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Ischia, the Bay of Naples @ nona-travel.
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| Naples Guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| The metropolitan area of Naples is the second
most populated in Italy and one of the largest in all of Europe
with around 3.8 million people. In the central area.
Naples, south of Rome in the Campania region, is the third
largest city in Italy with a
population of around 1 million people. It is
like nowhere else in Italy which the locals are
proud to admit. A city in which culture, art and light mix
with the obscure darkness of a hidden, underground world
many millennia in the making. Naples is also on the way up as a visitor destination. The government has been successful in reclaiming the streets and now can point to greater outdoor dining, busy piazzas and a growing number of visitors all in inverse ratio to the decreased crime. However, extra caution is still in order as pick pocketing remains relatively common. Besides contributing the invention of pizza to the global culture it is also very proud of its Neapolitan musical heritage including the invention of the romantic guitar and the mandolin as well as strong contributions to opera and folk standards. There are popular characters and figures who have come to symbolise Naples, this includes patron saint of the city Januarius, Pulcinella and the Sirens from epic Greek poem the Odyssey. Naples is called the Parthenopaen City because according to legend the Siren Parthenope gave her name to the
town. In fact, its origins are greek: It was conquered by the Romans in the 4th century B.C. Rich inhabitants of Rome like Virgil, Augustus, Tiberius, Nero used to spend the winter there, but the Neapolitans themselves retained the Greek language and customs until the decline of Empire. The French Pope Clement VI called Charles I of Anjou to the throne of Naples. His son, Charles II and is grandson, Robert I, succeeded him. Robert the Wise, whose brother Louis became Bishop of Toulouse and was canonised, attracted poets, scholars and artists to this court. The gritty port city is often overlooked by visitors but it has many worthwhile attractions with many walkable from the main passenger pier. Enjoy the best pizza in Italy in the city where it was invented and be sure to order insalata Caprese with Buffalo Mozzarella as most of the production of the mozzarella occurs here in the region of Campania Via Toledo , the main street of the city, edges the old centre from the Palazzo Reale up to the Museo Nazionale Archeologico and the heights of Capodimonte ; to the left rises the Vómero , with its fancy housing and museums, and the designer-clad streets in the neighbourhood of Chiaia , beyond which lies the long green boulevard of Riviera de Chiara , stretching around to the districts of Mergellina and Posillipo. Wandering down Spaccanapoli, the historic artery of the old town, try to see something of the subterranean Graeco-Roman city that lies underneath modern Naples. For the best view of Naples' sprawling metropolis, travel to the hilltop suburb of Vomero - an elite neighbourhood separated from the never-ending hustle and bustle of the city below.
|
on January 18, 2008
| Pozzouli |
|
Pozzouli: Straggling westwards, the City of Naples
absorbs the neighbouring town of Pozzuoli, encompassing on the
way a (now) little-visited landscape of fumaroles and bubbling
craters and the grave of the great Roman poet and author of the
Aenad, Virgil Not many tourists venture to the Campi Flegrei region – literally "fiery fields" – yet it is a phenomenal area. This large volcanic tract lies west of Naples, extending from what is now the suburb of Solfatara and into the town of Pozzuoli and beyond. The Greeks first established a settlement here; the Romans rebuilt and added to the development with thermal baths as well as villas, theatres and more. Pozzuoli contains some remarkable archaeological zones including:
The most extraordinary of the sights is the
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| Amalfi Coast Guide | ||||
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the Land of Mermaids along the Divina Costiera |
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The Amalfi Coast, which begins at
Vietri sul
Mare and ends in Sorrento, is a succession of curves, small inlets,
romantic beaches and hidden bays, which offer breathtaking views. From Sorrento: A short bus ride over the ridge south from Sorrento brings you to the breathtaking Amalfi coastline. A bus was definitely the way to see the sights here, because any driver on the switchback-filled route must pay full attention to the road as you hang in space above the crystal blue Mediterranean waters till you arrive at the vertically inclined village of Positano. Stairs and steep streets descended from the main route to the fishing village’s main piazza, beach, and harbor. A nice place for a day of swimming, sunning and shopping concluding with a relaxing beachside dinner at a restaurant terrace. Go diving a Li Galli in the Punta Campanella Marine Reserve or take in the sun as you stretch out on a towel at the Marina Grande Beach. Find a small patch of sand or pebbles for your towel at Positano, Atrani, Maiori and Minori, or explore one of the many tiny coves reached only by boat or rickety stairs down the cliffs.An Amalfi Coast holiday should also include a visit to the historical and artistic towns of Positano, Praiano and Massa Lubrense.
