  Naples
Click to get the inside scoop from
real travelers here at VirtualTourist. See the Naples Travel GuideInside advice from real people on:Overview, Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants, Nightlife, Shopping, General Tips, Transportation, Off the Beaten Path, Tourist Traps, Warnings or Dangers, Local Customs, Packing Lists or Sports Travel.
 1470 Naples Tips.2611 Naples Photos.9 Naples Videos. Naples Pages by sargentjeff
| Page Views: 13,151 Last Visit to Naples: November, 2002 | Benvenuti a Napoli!! by sargentjeff - last update: Jun 15, 2008 |
Nov 02 - Went to Napoli on a "just because" trip, but mainly I wanted to go when my ex didn't have stuff she "had" to do. In September she had to go down for exams. I spent time exploring the heart of the city. It's like an open air museum & shouldn't be missed.
Vedi Napoli e po' mori (See Naples & die) is an old Italian phrase that implies "nothing more beautiful remains to be seen on earth." Those who've visited Naples report the city's reputation for beauty is deserved, but word lovers will note there's a bit of a pun involved in the phrase. Naples was once a center of cholera and typhoid, where visitors did indeed see Naples and die.
Mt. Vesuvio is visible in the background of the picture, and was the death of thousands in Pompei and Herculaneum in 79 a.d.
If you think weird stuff happens in your city, wait until you see a family of four on a Vespa scooter. Mom, Dad and two Bimbi!
Oh, so the Autostrade only has three lanes here. Ahh, we don't pay attention to those funny lines anyway. You guessed it, five lanes. WaaLaa! Plan on stopping at that red light? Well, I'd advise against it unless you want 10 cars honking horns at you. Going to drive through that intersection just because of a little green light? Wrong again. Better stop or risk being side swiped by a red light runner. Hey buddy, ever heard of a turn signal? I actually rammed a car pretty good on the autostrade because a guy forgot that little detail. When you're doing 130kmh, and the other guy is doing 80kmh, and then said driver decides to get in your lane as you are just approaching.....Well, it ain't pretty folks. No worries for me. The other car was disabled as well. Thank God we were all okay. I had only been here about 8 weeks so dealing with the Carabinieri and a traffic accident was not on my list of "Must do Activities" for Naples. Get this, they were more concerned that the registration, which the rental car company put in the car, was a photocopy and not the original. HUH? Seems they keep the originals in the rental office.
It WAS a decent Fiat Brava before the front end was totally smashed in, but I got another car the following day, another Fiat Brava (great Naples car) and had the mirror knocked off by a teenager on a moped scooter trying to pass me on the left as I was, you guessed it, turning left.
The way I ended up going to Naples, Hmmm, interesting story and it is on my London page. Why? you gotta read this one, it's too good to pass up.
I met my ex-wife, who was born and raised here, in Naples.
Napoli at first seems dirty and full of chaos. There is actually much to be learned about really living life in Naples. The pizza is, by far, the best in the world and you must have a caprese salad with the region's own "mozzerella di bufala" The original and only true mozzererella. Piazza Pleblicito is home to some beautiful sights. The Church of Francesco di Paola. (we were married there) and the royal palace. Also teatro San Carlo. Go to Gambrinus for a famous coffee. (just adjacent to the piazza) and then head up the Corso for some shopping.
Mergellina, the area next to the water and home of many luxurious hotels and restuarants is a must. Trianon makes the best in pizza in Naples.
Napolitans have a different outlook on life. Current theory attributes this to the fact that Neapolitans reside at the base of a volcano that could blow its top at any moment (Pompei and Herculaneum have first-hand experience), so they live for the moment (“Live today, for tomorrow we die”). Neapolitans do not stand in lines; generally disregard traffic regulations; do not hurry to get anything accomplished; enjoy the art of conversation (rather loudly if two automobiles are involved), and all this and more makes for a loud, brash and chaotic environment.
If you drive, you have to get in a mindset to do so. Be aggressive and don't be afraid of honking your horn.
Great web links for Napoli: http://www.rcm.napoli.it/rcmweb/napoliwebint.htm
Want to see live webcam pics of Naples and Italy? go here. http://www.viagginrete-it.it/webcam/ |
|  | The Real Napoli The real naples isn't at the airport, or the train station, rather on the back streets of the city. Here you will see all sorts of things. Clothes hanging on the lines is just one "Napolitan" sight, which is common. It has a simple beauty about it, which, when looked at through open eyes, can be appreciated. |
Francesco Di Paola
The reason I chose this photo as a lead in was because it is an awesome church in Piazza Pleblicito. Also on that piazza sit the Royal Palace and the Teatro San Carlo. | | | Inside Francesco di Paolo |
|
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Great place to have fun and experience some real Italian life" | | Cons: | "Traffic, Chaos, Corruption and Petty Crime" | | In A Nutshell: | "Naples is like no other place on Earth!!" |
sargentjeff's Naples Travel Tips
 sargentjeff's Naples Travelogues | | | |
|
 Comments for sargentjeff about Naples | | | | |
ttsui Mon Feb 18, 2008 19:34 UTC
We just got back from a 2 week trip to Naples, Amalfi and Rome. While in Naples, we ate at Trianon twice. It is indeed THE best pizza in the world! | kevanrijn Tue Feb 20, 2007 06:32 UTC
I so enjoyed your Naples pages & tips. I lived there for 2.5 years and my son was born there. I was there from 1975-1977--yes, the dark ages! Is Tony's Sampan Chinese restaurant near NSA Naples still there? I had an apartment in Pianura! | 1courage Tue Nov 7, 2006 22:48 UTC
HI! That`s one great page. I can easily imagine, how beautiful can be a wedding in such an extraordinary church! Greetings! | madamx Wed Aug 9, 2006 03:59 UTC
Hi Jeff, thanks for some great tips about Naples. Looking forward to having real italian pizza! Greetings from Calgary ~ Helen |
|
More Sponsored Links for Naples
Cheap Italy Car Rental
Low cost rent a car from $70 / day Book online today for great savings
Car Hotel
Save When You Book Your Hotel with a Flight or Car Together at Expedia
Naples Car
Visit Your Local Audi Dealer & Find Great Offers Today! Official Site.
|
email me
add as friend
