Visit Naples Italy

Naples can be a very great city to visit. But this is really dependent upon the time of the year you want to visit. Not all times of the year are good times to spend in Naples. This is because many of the hotels do not have air conditioning and those that do have it have a poor installation to say the least.

The worst times of the year to visit Naples is around July and August. This is when the evening temperatures do not cool down at night. If you absolutely must stay in Naples during this time of the year then I highly recommend you rent a house or apartment where you can get some air to flow from room to room. This will make the stay much more enjoyable then in a sweltering hotel room.

Ideally if you can visit Naples during the months of April to June and September to October then you will find the evening temperatures to be tolerable to stay in hotel. I know how absolutely horrible it is to stay in someplace where the evening temperature is too high to catch some sleep.  You do not want to do this on your vacation or otherwise.

So please avoid the months listed or if  you can rent a home or apartment then you should be just fine.

The city of Naples is obviously a port town. Many times you will probably want to travel to the surrounding islands such as Capri and Ischia as well as the city of Sorrento. For many the only way to do this is by use of a ferry. So then how do you find information about the various ferry services? You come to my website.

In order to get a ferry you have two choices Molo Beverello and Mergellina which are the two ports that offer ferry service. In the summer months you can usually just show up and board a ferry as there are frequent trips due to the amount of tourists in the area. Otherwise you will need to pick up a ferry route timetable at either one of these ports.

There really is two types of transport around Naples, fast or slow. The fast type of transport is the hydrofoil that is supposed to give a smooth ride to all the islands. The second type is the slow moving car ferry that can cause many to become seasick because they are not really made for supreme comfort.

Listed below are some of the ferry services that operate out of the two ports that I have mentioned before. Most of the websites can be a bit out of date and it may be best to contact someone direct in order to get the most up to date information.

• Alilauro
• Caremar
• SNAV
• MedMar

That should get you on your way in finding the best route to go to where ever you want in the bay of Naples.

Italy has many volcanoes that are more active and can be more exciting then Vesuvius. However no volcano is more famous then Vesuvius due to its history of burying the now famous towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. This volcano provides a great backdrop to many of the pictures you will see around the bay of Naples. It is very hard to miss when you visit as its ominous presence seems to hover around the area still as a stark reminder of its violent and destructive past.

Although now dormant Veuvuus is still an active volcano and it is certainly not extinct by any means. You need to keep this in mind if you are visiting the area as your plans could suddenly change if this hunk of rock should become active again. The most recent activity for this beast has been in 1944 when the volcano again changed shape as it went through another violent cycle of destruction. Unlike the calm eruptions of Mount Etna Vesuvus eruptions tend to be very violent and destructive like Mount St. Helens in America.

However for right now this mountain is lying still and that makes it an ideal hiking ground. If you are hoping to have this mountain to yourself you better think again as many tourists also choose to hike up its peak to view the bay of Naples from a vantage point not seen everyday. This is not an easy walk either as the peak of the volcano is 4700 feet up and is sure to tax even the most fittest of tourists. Be sure to be prepared when visiting this volcano and wear appropriate shoes. It always amazes me how many times I have seen people injured just because of the poor selection of their footwear when hiking or walking around a city.

The best times to visit this site is actually in May and June as the weather is best this time of year. However you are sure to be one of the many tourists that also choose to walk up the slope of Vesuvius so it will not be a solitary visit for sure. Speaking of weather this mountain does close for bad weather and fog as I am sure that the city of Naples wants to keep the site as safe as possible.

You can take an organized tour of the volcano from the town of Naples. They usually leave by bus and are advertised in many of the English papers in the area. Also be sure to speak to your hotel staff as to which is the best tour group to take as I am sure they are well aware of the many scammers that tend to crop up when any tourist groups show up.

Like Herculaneum the city of Pompeii is tied to the whims of Mount Vesuvius. It is because of the violent destructive nature of this volcano that we are even aware of this town.

Pompeii was larger then some of the other surrounding cities and was used for many nobles as a place to get away from it all. So because of the grand nature of some the cities residents the palaces and homes were grander then those of the cities surrounding it. That just makes this place even more interesting to visit for the history buff. You can not only see how the common Roman lived but how the nobles spent their leisure time as well.

Having visited this city I can tell you that it is a bit of a workout to walk around. The cobbled stones of the streets make the journey difficult for even some of the fittest of travelers. The steep inclines are not recommended for elderly or disabled persons as well. However I am sure that you can visit this place if you are both elderly and disabled you just need to plan ahead a bit.

So many people want to visit this city and due to the lack of funding for the city this site was declare in 2001 as a imperiled world heritage site. But that is simply because visiting this city is one of the most unique experiences you can imagine. Viewing the city with Vesuvius in the background can give anyone the chills. This is compounded by the many ruins of the everyday citizen that is scattered in this city.

If you are not a history buff like many who visit the city you may catch that bug by the time you leave. This place makes history come alive in a way that you really do not experience anywhere else. It is well worth the visit and time to go there.

