the point of being too many to list them all. Just to name one, just think that the entire Historic Center of Naples (among the largest in the world) has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take a look at our article in which we list all the records of this fantastic city, by clicking on the link below https://www.metour.it/news/sapevi-che-napoli-e-capitale-di-record-e-primati-e- many-are-still-visible-/
Naples is one of the top cultural capitals of Europe and of the world over the centuries has accumulated such a quantity of records, to the point of being too many to list them all. Just to name one, just think that the entire Historic Center of Naples (among the largest in the world) has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can take a look at our article in which we list all the records of this fantastic city, by clicking on the link below https://www.metour.it/news/sapevi-che-napoli-e-capitale-di-record-e-primati-e- many-are-still-visible-/
4) Pizza, Street Food and Neapolitan cuisine.
Surely, pizza is one of the main reasons why tourists choose to come to Naples. Yes, because tasting the real Neapolitan pizza, declared Unesco Intangible Heritage, is a sensory experience that you won't soon forget and every time you return to the city it will be the first thing you want to eat. Then there are the fried "cuoppo" to buy on the fly while walking through the center. In the "cuoppo" you will find potato crocchè, pasta omelettes, arancini which here we call pall' e ris' (rice balls), the "cuzzettiello" (end part of the loaf of bread) with polette, fried pizzas and pizzas a " wallet". It is useless to get around it, street food was born in Naples. But, in reality, all Neapolitan cuisine, with its countless traditional dishes, is able to satisfy even the most demanding palates. Pasta and potatoes with or without provola, Genovese, parmigiana, meat sauce, spaghetti with clams and so on and so forth.
5) Coffee and Neapolitan pastry
The Neapolitans like to conclude the meal with a nice coffee which, like many things, must be done in a workmanlike manner. Compared to other espresso coffees made by bars throughout Italy, Neapolitan coffee is much stronger, as the beans that compose it have a part of the Arabica blend which is much more robust and richer in caffeine. The beans are then roasted at higher temperatures. Drinking coffee in Naples is a real ritual and meeting a friend is an excuse to enjoy another one. First, the bartender will offer you water, strictly sparkling as the bubbles will "cleanse" your mouth of other flavours, so you can fully enjoy the coffee. The coffee must be hot and the cup in which they will serve it will also be very hot, so be careful not to burn yourself. And then when paying, don't forget to leave one "suspended", that is, to pay an extra one to those who cannot afford it (in Naples, the capital of hospitality, this has always been done). Finally, just to "stay in shape", you cannot do without an excellent dessert choosing between babà or sfogliatella (curly or shortcrust pastry). If you were to visit Naples during the Christmas period, then you can taste the pastiera, the struffoli, the mustacciuoli, the roccocò... Neapolitan pastry has a long tradition.
Surely, pizza is one of the main reasons why tourists choose to come to Naples. Yes, because tasting the real Neapolitan pizza, declared Unesco Intangible Heritage, is a sensory experience that you won't soon forget and every time you return to the city it will be the first thing you want to eat. Then there are the fried "cuoppo" to buy on the fly while walking through the center. In the "cuoppo" you will find potato crocchè, pasta omelettes, arancini which here we call pall' e ris' (rice balls), the "cuzzettiello" (end part of the loaf of bread) with polette, fried pizzas and pizzas a " wallet". It is useless to get around it, street food was born in Naples. But, in reality, all Neapolitan cuisine, with its countless traditional dishes, is able to satisfy even the most demanding palates. Pasta and potatoes with or without provola, Genovese, parmigiana, meat sauce, spaghetti with clams and so on and so forth.