Amalfi:
A great place to start your Amalfi coast vacation is in the
picturesque seaside resort of Amalfi. Visit the 6th century Duomo,
containing the remains of St Andrew the Apostle. See the famous bronze
door and the stunning collection of mosaics that decorate the Duomo. and boasts arguably the most
beautiful cathedral in southern Italy. Conca dei Marini is best known for the nearby Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo). This is a deep cave in the cliffside, now invaded by the sea, in which the water acquires a bewitchingly intense emerald green colour, when the sun filters through inside. Also of great interest is the ceramic crib, 4m below on the grotto bed and the stalactite and stalagmite formations. Positano, with a population of less than 4000, is a vertical rather than horizontal town and has a charming facade of ice-cream coloured houses. Luxury hotels and top class restaurants sit side by side with innumerable boutiques, many specializing in the famous Positano fashion. Traffic is excluded from much of the town, whose flower-bedecked narrow alleys and steps create a unique and intimate setting and atmosphere.Summer dusk lasts till almost 9pm. Ravello: The serene, traffic-free town of Ravello has charmed numerous writers, musicians, actors and painters over the years, including Arturo Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence and Greta Garbo.. It was here which inspired Wagner to write his opera Parsifal. Ravello is known as the city of music and has always been a high class tourist destination for those looking for tranquility. Along with Positano, it is Ravello that defines the Amalfi Coast in most visitors' minds. The view of the twin church towers and single pine from the terrace of the Villa Rufolo is probably the most photographed on the Amalfi Coast. Ravello is perched 350 metres above the sea, where cooling breezes temper the summer heat Praiano:The most secluded and unpretentious town along the Amalfi Coast is Praiano. Praiano is an ancient fishing village with a great past located away from the most touristy areas and thus offering relatively good value for this otherwise very expensive visitor zone.
Ferries: Amalfi is well connected to Naples and Salerno and with the inauguration of “Metro del Mare” it is possible to reach Cilento and the bay of “Baia Domizia”. From Amalfi you can take a direct ferry to the islands of Capri and Ischia and Positano. |
| Salerno Guide | ||||
| Further south, the port of Salerno
is an inviting place and gives access to the Hellenistic site of
Paestum and the uncrowded coastline of the Cilento
just beyond. A province capital in Campania, Salerno's history
dates from its establishment as a Roman town in about 194 BC
after the wars with Hannibal the Great.
Behind the city is a high rock surmounted by an ancient castle, the Castle of Arechi, which dominates your view while offering its own spectacular view overlooking the city and the Bay. The Archeological Museum contains a rich archive of documentation relating to the entire Province of Salerno covering the pre-historic period up to ancient times By Car: Take
highway A3 from either the south or the north and Exit at
Salerno. |
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| Pasteum | ||||
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- ancient
sister city to
Athens when the Greeks |
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Paestum was founded as a colony by the Greek city of Sybaris
around 600 B.C. and was first named Posidonia, in honor of the
god of the Sea. It flourished
with the rest of Magna Graecia through the 6th cent. B.C.
becoming the 2nd most important city during the golden age of
Greece. The ruins included a theater, centre square, and
even a basillica. The Basillica and the temple of Apollo were
the biggest in the world next to the Parthenon in Athens.
The Romans took the city in 273 B.C. and called it Paestum.