The town of Herculaneum is now known today due to the explosion of the volcano Vesuvius. If not for that explosion that city perhaps would not have received so much fame and attention. Perfectly preserved in its destruction the city gives a great insight into how the Romans lived at that time period.

Herculaneum was a smaller city then Pompeii consisting of only 5,000 residents at the time of its destruction. Due to this the city is obviously not as large nor as grand. However this is a great city to truly understand how a common Roman lived in ancient days.

Some of the best ruins in Italy are at this site. This is primarily due to the interest that was shown for the city of Pompeii. The best ruin in the city is that of the Terme Suburbane or the suburban baths. That just makes sense as the ruin is mostly underground and would have suffered only damage from the earthquakes as opposed to the plume of ash and pumice that rained on the city.

While the city is not replete with many grand homes and palaces there were some large sea front homes that are very opulent for the city standards. Most likely these ruins are from the ruling class of the city and that is why they are so well laid out with gardens and terraces.

You can even find examples of an ancient fast food shop or thermopolia where some simple soups and salads were served to residents passing by. As I said this is a great place to find out how the ancient Romans truly lived and worked as this was a common town for many of the residents of the time.

The Villa dei Papri so named after all of the scrolls found in it was most likely the library of the town. It was hoped when this place was discovered that long lost works by the famous artists of the time like Aristotle, Plato and other Greek and Roman masters. This place was the inspiration for John Paul Getty’s museum in Malibu, California so you can see that this town still wields it influence even in its destruction.

This is one of the smaller and more interesting side trips you can take if you are based out of Naples. It is certainly worth looking into how ancient people lived as you can see that their lifestyle is not that different from ours today.

The island of Ischia is unknown to many American tourists which actually makes it a great place to visit. This island plays second fiddle to the island of Capri which many American tourists flock to because of the frequent visits from the many cruise ships that descend upon that tiny island. However this island is much larger and you have much more space to move around as it is not as crowded as Capri. I am not saying there are no crowds however, as many other tourists in the area know this island well and go here because of the lack of American tourists.

The island of Ischia is much larger and has a total of five principal towns. The history of the island is vast and hence there are many places to see and visit. The primary attraction in this island is Castello Aragonese once home to the poet and humanist Vittoria Colonna who counted the artist Michelangelo as one of her many friends.

The five towns on this island are Ischia, Porto, Lacco Ameno, Casamicciola Terme, and finally the town of Sant’Angelo. The town of Ischia is by far the largest of the towns and has the most hotels and restaurants and therefore is more geared towards the tourists that visit that island. If you want to get off the beaten track then visit the other towns like Lacco Ameno which has some of the greatest spas in the whole of Italy.

For those that cannot pass on visiting a museum there is a museum dedicated to the sea called Museo del Mare or the Museum of the Sea. Also for many film buffs it might be interesting to know that much of the film The Talented Mr. Ripley was filmed at Palazzo Malcoviti. Since much of the cinematic arts is geared towards the spectacular visuals I am sure that this place is definitely worth visiting.

If hiking and walking along nature paths is your thing then this is the island for you. This island has a volcanic center which many tourists spend an hour climbing up to look upon a great view that I am sure you will not find anywhere else. If you are backpacking through Europe then this should definitely be on your list of things to do.

Although this island is not as famous or glamorous as its sister Capri it still has plenty to offer. It is certainly going to be quieter then many of the other places you may find in and around the bay of Naples which is a definite plus in my book.

Many tourists choose not to make Naples their primary destinations when visiting Italy. This is probably because of the reputation that this city has acquired over the years. However I take offense at that as many cities in America has their problems as well yet many tourists come and visit. So why not Naples? If you do choose to stay in Naples for a while then there are some good day trips you can do to entertain yourself. I have already mentioned the islands of Capri and Ischia and those are certainly worth spending a day exploring. However if you are into history or archeology then there is so much to explore.

The towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii are by far two of the most visited sites in the bay of Naples. Both have become famous today because of the preserved nature of these cities. Neither city would be famous if not for the volcano Vesuvius exploding and burying both of these cities.

The town of Pompeii is one place I have been myself and it is quite an interesting place to walk around. However be careful if you are not in shape. Needless to say this town is not really kept up very well and the roads can be hard to walk on if you are not very quick of foot and mind. This town was primarily a working class city of many average Romans which makes it an ideal archaeological city to study. There were some aristocrats who built some larger homes here to vacation in and visit but most of the city were of the everyday Roman citizen. This really shows in how the town was built and in the various entertainment areas around the city.

The site of Paestum is another one of those sites not to be missed if you are visiting the bay of Naples. Another ancient Roman town this place has some of the best preserved ancient temples in the area. While certainly further away then both Pompeii and Herculaneum it is still possible to see in an extended day trip. This city was originally founded by the Greeks as the city of Poseidon. So therefore you can expect to see many ancient Greek temples as well as some of the usual Roman influenced temples.

When visiting Paestum be sure to check out Tempio di Nettune or the temple of Neptune which is the best preserved site in the city. It is certainly the grandest of the temples and really illustrates the care that many of the Greeks put into building their temples.

There are many places to visit around the bay of Naples and all are not to be missed. It is very important not to neglect this area of Italy as it is steeped in history and well worth the visit.

