What’s not to love about Naples? Despite what lots of people think, this beautiful city is filled to the brim with culture, color, and wine. The city’s history goes deep into the ancient past, and aspects of long-gone eras mix sensually with modern delights in every corner of the city. From food to art, here are the things we know you’ll love about Naples.
Food
It’s hard to pick just a few dishes that stand out in Naples. From sea food to pizza, Naples has some of the best Italian cuisine you’ll find anywhere. When you visit the city, you have to try Impepata di Cozze, a mussel dish spiced with freshly-ground black pepper. If your tastes are bit less exotic, go for some ragù, a more familiar dish made of meats and tomato sauce served on pasta. Of course, you can’t visit Italy without trying some pizza! Be sure to go to one of the finest pizzerias: Sorbillo, Vesi and Da Michele are my favorite but prepare yourself for a long queue. Another option should be to eat PIZZA A PORTAFOGLIO (folded pizza): it’s a folded pizza that you can eat take away, my favourite is Pizzeria Portalba!
If you go for fried pasta, Di Matteo is the best.
If you are looking for a great meal, don’t miss Ristorante Don Vesuvio where you will have the best Neapolitan experience with Francesco and Valeria: great food, good quality, home atmosphere:
Don Vesuvio, Vico San Domenico Maggiore, Napoli, +390812520074.
What Neapolitans eat is baccalà, salted cod, cooked into different ways. My favourite place for eating baccalà is Osteria Baccalaria. When I first went there, I would have eaten all but I chose Fried and baked cod:
Pizza and Pasta may get all the credit in Italy, but don’t forget about dessert! Naples has some of the most delightful desserts you’ll find in Europe: Sfogliatella and Rhum Babà are the best seller but during Easter, Neapolitans eat Pastiera.
Culture
Neapolitan culture has ancient roots that still mingle with the fresh blooms of today’s Naples. Within the city, the art and architecture of every age is visible on every corner. The Renaissance had a particularly strong influence on the city, and its residents are proud of the artistic touches, the statues in the streets, and the history they pass down. Naples even has its own dialect, which even non-speakers may be able to hear. The city is also very religious, as can be seen by the strong Catholic influence and the myriads of churches and cathedrals that range from ancient to modern times.
Art
Art is central to the culture of Naples, and it has been for millennia. Within the city, you can find the art of masters over a span of hundreds of years. While you can see a lot of pieces just by walking down the street, a good place to start your study of Naples art is at the National Museum of Capodimonte. Better yet, the Museum is inside a beautiful palace surrounded by an incredible park. For more ancient works, such as statues of the gods and goddesses, be sure to check out Naples National Archeological Museum. Even if you’re not really all that interested in art, you’ll still be fascinated by the way that artistic styles and preferences have shifted over the years and how even thousands of years ago, before modern technology, people could create realistic and timeless images and statues.
Architecture
Nearly 3,000 years of civilization has left Naples with a unique amalgam of buildings from the distant and recent past. The most interesting, of course, are the castles and cathedrals from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque Era. In those days, design and longevity were top priorities for architects, so the relics we have today are often as beautiful and strong as they were a thousand years ago. Beautiful buildings are Castel Nuovo, hundreds of churches and old palaces. A fine building is also Teatro San Carlo, a 300-year-old theater that is still in operation today.
Naples is a city not to miss, a crowded city of contrasts, great food and art but above all a city of warm people who will let you feel the real soul of this incredible place.