It is said these ruins are in better shape than any ruins in
Greece. Some find the grandeur of Paestum to be even more
awe-inspiring than Pompeii. The three Paestum temples are
all in the Archaic Doric style with heavy columns and capitals.
They are thought to be dedicated to the city's namesake Poseidon
(known to the Romans as Neptune), Hera and Ceres. The temples of
Neptune and Hera are located next to each other at the southern
end of the site, while the smaller Temple of Ceres is at the
northern end. You can walk up close to the temples, but they are
roped off to prevent interior access. Originally called Poseidonia, the city of Neptune, (later
becoming Paestum under the Romans), the ruins are located on the
alluvial plain of the River Sele in the heart of Magna Grecia.
This area of southern Italy was colonised by the ancient Greeks
in the 6th century BC, when Doric temples were constructed to
honour the patron gods of the town: Neptune, Hera and Athena.
Northwest of the forum is a small Roman amphitheater, of which only the southern half is visible. In 1930, a road was built across the site, burying the northern half. It is said by local inhabitants that the civil engineer responsible was tried, convicted and received a prison sentence for what was described as wanton destruction of a historic site.
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Location: 1 hr south of Salerno, 15 min from Agropoli, SW Italian coast, Campania, Italy Hours: Site: daily 9am-1 hr before sunset; Museum: daily 8:45am-7pm, closed 1st & 3rd Mon. Cost: €4 for site or museum; €6.50 for both From the motorway A3 SA-RC,
exit Battipaglia or Eboli, |
| Capri Island Guide | |||||||||||||
Rich in history, the island welcomes to its
famous Piazzetta Umberto I, those who love luxury and a
worldly lifestyle, and has a first rate range of hotels, all of
them luxurious and immersed in enchanting scenery where you live
life on the edge at cliff amidst Roman ruins.
Capri's most colourful square is Piazza Umberto, where you can
watch the many rich, famous and "beautiful" people passing by to
access the transit options on the car-free island.
Shop
for jewelry or designer fashion on the Via Vittorio Emanuele
or gaze out at the stunning view of the sea over a steaming
plate of Ravioli Caprese.
Affectionately known as "the Blue Island" all around the coast of Capri you will find hidden bays, almost totally immersed in semi tropical vegetation, some of which can only be reached by boat, superb rocky terraces carved out of the cliff face, tiny sheltered pebble beaches, and sun soaked platforms, all just a stone’s throw away from the Faraglioni rocks, the Blue Grotto or the Punta Carena lighthouse.
The Blue Grotto is a partially submerged rock cave where refracted sunlight turns the water and walls a luminous blue. The cave was formed naturally, but Romans carved out a small landing stage and nymphaeum at the back of the cave. You enter through an opening that can be impossible in rough seas in a small row boat. In theory, you can swim in, but the fearsome rowboat operators don't look kindly on this, and it's only really advisable when they're not around, before 9:30 a.m. or just before sunset. Gardens of Augustus Ten minutes distance from the celebrated Piazza there is a wonderful panoramic view of the island, where you can admire the Marina Piccola Bay and the Faraglioni Rocks. It was constructed at the start of the 1900 by the german steel magnate Alfred Krupp. From Anacapri take the Chairlift for a ten minute ride where you will arrive at the top the mountain Solaro for a marvelous panoramic view In Roman times, Capri was the preferred home of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius, for whom its isolation offered a measure of protection from would-be assassins. Tiberius' magnificent villa can be visited today, its sheer scale and evident luxury never ceasing to amaze the modern visitor The glamour island of Capri off Italy's west coast in the Tyrrrhenian Sea is accessed from the mainland town of Sorrento. Budget travellers should make the crossing on the slower but cheaper and more scenic ferry instead of the Capri hydrofoil. The island is just six kilometres long. Cars are not allowed, only porter buggies, taxis and buses and the ever present scooters.
