Italy
NAPLES – POMPEII – ROME – CAPRI
- 6 days
- singles, couples, w/ kids
- spring, summer, fall
A beautiful sightseeing trip that is packed with activities. Six days in the iconic Italian city of Naples. A city that may be a little intimidating at first, but then you'll fall in love with it. You'll discover its historic centre, both its world-famous and lesser-known sights. You'll taste a lot of Italian food and wine. You'll explore Pompeii, see Vesuvius. Take a day trip to Rome by high-speed train. Take a boat to the amazing island of Capri. It's a really packed six days. And if you've never been to Rome, you can extend your holiday by staying there a little longer. Plus, flights to Naples are often very reasonably priced, so it can be a less expensive holiday. The ideal time to travel here is spring or autumn – in the summer it will be very crowded and also quite hot, but you can swim in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, on the other hand.
All day in Naples. Museums, cathedrals and a wonderful maze of streets. Lots of great cafés and little restaurants.
On the fifth day you can finally get some sleep. Today is a day of exploring Naples. The route is not very long and it’s up to you what you want to see and visit. Be sure to make detours along the way, Naples is beautiful and it’s best just to wander around. The basic route can be done easily and leisurely during the day – the route is here.
First stop is at the Museo Cappella Sansevero (route). It’s a fairly small chapel with some wonderful statues. Three of the most famous ones completely blew us away: Antonio Corradini's Pudicizia (1752), Veiled Christ (1753) by Giuseppe Sanmartino and then Il Disinganno (1753-54) by Francesco Queirolo. You can find them described and photographed here. This is a very frequently visited place, so be sure to consider buying your tickets online in advance (here). They are sold for specific times and allow you take the “quick queue” to enter. Don’t miss this chapel, it really is amazing!
Then walk just a short distance (route) to the entrance to the Naples Underground. The tour is very interesting. The underground goes 40 metres deep and the oldest parts are 2,400 years old. I’m not sure if they accept credit cards here, so you’d better have cash. Tickets can also be bought online (here). They also list the start times of the tours. The whole tour takes 1.5 hours.
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta is just a short walk away (here). This beautiful cathedral is definitely worth a visit. Admission is free. Go back a short distance (route) and the entrance to La Neapolis Sotterrata – Complesso Monumentale San Lorenzo Maggiore will be in front of you. If you missed the Naples Underground tour, or want to see the underground in a different way, this is a good place – and it’s not just about the underground! The guided tour will take you an hour. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Then go on this way. Stroll down Via S. Gregorio Armeno, which is full of shops and where you’ll find the Monastero di San Gregorio Armeno. Finding the entrance to the church is not easy, but give it a try, because it’s definitely worth a short visit. Via San Gregorio Armeno is also known as Via dei Presepi (Street of the Nativity). All along its length you will see shops of artists who make figures for typical Neapolitan nativity scenes. The street is full of nativity scenes all year round.
You can then finish your journey at another of the beautiful churches, the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore. This church was built around 1300 and is one of the most interesting churches of the city. Inside there are 24 chapels, each containing something interesting and unique. There are several tours on offer. The route from the alley of the cribs is here.
After that, further wandering around Naples is up to you. Be sure to add a lunch break to the suggested itinerary – just get off the tourist trail and search for a while. You’re sure to find a restaurant you like. If you’re already heading to the hotel, it’s just a short walk (here).
For dinner, take public transport or take a taxi. A great and not too expensive restaurant is Osteria Napulion. But call them in advance and make a reservation as it’s quite small.
A relatively small space full of beautiful sculptures. Especially the statue of Jesus wrapped in a transparent cloak is incredible! You’ll wonder for a long time how anyone can sculpt this. This place is really worth a visit. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office opposite the museum.
For me, the statue of Jesus on display here is the most beautiful statue I have ever seen. It's fantastic.
The tour is very interesting; the underground goes down to a depth of 40 metres and the oldest parts are 2400 years old. Buy tickets online or on the spot – beware: they didn’t accept cards when we visited, we had to have cash.
The Cathedral of Naples, also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption, is a Roman Catholic cathedral, the main church in Naples, and the seat of the Archbishop of Naples. The cathedral is rather unassuming from the outside, but monumental and stunning on the inside. The entire structure was completed in the early 14th century.
An interesting testimony to the development of the town from 500 BC to the end of the 18th century. A preserved underground that reveals various secrets of the city’s buildings and development. Definitely don’t come here if you cannot handle enclosed spaces.
Very hard to find, but it’s a beautiful place. A baroque monastery and church. The original building dates back to the early 8th century. The whole complex has been rebuilt and modified several times since then. There is a strict “no photography” policy.
Street Via San Gregorio Armeno or also Via dei Presepi (Street of the Nativity). Along its length you will see the shops of artists who make the figures for the typical Neapolitan nativity scenes. The street is full of nativity scenes all year round.
A beautiful church with free entrance. You can also buy a tour of the premises where St. Thomas Aquinas stayed – entrance costs 7 EUR.
A small restaurant, a bit tucked away, but the food is great, and the prices are not too high. Have an appetizer, main course, and dessert – you won’t regret it.
Niky Malečková
17.07.2024
1368
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