Tourist Places To Visit In Naples

Naples, also known by the name of ‘Grande Dame’ by many is a large city in Italy. It is stuffed with a combination of ancient history, art, architecture and modern life. The history of the city dates back to the 8^th Century BC, when the Greeks ruled the region and left their mark for the future generations to cherish. The style of architecture, the narrow neighborhood streets and many other structures and areas are influenced by the Greek culture and today they are some of the best tourist places to visit in Naples. If you already haven’t planned your trip, have a look at our list of places to go to in Naples.

Close to the modern city of Naples is Pompeii, an old Roman city in the Campania region. A volcanic mountain near the Bay of Naples, called Mount Vesuvius has erupted several times, but the worse one took place in 79 A.D, where it burnt down the entire city of Pompeii into thick ash. Almost two thousand or more people died in this massacre. This UNESCO Heritage Site is one of the most visited archeological sites in the world. The National Archeological Museum in Pompeii is a must visit and exhibits some of the finest collections of antiquities which were found in the excavation of the debris after the massacre.

Established in Palazzo Donnaregina, the Museo Madre is a museum and an art gallery of some of the finest contemporary art in the world. Established in 2005, this museum is site specific and includes some of the best works by Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons, amongst many other artists. The museum spreads over four floors of the palace it is housed in and on top is a sculpture called Cavallo, made by Mimmo Paladino and was bought by the museum in 2007. This is a great place for anyone who is an art enthusiast and loves to see notable works of art.

Another settlement near Pompeii that got burnt down to smithereens is Heculaneum. This city that was completely caught up in Lava, revealed better archeological remains of Ancient Rome. Twelve boathouses were excavated from a spot in Herclaneum, which was the final hiding place of more than three hundred people during the massacre. This city provides valuable insights on ancient Rome and the preservation is absolutely amazing! The lava ash has preserved everything from sewage to wood, making it easy for archeologists to date back the history of old Rome.

The Cimitero Fontanelle is an ossuary in Naples. As the crypts and churchyards started filling up, Fontanelle cemetery was established as a secondary burial ground. Other than ossuaries, the skulls of bodies that were anonymous were cared for. In 1656, a devastating plague hit half of Naples and almost 150,000 people died of the terrible disease and were dumped in the cemetery, most of them without last rites. In 1872, the dead bodies were sorted in shelves and racks and during the World War I, the caves served as a bomb shelter. The cemetery was closed and is now open to the public to take a tour in.

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Naples city, visit Lungamare, the seafront strip which pedestrians can walk on. It is the perfect place to take a stroll and refresh your mind. If you get thirsty, you can drink a glass of lemon granita from one of the kiosks on the beach. This is a beautiful spot to enjoy the sunset as you can see the beautiful Mount Vesuvius in mellow orange Hue.

The stunning church of Gesu Nuovo in Naples is a remarkable example of Baroque architecture. It was originally a palace that was built in 1470 but later on became the center of the Neapolitan life. The interior of the church is decorated with beautiful coloured marbles creating various illusions of masks and flowers; it is absolutely remarkable! The dome on top was originally decorated by Giovanni Lanfranco and at that time it was the biggest dome in the city. The architecture of this church is notable and one must visit to see the marvelous interiors.

The Bay of Naples has three islands, out of which Procida is one of the most beautiful. Situated at the coast of Naples, Procida is located between Ischia and Cape Miseno. The houses on this island are coloured in pink, green, yellow and blue and the streets are cobbled, giving the island an amazing vibrant look. Near the water around sunset, you will find fishermen coming home after a day’s catch. Procida is the smallest island in the Naples Bay and is forty minutes away from the center of the city. This is a great place to spend a few days in summer.

The famous street Via San Gregorio Armeno is known for terracotta nativity figures. Even if you are not buying anything, take a stroll on this street to experience true Italian culture. If you are looking to take back gifts that are specific to this region, these figures are definitely something you would want to take back. You can find figures of animals, children, entire villages, shops and buildings made of terracotta wood, plaster and other materials. This is a very unique place to visit and is enjoyed by many.