5) Coffee and Neapolitan pastry
The Neapolitans like to conclude the meal with a nice coffee which, like many things, must be done in a workmanlike manner. Compared to other espresso coffees made by bars throughout Italy, Neapolitan coffee is much stronger, as the beans that compose it have a part of the Arabica blend which is much more robust and richer in caffeine. The beans are then roasted at higher temperatures. Drinking coffee in Naples is a real ritual and meeting a friend is an excuse to enjoy another one. First, the bartender will offer you water, strictly sparkling as the bubbles will "cleanse" your mouth of other flavours, so you can fully enjoy the coffee. The coffee must be hot and the cup in which they will serve it will also be very hot, so be careful not to burn yourself. And then when paying, don't forget to leave one "suspended", that is, to pay an extra one to those who cannot afford it (in Naples, the capital of hospitality, this has always been done). Finally, just to "stay in shape", you cannot do without an excellent dessert choosing between babà or sfogliatella (curly or shortcrust pastry). If you were to visit Naples during the Christmas period, then you can taste the pastiera, the struffoli, the mustacciuoli, the roccocò... Neapolitan pastry has a long tradition.
6) The Veiled Christ.
Naples is full of museums that house wonderful works of art. One above all, however, prevails over the others. We are talking about the Veiled Christ, the wonderful sculpture created by Giuseppe Sanmartino and kept in the mysterious San Severo Chapel. Antonio Canova was so impressed by the magnificence of the work that he declared that he would have given 10 years of his life to have been the one to create the work. The magnificent sculpture is a marble "bed" on which the dead body of Jesus Christ is laid after being taken down from the cross. At his feet are the symbols of martyrdom: the crown of thorns and nails with pincers. Christ is covered by a marble veil and this is the true magnificence of the sculpture. Sanmartino has made the shroud with such skill as to make it real in the eyes of those who observe the sculpture. The work is so fantastic that over the centuries the legend has been handed down according to which the noble Raimondo di Sangro, who commissioned the work, being an alchemist, managed to carry out an alchemical process, called marbling, thanks to which the veil would have calcified.
Naples is full of museums that house wonderful works of art. One above all, however, prevails over the others. We are talking about the Veiled Christ, the wonderful sculpture created by Giuseppe Sanmartino and kept in the mysterious San Severo Chapel. Antonio Canova was so impressed by the magnificence of the work that he declared that he would have given 10 years of his life to have been the one to create the work. The magnificent sculpture is a marble "bed" on which the dead body of Jesus Christ is laid after being taken down from the cross. At his feet are the symbols of martyrdom: the crown of thorns and nails with pincers. Christ is covered by a marble veil and this is the true magnificence of the sculpture. Sanmartino has made the shroud with such skill as to make it real in the eyes of those who observe the sculpture. The work is so fantastic that over the centuries the legend has been handed down according to which the noble Raimondo di Sangro, who commissioned the work, being an alchemist, managed to carry out an alchemical process, called marbling, thanks to which the veil would have calcified.
7) The Mystery and the Esoteric.
It is not only the Chapel of Sansevero that is hidden in mystery... There are many places in Naples shrouded in mystery, with a certain something esoteric. The Neapolitans have a great bond with the afterlife, traceable in the devotion they have for the "pezzentelle" souls, that is, the skulls (and capuzzell') of the magical Fontanelle Cemetery. These skulls are adopted with prayers and care in exchange for protection, but also, why not, for numbers to play the lottery in the hope of a good win. One of the most famous skulls in Naples is that of Lucia, the so-called "skull with the veil" which is found, however, in the Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco (in Via dei Tribunali). It seems that Lucia, in love with a baker, poisoned herself because her parents, as nobles, forbade her to marry him (a story that is said to have inspired Shakespeare for the story of Romeo and Juliet). The young women looking for love are very devoted to Lucia. But one of the most mysterious cults of Naples is certainly the one linked to the blood of San Gennaro, the patron saint of the city who, in particular, on September 19 of each year "fa' o mirac'l " (miracle). The saint's blood is kept in a very ancient ampoule inside the Cathedral of Naples and every year, on the day of San Gennaro which falls on September 19th, the blood liquefies. The dissolution of the blood is seen as a good omen by the Neapolitans as it means that, by dissolving the blood, San Gennaro will continue to protect the city. If the blood, on the other hand, doesn't melt, it means that something bad is about to happen to the city. For example, in 1939 the miracle did not happen and in fact World War II broke out which, even in Naples, brought death and destruction. A relationship between the Saint and the devotion of the Neapolitans that has been nominated to be a UNESCO Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
8) The Coast and the Islands.