Villa Rentals http://www.capriimmobiliare.it www.trialtravel.com |
| Ischia Island Guide | ||||||||||||
|
the "Green Island" |
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Ischia is the largest island in the Golfo di Napoli. For more than 2000 years people have been heading there to take advantage of its therapeutic, mineral-rich volcanic springs. The hot waters contain high levels of mineral salt, sulphur and magnesium, and are said to cure arthritis, asthma, infertility and a host of other ailments. The town of Ischia, has two different centers: Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte. Ischia Porto is the commercial center of the island and is named after the main port. Ischia Ponte ("ponte" meaning "bridge" in Italian) is named for the area surrounding and including the footbridge that was constructed to connect the Castello Aragonese with the island. The harbour of Ischia was inaugurated on September 17th, 1854 by the King of Naples Ferdinand II of Bourbon, who also built a small natural lake with an old volcanic crater. They drained a marsh and built a thriving fish-breeding enterprise. The king built a large villa and began entertaining guests featuring the healing treatments of the geothermal springs. In the 20th century, the island became favored for building weekend getaway homes for the middle classes. The main harbour features the church of Santa Maria di Porto Salvo (Our Lady of Safe Harbour), also built by Ferdinand the Bourbon. Not far from the port is a tram or Funicular leading to the top of the hill called Montagnone (Big Mountain) where is a lookout terrace from which you can look over the whole centre of Ischia Porto, with Procida and the Phlaegrean Fields in the background. Mount Epomeo is the island’s highest mountain. It was once an active volcano, you can now do the 3km hike to its top. The spa town of Casamicciola retains its Art Nouveau architecture. Sink into a spa in bubbly Ischia with its geothermal springs: 67 fumaroles, 103 springs and 29 thermal spas that can help to cure illnesses, tone up your body and spirit or simply help you relax.
Popular among German tourists in particular. The island is a 45
minute ferry ride from Naples.
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| Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei) | ||||||||||||
|
The Naples area is one of continuing intense
volcanic activity. Campi Flegrei is a volcanic area of intense
geological instability. Due to the bradyeyism (the slow upward
and downward movement of the earth's crust) in the whole area,
many Roman ruins are under water. It is the site of a mega
volcano. A huge ancient caldera is made up with approximately 40
ancient volcanoes, some of which are now filled with lakes such
as Lake Avernus. Ancient people thought this volcanic lake was
the entrance to the underworld, or Hades (Lago di Averno,
according to Homer and Virgil). Of these ancient volcanoes, the
Solfatara of Pozzuoli is without doubt the most interesting with
its bubbling mud pools and steam vent fumaroles. In many places
the ground is still hot. It is this, which gives this area its
Latin name, meaning the "Burning Fields".
Since Imperial times, the ancient Romans already knew of Solfatara. It is said that the The Phlegraean Fields' long history of dramatic ground movements is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. Since Roman times, the ground level of the caldera floor has varied by more than 12 meters. The floor rose by at least 4-5 metres, in the 48 hours before the most recent eruption in 1538 (Monte Nuovo). |
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| Procida Island Guide | ||||||||||||
| Procida is the smallest and locally most
loved island of the three in the Bay of Naples.
