The largest city in southern Italy attracts tourists for a reason. Its special flavor, numerous sights and seascapes annually strive to see thousands of travelers from around the world. The catch phrase "To see Naples and die" was born here and from here it walked across the planet as a prototype of its own kind about other cities. When planning what to see in Naples, do not forget about its historical center, deservedly included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, medieval temples and fortresses, interesting museum exhibitions and, of course, Vesuvius - an active volcano that made the city famous for its proximity and indefatigable character.
TOP 10 attractions in Naples
Vesuvius
An active volcano has been a symbol of Naples for many centuries. The last time he caused trouble was in 1944, but before that, the history of observation of Vesuvius notes several dozen eruptions of various types. The most famous of these happened in 79 AD. and destroyed several cities at the foot. Stabiae and Pompeii were covered with a multi-meter layer of ash, and Herculaneum was covered with mud streams.
Tourists do not leave Vesuvius with their attention, and, finding themselves in Naples, they rush to look at the famous volcano up close. Until 1980, a chair lift could be used on the eastern slope, but it was destroyed by an earthquake. Today, a hike to Mount Vesuvius is possible only along a walking path starting from the car park at an altitude of 1 km above sea level.
National Archaeological Museum
The basis of the exposition of the largest archaeological museum in the southern part of the country is made up of rarities found during the excavations of Pompeii, Stabius and Herculaneum. The volcanic ash that covered the cities after the eruption of Vesuvius, “mothballed” the streets and buildings, keeping them practically unchanged for centuries.
The museum was first opened in 1777 in the building of the University of Naples. Particularly valuable exhibits of the museum collection are displayed in several halls:
- Most of the mosaics were found in Pompeii. Wall and floor images are dated to the 2nd century. BC. - I century. AD The most famous is "The Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius."
- The collection of coins was collected by members of the Farnese family, who received the Duchy of Parma from the Pope. Six halls represent 200 thousand exhibits from antiquity to those of the Bourbon era.
- The collection of sculptures is composed of archaeological finds in the vicinity of Naples and other Italian cities. The most valuable are Venus Callipiga and Antinous Farnese.
- The Farnese Family Jewels is a treasure collection of Renaissance jewelery.
The museum also displays gladiatorial weapons, frescoes dating from the 1st century BC. and objects of the prehistoric period - from the Paleolithic.
Castel Nuovo
The castle of Maschio Angioino was built by King Karl Anjuy in Naples in the second half of the 13th century. The reason was the transfer of the capital of his possessions from Palermo to the coast of the Gulf of Naples. However, the rebellion against the founder of the castle did not allow him to transport things, and his son was the first to move there. Under Charles II, Castel Nuovo became the center of the political life of the region, where the tiara was renounced and the pontiffs were re-elected.
Then the castle of Maschio Angioino more than once became the subject of the siege of various enemy armies, suffered from raids, was rebuilt and repaired. Until 2006, the City Council of Naples continued to sit in the Hall of the Barons of Castel Nuovo.
Castel del Ovo
A small medieval fortress on the small islet of Santa Lucia in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Naples, according to legend, was built in the very place where the Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. founded the city. The island is connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus artificially filled up for the convenience of communications.
Santa Lucia was the first to conquer the heart of the ancient Roman commander Lucullus, who built a villa here. Then the piece of land was thoroughly fortified in case of an attack, and the last emperor of Ravenna, Romulus Augustus, was exiled to the island. In the 9th century, the fortifications were demolished and the next ones were erected only in the 12th century.
Roger of Siculus built the "Castle of the Egg" in 1139 to protect Naples from the sea. The fortress served Naples during the Italian wars of the 15th century, when it had to withstand cannon fire from the French.
Royal Palace
In the 19th century, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies existed in southern Italy, ruled by the Bourbon dynasty. Their residence was a palace built around the Piazza del Plebescito by the architect Domenico Fontana. The palace appeared in Naples in the middle of the 16th century, but the building owes its modern appearance to the Bourbon court architect Luigi Vanvitelli, who started the reconstruction in the middle of the 18th century.
The main part of the Royal Palace of Naples is occupied by the National Library, which contains thousands of unique books and manuscripts, including a collection of priceless papyri from Herculaneum. In the Museum of the Historical Apartments of the Palace, the attention of visitors will be drawn to the works of Titian and Guercino.