When visiting Naples it is important not to get into too much trouble. However many unforeseen circumstances befall us all. Therefore it is very wise to be prepared in case of an emergency.

In case of emergency it is important to remember the following numbers. They are actually different for what service you require so be sure to memorize them as they may save your life one day.

• For Fires Dial 115
• For Police Dial 113
• For Medical Assistance Dial 118

Each of these numbers can be reached from any phone in Naples and they should be able to offer assistance depending on what you need. However for more expedited service it may be necessary just to walk into a hospital and get aid right away. However not all hospitals offer an emergency ward so I have gathered those that does have one and wrote them down here.

Unità Operative Assalesi V. Egiziaca a Forcella 31
Unità Operative C.T.O. V.le Colli Aminei 21
Unità Operative Pellegrini V. Portamedina alla Pignasecca 41
Unità Operative San Gennaro V. San Gennaro dei Poveri 25
Unità Operative San Paolo V. Terracina 219

So above you have the hospital name in bold and the address follows after that.

If you need to contact your embassy for any reason it might be a good idea to have the address and phone number handy. You never know what emergency situation may come up.

UK: Via dei Mille, 40.80.121 Napoli Tel: 081 423 8911
USA: Piazza della Repubblica, Tel: 081 583 8111
Germany: Via Crispi Francesco, 69 Tel: 081 248 8511
Canada: Via Carducci Giosue’, 29, Tel: 081 401338
France: Via Crispi Francesco, 86, Tel: 081 598 0711
Spain: Via dei Mille, 40, Tel: 081 411157

Hopefully that should cover all the bases in case you ever should come up with any troubles while staying in Naples. It would be most unfortunate for you to have to use any of these services but if you are prepared then you should be able to better handle yourself.

The island of Capri (pronounced KA pri) is perhaps the jewel of the Naples coast. It is one of the most serene and beautiful islands I have ever visited. I could not help but be at peace on this island. When I visited it not so long ago I wanted to stay and make the place my home. It is one of the best places I have ever been in my life. But that is just my personal experience with the island.

I know I am not the only one to feel the same way after visiting the island. It is a very small island that has very few cars and only two small towns. During the day however the island is packed with tourists from the various cruise ships that are in the area. So if you are expecting a quiet get away then you will be disappointed as this island is nothing but quiet during the day. But that to me just adds to its charm. At night however it is a completely different story as most of the day trippers have left the island and the area and  you have the island to a small amount of residents and travelers that stay overnight.

This island is also an attraction to many celebrities and it is not uncommon to see some very high profile actors and actresses on this island during the film festival that takes place here. In fact when Ferrari launches a new version of their automobiles they usually have a party on the island to launch the new car.

Is this island worth visiting through? Well that depends. If you can survive an almost an hour long boat trip from Naples  then yes. Just as a tip though if you choose to go to this island the trip from Sorrento is much better as it is a far smaller distance from the port of Sorrento to the island.

Because of the clientele that frequents the island the prices are a bit steep to say the least. When you have to rub shoulders with multi-million dollar celebrities you are pretty sure that the hotel prices are going to be up there in price. The surrounding stores also represent some of the higher brand stores you would find in Beverly Hills and in the heart of the Rome shopping district. Restaurants as well are very expensive as they can cater to the higher end market. As always if you want to get the best deal always ask the locals where they shop or eat and I am sure you will receive a better deal.

Rumor has it that a full 25 percent of all restaurant in Italy are pizzerias. I am not sure of the accuracy of that statement but it would make sense as this is the country where Pizza was invented. Now Naples is the city that can claim to have invented the Pizza. The first pizzeria may very well have been Antica Pizzeria Port d’Alba which was founded in 1830.

The very first pizzas like most great foods today were the food that the poor invented. Since the poor of Venice invented this these pizzas were very simple with only garlic and olive oil as toppings made from a very hot wood fired oven. In fact the idea of a pizzeria is kind of a new concept to most natives of Italy as this food staple first started on food stands sold on street corners all throughout the city.

You would be doing yourself a great injustice if you ever find yourself in Naples and not order a Margherita pizza. This originally started from the now famous pizza maker Raffaele Esposito when he was asked to make a pizza for the then King and Queen of Italy. This pizza is very simple containing only a tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. The reason why he used these three ingredients was that they were the three colors of the Italian flag and in its simplest form represented true Italy.

If  you want to visit the pizzeria where this pizza was invented you are in luck because it is still around and is now known as Pizzeria Brandi. At this moment you could consider that place a bit of a tourist trap but it should be worth the visit just to say that you have ate in the pizzeria where the pizza was invented. There are other well known and notable pizzerias as well such as Da Michele, Di Matteo, Trianon da Ciro as well as Cafasso.

Pizza is now a well represented dish all throughout the world but I believe that Naples truly captures what this dish is all about and does not tamper with perfection. Fortunately since this is such a popular thing to eat in Italy it should not be a problem to find some good pizza joints near your hotel. Hopefully you will be staying somewhere near the above mentioned restaurants so you will not have to travel very far.