The Avalos Palace, also named the Castle, is the first landmark you see coming to Procida from Naples by ship. It rises on the edge on the steep cliff of tufa, apparently isolated but it hides on its back the whole old centre of Terra Murata. The Avalos, noble and powerful family from Spain, had the feudal domain over Procida since the early years of 16th century and ruled the island up to the Bourbons came in 1734. Up to 1500, the whole population of Procida was concentrated in the old city centre of Terra Murata. Under the Spanish reign of the Avalos an era of peace and prosperity resulted in a population increase. Corricella, was settled as a fishing village. Sancio Cattolico on North side grew up around the harbor. |
| Sorrento Guide |
|
Terraced gardens, mountains with
elegant steep cliffs and amazing Sorrento sits atop cliffs directly across the bay from
Naples. Although only a 90-minute ride away on the
Circumvesuviana train route circling the bay, Sorrento is a
world apart from Naple’s hustle and bustle. The town’s center of
cobbled In the network of lanes around its small old town area,
you can look in on studios engaged in the local, traditional art of
intarsia, or inlaid woodwork; visit the lovely 13th-century cloisters of
the church of St Francis (open daily 8am-1pm and 2pm-7pm; free); and, on
Via San Cesareo, pause by an open-sided frescoed cupola, known as the
Sedile Dominova, which now functions as a flamboyant working-man's club
but was originally the meeting point of the local nobility. Sorrento overlooks the Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius
and the Phlegraean Fields all in view. This beautiful town of sunsets
and gardens can easily captivate you with the thought that there may be nothing finer
in this world than enjoying a drink with loved ones from an
elegant hotel terrace as the sun goes down in Sorrento. |
| sorrentotourism.com Local tourist offices at Sant'Agata Sui Due Golfi, Massa Lubrense and Sorrento (00 39 081 807 4033; will supply free maps. |
| sorrentotour.it ||Museums || Monuments ||Restaurants ||Shopping ||Nightlife ||Activities |
| History of Naples |
| The history of the city can be traced back to
the 7th century BC when inhabitants of nearby Greek colony Cumae
founded a city called Parthenope, Cumae itself had been founded
by people from Euboea, Greece.[ The exact reasons for doing so
are not known for certain, but the Cumaeans built Neapolis
(meaning New City) next to the old Parthenope, around this time
they had held off invasion attempts from the Etruscans.[5] The
new city grew thanks to the influence of powerful Greek
city-state Siracusa and at some point the new and old cities on
the Gulf of Naples merged together to become one. The city became an ally of the Roman Republic against Carthage, the strong walls surrounding Neapolis stopped invader Hannibal from entering. During the Samnite Wars, the city now a bustling centre of trade, was captured by the Samnites, however the Romans soon took it off them and made Neapolis a Roman colony.The city was greatly respected by the Romans as a place of Hellenistic culture, the people maintained their Greek language and customs. Elegant villas, aqueducts, public baths, an odeon, a theatre and the Temple of Dioscures were built, many powerful emperors and Senators chose to holiday on the Bay. Scipio the African, Silla, Tiberius, Caligola, Claudius, Nero, Brutus and Lucullus found respite while Cicero, Horace, Pliny the Elder and Virgil found inspiration. The Romans respected and encourage the continuation of the genius of Greek synthesis of Mediterranean culture into a what was becoming the cornerstone of Western civilization. It was during this period that Christianity came to Naples; apostles St. Peter and St. Paul are said to have preached in the city, also St. Januarius who would become Naples' patron saint was martyred there |
| Fast Facts |
| In Caserta, you
may want to take a gander at the 18th Century Bourbon palace
and gardens that some say are on par with Versailles.
Caserta is also famous for silk mills. Avellino wineries can be visited, as well as Montevirgine, a church that houses a painting of the Holy Mother said to have curative powers. There is also an ancient Lombard castle there. |
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| Volcano of Vesuvius |
| Journey and Ascent: |
| By car: From Naples with
the A3, take the Torre del Greco or Ercolano exit. By Circumvesuviana (train) : Get off in Ercolano and drive by bus to the car park. A road leads you up through beautiful vineyards, lava fields and the valleys Valle del Gigante and Valle dell'Inferno. One can smell the typical smell of broom bushes between May and August. By bus: Buses run to this departure point from outside Ercolano Scavi station, with tickets costing €7.60 (£5.80) for the 35-minute trip, or from Piazza Anfiteatro in modern Pompeii (just outside the archaeological zone) for €8.60 (£6.60) for the 90-minute journey ( www.vesuvianamobilita.it ). On foot the ascent leads you from the 1000m high parking spot with its Souvenir and refreshment stands over a gravel road to the top. When the weather is fine visitors can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view. The ascent takes about half an hour, with admission to the path costing €6.50 (£5) from the Parco Nazionale de Vesuvio ticket office ( www.vesuviopark.it/grancono ; open 9am-5.30pm and until 6.30pm during the summer). The price includes the services of a (mandatory) guide. Sightseeing: The ascent to the edge of the crater costs ca. 6 Euro. It closes between 15 and 18 hours depending on the season. It is recommendable to visit the Vesuvius on working days, as locals like to visit it on weekends and this can lead to traffic jams. |
| Churches |
|
Near Piazza del Gesù and Piazza S.Domenico
Maggiore is the New Jesuite Church
is among the most extravagant Baroque churches in the world!
