Destination: Naples, Italy

After the fast-paced and vibrant stay in Rome, our next destination was none other than in Naples which, despite being the third-largest city in Italy, nevertheless had that laid-back atmosphere that resonates well as part of the Mediterranean culture. My family and I only had a half-day in Naples, but it was still a pleasant visit.

Through our cruise, we opted for the included panoramic tour of Naples– granted, we could’ve chosen the day trip to Pompeii, which is incredibly popular with tourists, but we’d already visited it the last time we went to Italy (over 11 years ago) and preferred just to keep it a light day of sightseeing.

We started our day around 9:00, getting into the tour coach before heading out of the pier into the city center. Along the way, our tour guide gave us a crash course in Naples’ history: originally a powerful kingdom with great economic wealth (as its port location offers easy access to other parts of Italy, France, and northern Africa), it experienced a decline following the heavy bombardments of WWII, and much of its historic architecture was destroyed. Although no longer the most-powerful place in Italy, today Naples still remains a popular tourist draw for visiting Pompeii and, of course, trying the famous and original Neapolitan pizza.

The day was bright and sunny, with skies so blue that it was a wonder that it was winter to begin with. Even the temperatures were quite warm, as I didn’t even need my jacket. After a short circuit through the narrow, almost claustrophobic, cobblestone streets in the center, our coach took us uphill to Posillipo, a neighborhood that not only contains some of the most luxurious and expensive villas to rent, but also stunning views of Naples from the top– of course, living in a villa with such good views would have to be pricey! Fortunately, the photos we took there were completely free (and priceless for their beauty!).

Following our photo opportunity, we descended the hill to return to Naples’ city center. We visited the San Francesco di Paola, which was inspired by the Pantheon. Upon seeing the inside of it, we could tell how similar it was to the architectural structure in Rome.

Soon after, we were given free time to explore the city center on our own. My family and I checked out Caffè Gambrinus, a 19th-century coffee house which had a dazzling interior– the perfect location while enjoying cake and a cup of strong Italian coffee! We also wandered inside the Galleria Umberto I, admiring its glass-and-iron interior. I also bought a postcard inside its souvenir shop, before we returned to the meeting point to catch the coach back to the port. Just before leaving, we also saw the Castel Nuovo, a 13th-century castle and fortress that has become a city museum today. Boarding our coach, we returned to our ship around noon and relaxed on-board for the rest of the day.

Although it’d been a very short and light day in Naples, it was nevertheless a pleasure revisiting the place after over eleven years and experiencing good weather. The views of the colorful houses by the port were gorgeous, and it was an easy day to recover after an action-packed visit in Rome just a few days prior. It would’ve been nice to have tried the signature Neapolitan pizza, but it’s quite all right! I would love to return to the Campania region of Italy and explore more of the coastal towns like Capri and Positano, so perhaps I can opt for the pizza then!

I’ll leave you with a shot of the sunset from Naples that evening, just before we departed for our next destination. More to come soon– next up: Sicily & Sardinia, Italy!

 

— Rebecca