Holidays in Italy: insider tips for a trip to Naples

Naples is a magical place. Culture, history and local lifestyle captivate visitors. Everyone knows Naples for Vesuvius, pizza and its narrow streets. But the city has many hidden treasures that you should discover. With the insider tips of our expert you will get a feeling for the true atmosphere of the Vesuvius city.

Italy: The street with real Naples flair

If you want to immerse yourself in the flair of Naples, treat yourself to a leisurely stroll through the longest street in the city center – Spaccanapoli. This axis literally divides the center of Naples in two and is a good starting point for a stroll through the city. Strolling here during the day is one of the most popular things to do in Naples. As you stroll down Via San Biagio dei Librai, you’ll smell the smell of freshly baked bread and marvel at the Neapolitan art books for sale at booksellers. The walk can also take you to the historic complex of Santa Chiara, where selfies are a must next to the imposing Gothic-style cathedral.

Naples: An Underground World

Naples rests on an ancient network of tunnels and underground roads. These were dug by the Greeks when they began extracting the tuff to strengthen the city walls. An extraordinary experience is a visit to the underground of the historic center, 40 meters underground, with a network of caves, tunnels and corridors several hundred kilometers long. The underground routes are excellently preserved, easily accessible and, for the most part, well-lit. There is so much to see in this city beneath the city, and make sure you plan your time accordingly. tours in underground network from Naples can be booked with a guided tour.

Italy’s speciality: pizza baking course for beginners

What would Italy be without them Pizza, his favorite specialty? And where better to learn how to make pizza than in Naples, the cradle of pizza? Pizza crash courses and cooking workshops are popular around town and are probably some of the funniest vacation memories. You will receive useful tips directly from the pizza maker: You will learn which ingredients to use and what to pay special attention to when preparing the yeast dough. The baking course is followed by a meal together, relaxed in good company with a beer – that’s how the Neapolitans like it. You can then try what you have learned with friends at home.

Holiday in Naples: Marble veiled Christ

Naples is also known for its baroque churches. A jewel in the city center is the Kapelle Sansevero. Among the masterpieces that can be admired here is the marble statue of the “Veiled Christ”, a sculpture by the Neapolitan sculptor Giuseppe Sanmartino from 1753. It shows a life-size statue of the deceased Christ made of the finest marble and encased in a transparent cloth is. Sanmartino created the illusion of a transparent veil covering the body of Christ. The work was carved from a single block of marble. The wrinkled shroud with “embroidered” edges looks deceptively real.

Trip to Italy: A treasure of incomprehensible proportions

Next to the Cathedral of Naples there is a small museum with the treasure of the Saint Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. Saint Gennaro was Bishop of Rome and was beheaded by Emperor Diocletian in the 4th century. Since his death, the martyr’s blood has been preserved in ampoules. The Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro of Naples is considered one of the most important museums of goldsmith’s art in the world. The collection has grown through donations from popes, kings and important figures over 700 years of history, and its value surpasses that of the treasures of the Tsar of Russia and the English Crown. One attraction is the magnificent necklace, which was put together from various gifts in the 17th century and is one of the most valuable pieces of jewelry in the world. Among other things, it consists of gifts from the Bourbon King Charles, Maria Carolina of Austria and Napoleon.

Naples: Discover the Street of the Nativity Scene Makers

Naples is known as the capital of crib makers. Visitors stream through the Via San Gregorio Armeno in the old town, where the shops of the most famous crib makers are located. 40 craftsmen produce scenes and figures for Christmas cribs. Some of them have been crib builders for five generations. There have been specialized craftsmen in Naples since the 17th century who carve, potter and shape nativity figures. At that time, the cribs were a representation of how the rich noble families imagined the life of the common people. And in most churches there are still cribs with some man-high figures. The entry of everyday life is what distinguishes the Neapolitan nativity scene from all others.

Italy: The most beautiful subway station in the world

The most convenient means of getting around – that’s probably all the metro is for most of us. But Naples has them “most beautiful subway in the world”, as locals call their subway line in the heart of the city. Some stations have been staged by renowned artists, so that the stations impress with their individuality. In addition, exciting archaeological finds and great works of art by well-known contemporary artists are on display. Among other things, a temple of Augustus from the early imperial period was discovered. The Roman architect Massimiliano Fuksas had the remains of the temple covered with a glass dome in the shape of a drop, so that passengers at the “Duomo” (Cathedral) underground station can see the ancient world from above.

Prominent customers: The “tie king” Marinella

Marinella is an institution when it comes to male fashion. Located on the Via Riviera di Chiaia seafront promenade, this 20-square-meter shop makes ties for the world’s celebrities who come and go. Customers included or include King Charles, Silvio Berlusconi, Barack Obama, Marcello Mastroianni, Luchino Visconti, ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, who bought their scarves here. Helmut Kohl regularly had extra-long trusses delivered to him. The shop was founded 109 years ago by Eugenio Marinella and is now managed by his grandson Maurizio Marinella. Of course, ties are worn less often today than they used to be. But younger people are rediscovering the tie as a fashion attribute and business is booming. There are branches in Milan, Rome and Tokyo. The tie king also dreams of a shop in Munich, which also has scarves, bags and shirts in its range.

Naples: along the sea by bike

If you have had enough of walking after days of sightseeing, you can switch to a bike in Naples for a while. Because the beautiful Bike path seafront offers fantastic views of Capri, Mount Vesuvius and Posillipo. Especially on hot days, the sea air combined with the headwind is pleasantly refreshing. For a short break, you can go to one of the restaurants, relax in the Villa Comunale park or admire the wonderful panorama directly on the sea.

Discover the most traditional café in Naples

For the Neapolitans, drinking coffee is a true philosophy of life. So they work towards that Espresso recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. The most traditional café in Naples is the Gambrinus right on the main square, Plebiscito. Gilded chandeliers hang from rich stucco ceilings. The walls are cream colored or mirrored, allegorical figures oversee the ambiance. At the main entrance of the restaurant from 1860 there is an oversized coffee pot. The term “espresso” goes back to “coffee locomotives” manufactured between 1840 and 1870. Their name alludes to the analogy of preparing coffee with steam. Also read: Holidays in Italy: insider tips for a trip to Milan

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