Tourists from St. Petersburg will be delighted to recognize the equestrian statues installed on the sides of the garden gates of the palace, donated by Nicholas I to Naples. The sculptures of the horse tamers from Anichkov Bridge ended up in Italy as a token of gratitude for the hospitality shown by the King of the Two Sicilies to the Russian Empress during her visit.
Piazza del Plebiscito
The largest square in Naples, where you can see not only the Royal Palace, but also the Doric colonnade of the Church of St. Francis, is called Piazza del Plebescito. The church was built in the first half of the 19th century by the design of the artist Pietro Bianchi and its huge colonnade wings serve as the architectural dominant of the center of Naples.
The opposite sides of the square are occupied by the palaces of Salerno and della Prefetura. The first appeared at the end of the 18th century as the seat of the Bourbon cabinet of ministers, and the second five decades later. Referendum Square is decorated with equestrian statues of Kings Ferdinand I and Charles III.
Teatro San Carlo
The oldest opera house in Europe was built by order of Charles III and was first opened in 1737 with a production of the opera Achilles auf Skiros, written by the true Neapolitan composer Domenico Sarro. During its existence, San Carlo has been renovated more than once, and after the bombing of 1943, it was thoroughly restored. Until the 18th century, the Neapolitan opera was the largest in the Old World and accommodated more than 3,200 spectators, but as a result of renovations, the theater was greatly reduced, and today only 1,386 people can watch the performance on its stage at the same time.
However, the renovations had little effect on the popularity of San Carlo among spectators and artists. World premieres of many opera performances have taken place on its stage. Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli shone in Naples, and for the first time Rossini's The Lady of the Lake and Stravinsky's Oedipus King were staged.
Ticket prices: from 30 euros on the balcony.
Pompeii
Ancient Pompeii perished under a layer of ash erupted by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Now the excavations of Pompeii are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and tens of thousands of tourists come to see the open-air museum every year. The easiest way to get to Pompeii from Naples is by train or SITA buses.
Of particular interest for tourists on the territory of Pompeii are the amphitheater, built in the 1st century BC, the Pompeii Forum, which occupied a huge area and served as the center of urban social life, houses, baths and dozens of other structures.
The city's most famous residential buildings are famous for their frescoes and mosaics. The house of the Faun, built, according to researchers, for the nephew of the conqueror of the city, Publius Sulla, is called the most luxurious of the surviving ones. The house of the Vettii is also richly decorated. Its main treasure is a fresco depicting Priapus, the ancient Greek god of fertility. Ancient medical instruments were found in the House of the Surgeon, dating from the 4th-3rd centuries BC.
During the excavations of the city destroyed by Vesuvius, baths and brothels, bakeries and weaving workshops were also found.
Cathedral of Saint Januarius
The Church of the Assumption of St. Mary, the Cathedral of Naples, was consecrated in honor of the heavenly patron of the city and was formerly called the Cathedral of St. Januarius. It was built in the late 13th - early 14th centuries on the foundations of older basilicas. In the 19th century, the façade was renovated, retaining the portal with 15th century statues by Tino de Caymano.
The main attraction of the cathedral is the chapel of St. Januarius, decorated with frescoes by the medieval Italian artists Domenichino and Lanfranco. The bust of the saint was made of gold and silver in the 14th century. It is adorned with jewels and lush costumes, and a sacred vessel with the saint's blood is kept in the crypt of the temple. Twice a year, the vessel is opened for pilgrims, the blood boils and no one finds an explanation for this phenomenon.
The Capeche chapel with its 13th century mosaic floor and paintings by Vasari, Giordano and Perugino is also worth a visit.
Free admission.
Gallery Umberto I
A trip to any city in Italy is impossible without shopping, and Naples is no exception in this regard. You can look at the novelties of world brands in the Umberto I Gallery, located opposite the San Carlo Opera House.
The gallery was built in 1890, and the purpose of its construction was to take care of the noble townspeople. Neapolitans could shop for clothing and jewelry in the arcade shops, hold business meetings and dine at the best restaurants. Traditions have survived to this day, and in the numerous boutiques of the Umberto I gallery, like a century ago, you can buy the latest novelties of Italian fashion designers, dine or just drink champagne or coffee on the open terraces.
