Naples Holiday
Naples, the largest city in southern Italy, is the original home of the pizza and is one of the most gastronomical centres in the world.
The city is as rich as its sauces with a strong historical, artistic and cultural aurora that its one million inhabitants embrace openly. In its suburbs where the remaining three million residents live, the cultural smorgasboard continues with Napulitano (an altered Italian dialect) spoken and number of local traditions and festivals honoured throughout the year.
For those with a sweet tooth, trying baba or Choux pastry filled with cream or chocolate is an absolute must.
Naples itself contains a number of attractions such as La Villa Comenale (a royal park), which has been refurbished and runs along the seafront in the western part of the city. It makes a great location for a picnic in summer or stroll in winter.
The park also contains an aquarium which is said to be Europe's oldest and is favoured by the locals.
Those people looking for cultural highlights should visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Napoli. This museum contains a large collection of Roman pieces from Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the Farnese Marbles. If your looking for more culture, why not travel a little further into the city as well and visit the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte. This museum contains art collections including pieces from Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, and Caravaggio.
The oldest active opera house in Europe (1737) also stands in Naples, along with many fantastic churches including, the churches of Santa Chiara, of San Lorenzo Maggiore, of Santa Maria Donna Regina, of Gesu Nuovo, and the church of San Domenico Maggiore.
History buffs can also explore underneath the city with guided tours operating around the Stratification of Naples. There are also large catacombs in and around the city and approximately one kilometre of tunnels can be visited.
Another interesting idea for those with an adventurous streak is to visit the islands of Procida, Capri and Ischia. These can all be reached quickly by ferry and are relatively cheap for a day out.
Travelling south of Naples visitors can explore Sorrento and the Amalifi Coast. Those who know the story of Pompeii might also like to visit the Roman ruins of the area, as they are also close.
Naples is a great city centre for exploring the historical aspects of ancient Romans and the people of Pompeii. There are a number of major attractions in the city itself and the friendliness of the people and the quality of the food should provide a wonderful city break for all.