Many tourists take advantage of being in Naples to then visit Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi but also the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Yes, because the pearls of Campania absolutely deserve to be visited. On our website, by clicking on "Places to See", you will find all the information for these magnificent destinations, unique in the world and well worth the trip.
Many tourists take advantage of being in Naples to then visit Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi but also the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Yes, because the pearls of Campania absolutely deserve to be visited. On our website, by clicking on "Places to See", you will find all the information for these magnificent destinations, unique in the world and well worth the trip.
9) Vesuvius.
Coming to Naples, one has the possibility of being just a few kilometers away from wonderful places. One of these is the imposing Vesuvius with its 1,232 meters of height. You will then be able to climb to the summit and from here look out into its crater with a diameter of 450 meters and understand the destructive force it was able to unleash to the point of razing Pompeii and Herculaneum to the ground in 79 BC. C. But once on the Neapolitan Volcano, as well as enjoying an incredible panorama from its summit, you can follow a rich number of nature trails, in fact Vesuvius is a National Park. In particular, you can go horseback riding, eat in excellent agritourisms that offer km0 products grown in those rich volcanic lands and that return unique products such as the "piennolo" tomato or the Lacryma Christi wine, this obtained from native grapes already cultivated of the Romans.
10) The Panoramas.
When you visit Naples you don't necessarily have to go to museums. Naples is a museum! The simple fact of walking along Via Caracciolo, admiring the Castel dell'Ovo, with Vesuvius in the background has the better of any work of art. In Posillipo, there is the stretch with the most beautiful panorama of Naples, from which you can admire the Gulf of Naples with Capri, the Sorrento Peninsula and, in the background, Vesuvius and then the seafront of Naples with the Castel dell'Ovo and the hill with bell towers, Castel Sant'Elmo and San Martino... an unmissable panorama to photograph during the day, but above all at night. Even from the Vomero hill, reaching the Certosa di San Martino, you will admire a beautiful panorama, different from that of Posillipo, since from San Martino you can see SpaccaNapoli, the heart of the historic center. From the Virgilian Park, on the other hand, you can also stop and admire the beautiful panorama that overlooks Pozzuoli, the Campi Flegrei, the islands of Ischia and Procida. Then there's the view from Via Manzoni from where you can admire the Maradona stadium and the industrial area of Bagnoli, then there's the view....
When you visit Naples you don't necessarily have to go to museums. Naples is a museum! The simple fact of walking along Via Caracciolo, admiring the Castel dell'Ovo, with Vesuvius in the background has the better of any work of art. In Posillipo, there is the stretch with the most beautiful panorama of Naples, from which you can admire the Gulf of Naples with Capri, the Sorrento Peninsula and, in the background, Vesuvius and then the seafront of Naples with the Castel dell'Ovo and the hill with bell towers, Castel Sant'Elmo and San Martino... an unmissable panorama to photograph during the day, but above all at night. Even from the Vomero hill, reaching the Certosa di San Martino, you will admire a beautiful panorama, different from that of Posillipo, since from San Martino you can see SpaccaNapoli, the heart of the historic center. From the Virgilian Park, on the other hand, you can also stop and admire the beautiful panorama that overlooks Pozzuoli, the Campi Flegrei, the islands of Ischia and Procida. Then there's the view from Via Manzoni from where you can admire the Maradona stadium and the industrial area of Bagnoli, then there's the view....
In short, for a trip to Naples there are so many Reasons, beyond the 10 listed here, because we should mention the welcome of the Neapolitans, the beautiful Architecture of the Spanish Quarters and Health, the relationship between Naples and Maradona, the Culture , of the tombs of Virgil and Leopardi, of the Museums... in short, too many (!) to the point that you are quick to set off and come and have an aperitif on one of the panoramic terraces where you will fall in love with this city in the light of the magnificent colors of the sun setting into the sea.
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