| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
Much has been written on Naples ("Napule," in local parlance), but nothing can render the multifaced reality of this city better than a visit -- or actually several visits. Once you get past the initial grit, you'll find art treasures galore, equaling and often surpassing many more popular destinations in Italy, and you'll discover the city's unique soul. The first adjective that comes to mind to define it is "ebullient." You'll feel this energy in the traffic, the noise, but also in the cultural life: in the music, in the performing arts, in the people's deep love for and pride in their city, and in their fervent religiosity. Above all, you'll pick up on a sense of enthusiasm for what the city has to offer, from romantic evening walks along the shore; to magnificent views over the bay with Mount Vesuvius in the background; to the beauty of Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel Nuovo, and Castel dell'Ovo. And, of course, this being Italy, Neapolitans are proud of all the good things to eat here, especially the fresh seafood; local tomatoes, which make the best fresh sauces; and the pizza they invented. The second adjective that describes Naples is "welcoming." If you take the time to notice, you will see that Neapolitans really reach out to visitors and relish in others' enjoyment of their beloved city. Maybe that is the most truly fascinating thing about Naples: It has incredible architectural and artistic attractions, natural beauty, and fantastic food and wines, but ulti
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Greco-Roman Naples The origins of the city of Naples are rooted in legend. The chief protagonist is the Parthenopean Siren, a mythical, fascinating creature which for centuries, was said to resemble a bird, but with the delicate facial features of a young girl. In Antiquity, many shipwrecks occurred off the Island of the Sirens, (believed by some to be the Isle of Li Galli), which lies in front of the coast at Positano. This was apparently because sailors would be bewitched and disturbed by the irresistible song of the island’s inhabitants (the sirens), causing them to lose control of both themselves and their ships. It was only Ulysees, the hero of Ithaca who managed to escape this fate, by forcing his crew to plug their ears with wax and then tying them to the mainmast of the fragile hull, thus saving the ship and all its equipment from being wrecked in a disastrous storm. History books tell us that the Greeks arrived in Naples in stages. In the 9th century B.C., they arrived on the island of Pithecusa (Ischia); in the following century, they arrived on the island of Cuma, and it was only in the 6th century B.C. that they founded Parthenope on the isle of Megaride, then extended to Monte Echia (the Pizzafalcone hill), which was more of a commercial centre than a city. In 470, the inhabitants of Cuma founded a real city in the east (on the site of the current historic city centre), which they called Neapolis (new city), in order to distinguish it from Palepol
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There Air The Aeroporto Capodichino, Naples International Airport, ( NAP ) ( +39 848 888 777; +39 081 789 6259; http://www.gesac.it/en/ ) provides service to Naples and is the gateway to Southern Italy. Airline carriers include: Alitalia ( +39 848 865641 / http://www.alitalia.com/ ) Air France ( +39 848 884466 / http://www.airfrance.com/ ) BMI Baby ( +44 870 126 6726 / http://www.bmibaby.com/ ) British Airways ( +39 199 712266 / http://www.ba.com/ ) Condor ( +1 800 524 6975 / http://www7.condor.com/ ) Easy Jet ( +33 ( 0 )8 25 08 25 08 / http://www.easyjet.com/ ) Hapag-Lloyd Express ( +180 509 3 509 / http://www.hlx.com/ ) Helvetic.com ( +39 02 69682684 / http://www.helvetic.com/ ) Iberworld Airlines ( http://www.iberworld.com/ ) Lufthansa ( +39 199 400044 / http://www.lufthansa.com/ ) Meridiana ( +39 199 111333 / http://www.meridiana.it/ ) MyAir.com ( +39 899 500060 / http://www.gesac.it/it/links/myair.html/ ) My Travel ( +870 238 7710 / http://www.mytravel.com/ ) Sky Europe ( +421 2 4850 1111 / http://www.skyeurope.com/in.php/ ) From the Airport Shuttle: Alibus Shuttle Bus departs every 10 min. from the Naples International Airport and runs from 6:30a-11:30p. Taxi: Travel by taxi is problematic at best due to incredibly high fares, reckless driving, and horrible traffic conditions. It is not a recommended form of transportation, but if you are going to take one,
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Entertainment in Naples When talking about Naples, the subject of entertainment is bound to come up as all the main attractions of the city have the joyous, carefree spirit of a people who are traditionally devoted to music, singing and dancing. Nonetheless, as often happens, reality is very different, however, the great cultural and creative legacy of the city has produced art and shows of international appeal, since ancient times. One example of this is the Neapolitan song tradition which still charms the world. Theatres The Neapolitan theatrical tradition is extremely rich. Various families of actor-writers such as the Scarpetta, Di Maggio, De Filippo and Giuffrè families have give life to a great variety of farces and plays which are still performed in various theatres around the city. Teatro Bellini , was opened as a lyric theatre in 1864 and is now the most beautiful theatre in Naples. It is located at 17, Via Conte di Ruvo, near Piazza Dante, and offers an international programme. Not far from here, in two streets which cut across Via Toledo are two, small theatres which offer playes for a young, cultured audience. Trendy shows are performed here, written in search of new, expressive languages. Galleria Toledo is in Via Concezione at 36, Monteoliveto, and the Teatro Nuovo is in 16, Via Montecalvario. Teatro Nuovo has two rooms. The smaller is called Sala Assoli, and is little more than a basement, where historic performances have taken place. T
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| Getting Around (Source: Frommers) | Top | When you're tired of walking, the best ways to get around Naples are the bus and subway. The small electric buses serving the historical center are particularly good for reaching points tucked away on narrow streets, while buses, trams, subway, and funiculars provide faster transportation to major hubs. Naples's Transportation Authority (tel. 800-482644 toll-free in Italy; www.ctpn.it) provides information on all the above and keeps an information booth on Piazza Garibaldi where, if you are in luck, you can get an excellent public transportation map. Public transportation tickets are sold at tobacconists and at some bars and newsstands. You can get a regular biglietto (ticket) valid 90 minutes for 1€ ($1.40/70p); or a giornaliero (day pass) valid until midnight for 3€ ($4.20/£2.10). Both cover the whole metropolitan area of Naples, including funicular, tram, bus, Metro, and urban railway service. The Artecard also includes a public transportation pass. The Metropolitana has two lines, line 1 from Piazza Dante to the Vomero and beyond (daily 6am-11pm); and line 2 from Pozzuoli to Piazza Garibaldi and beyond (daily 5:30am-11pm). The Cumana (urban railroad) runs from Montesanto to Pozzuoli and beyond (daily 5am-11pm). Among the buses, the linee rosse (red lines marked by the letter R ) are special fast lines serving tourist destinations with frequent service; they run daily from 5:30am to midnight. Regular buses tend to be slower and many stop running
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