Across the street you will find the Santa Chiara Monastery
[santachiara.info]. It is worth a visit for its beautiful garden decorated
with frescos and coulorful columns. If you continue towards S. Domenico Square you will pass by the St Angelo on the Nile Church with its Donatello's altar. The Sansevero Chapel nearby is also well known for its marble sculptures of veiled figures. |
| Under Naples |
| Beneath the lovely French Gothic church of San Lorenzo Maggiore, at Via dei Tribunali 316, several ancient streets have been excavated and, complete with the discernible remains of a bakery, winery and laundry, are open to the public (Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm; Sun 9.30am-1.30pm; ). |
| Museums |
|
Naples National Archaeological Museum,
It contains an
unprecedented collection of Roman-Greco antiquities from
Pompeii, Stabiae, Herculaneum and other archaeological sites
located in and around the region of Campania. Other collections
of interest are the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, the Temple
of Isis in Pompeii and the Egyptian collection.
The Farnese Collection donated by Charles of Bourbon contains many wonderful sculptures and gems found at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. National Archaeological Museum of
Naples
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| Museo Nazionale di
Capodimonte The museum is located in the Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte, which sits in an idyllic park on a hill overlooking Napoli. It contains one of Italy’s finest painting collections. Capodimonte Palace, built in the 18th-century in the time of Charles III . Via Miano,2 - Parco di Capodimonte Tel. 0817499111 Every day from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm Closed on Wednesdays |
|
Museum of San Martino
The Museum is in the large monastery complex St. Martin's Charterhouse, that includes a church, a charterhouse, beautiful monastery yards and a terraced garden, from which the visitor has a breathtaking view on the Gulf of Napoli. Remarkable to see is the Presepe Cuciniello, one of the finest nativity scenes in the world. Piazzale San Martino, 5 Tel. 0815788418 Every day from 8 am to 2 pm Closed on Wednesdays |
|
Royal Palace The eight statues on the façade are of Neapolitan kings. Located in the heart of the city, the square on which the palace stands is one of Naples's most architecturally interesting, with a long colonnade and a church, San Francesco di Paolo, that evokes the style of the Pantheon in Rome. Visit the royal apartments. Charles de Bourbon, son of Philip IV of Spain, became king of Naples in 1734 and was a great patraon of the arts and science Piazza del Plebiscito, 1 Tel. 081400547 Every day 9 am - 7 pm Closed on Wednesdays |
| Carthusian Monastery
of San Martino (Certosa di San Martino) & National Museum of San
Martino (Museo Nazionale di San Martino Magnificently situated on the grounds of the Castel Sant'Elmo, this museum was founded in the 14th century as a Carthusian monastery. Now a museum for the city of Naples, the church displays two stately carriages, historic documents, ships' replicas, china and porcelain, silver, Campagna paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries, military costumes
Sant'Elmo Castle |
|
Castel dell'Ovo
This
2,000-year-old fortress overlooks the Gulf of Naples. It's said
that Virgil built it on an enchanted egg of mystical powers
submerged on the floor of the ocean. Legend has it that if the
egg breaks, Naples will collapse.By the 5th century, the villa
had become the home in exile for the last of the western Roman
emperors, Romulus Augustulus. |
|
City Museum of Castel Nuovo (Maschio
Angioino) Piazza Municipio - Napoli Tel. 0817955877 Every day from 9 am to 7 pm - ticket office closes at 6 pm Closed on Sundays Museum Diego Aragona Pignatelli Cortes Riviera di Chiaia, 200 Tel. 0817612356 Every day from 8 am to 1.30 pm Closed on Wednesdays Industrial and Arts Museum Piazzetta Salazar, 6 Tel. 0817647471 By booking only Closed on Sundays Arts Museum Donna Regina (Madre) Via Settembrini, 79 Tel. 0815624672 Open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from noon to 8 pm Museum of San Gennaro's Treasure Via Duomo, 149 Tel. 081294980 Weekdays 9.30 am - 8.30 pm. Sundays and holidays 10 am - 7 pm Closed on Mondays Sea Museum Via Pozzuoli, 5 Tel. 0816173794 Every day 9 am -1 pm / 3 pm - 7 pm Closed on Sundays Santa Chiara Museum Via Santa Chiara, 49 Tel. 0815521597 Mondays - Saturdays 9.30 am - 5.30 pm. Sundays 9.30 am - 1.30 pm Pan - Palazzo delle Arti Napoli (Arts Palazzo of Naples) Palazzo Roccella,Via dei Mille ,60 Tel. 0817958605 - 7410067 Weekdays 9.30 am - 7 pm. Sundays and holidays 9.30 am - 2 pm Closed on Tuesdays San Severo Chapel Via Francesco De Sanctis, 19 Tel. 0815518470 Mondays - Saturdays 10.30 am - 5.30 pm. Sundays and holidays 10 am - 1 pm Closed on Tuesdays |
| in Sorrento |
| MUSEO CORREALE DI TERRANOVA SORRENTO - Tel. 0818781846 Monday - Sunday: 9 - 14 Closed on Tuesday MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO GEORGES VALLET PIANO DI SORRENTO Tel. 0815341050 Tuesday - Sunday: 9-13 e 16-19 Closed on Monday MUSEUUM WORKSHOP OF WOODEN TARSIA SORRENTO Tel. 0818771942 Tuesday - Sunday: 9.30/13 - 17/20 Closed on Monday MINERALOGICAL MUSEUUM VICOEQUENSE - Tel. 0818015668 Tuesday - Saturday: 9 - 13 e 17 - 20 Holidays: 9 - 13 - Closed on Monday
|
| Royal Palace at Caserta |
| For many years, and especially
under the Bourbon kings, Naples was one of the great capital
cities of Europe. It reached its cultural zenith during the
reign of Charles IV, who later became Charles III of Spain. He
built Caserta to rival Versailles. A 45-minute train ride from
Naples Central station. The palace was the last great building
of the Italian baroque, with 1200 extravagant and exquisite.
rooms. The majestic main staircase, whose 116 steps were all
carved from one gigantic block of ston.
We also owe to Charles we owe the magnificent Teatro San Carlo, Italy's largest opera house, which you should visit on a morning tour; during his reign Herculaneum and Pompeii were discovered, the palaces of Portici and Capodimonte were built and the Archeological Museum was founded. |
| Pizza |
The Neapolitans take
their pizza very seriously.  Purists,
like the famous pizzeria “Da Michele” in Via C.Sersale (founded:
1870) consider there to be only two true pizzas – the
“Marinara” and the “Margherita” and that is all they serve. The
Marinara is the oldest and has a topping of tomato, oregano,
garlic, extra virgin olive oil and usually basil. It was named
“Marinara” not, as many believe, because it has seafood on it
(it doesn't) but because it was the food the fishermen ate when
they returned home from fishing trips in the Bay of Naples. |
| Mt. Vesuvius |
| . It can be visited quite easily; the road approaches to within about 200 metres of the summit, leaving only about 30 minutes walk on a good track to reach the crater rim. The barren landscape at the summit contrasts with the lush vegetation on the lower slopes, where some of the most ancient vines in Italy flourish in the rich volcanic soil. Steam emanating from fissures in the rocks provides the only clue to the immense energy that lurks beneath the surface. A surreal environment that demands to be experienced. |
