Explore Naples

When you search online for the safest destinations for solo travelers Naples, Italy definitely isn’t the first on the list. Naples has a long-standing reputation for being a dangerous city, mainly because of its association with the mafia and the city’s trash problem. But I couldn't disagree more.

During my time in Naples, I fell in love with the authenticity of the city, the narrow cobblestone streets filled with antique shops and restaurants, the buzzing sound of Vespas weaving in and out of traffic, and the graffiti walls painted with unique street art – I was intrigued by it all. Although Naples isn’t considered the cleanest city in Italy, it definitely has its own unique sense of charm, beauty, and a story to tell of its own. It has improved significantly in the past few years and if you want to experience a truly authentic side of Italy, visit Naples.

And the food... Mama mia. Naples was the city that invented the pizza – and you can’t walk far in its atmospheric streets without spying a street food vendor or full-blown pizzeria.

The pizza in Naples can legitimately claim to be the best in the world: after all, this is its birthplace. Pizza Margherita is the archetypal Neapolitan pizza, invented when a queen of the same name came to visit the city – the red tomato, white mozzarella cheese, and green herbs formed the colors of the new Italian flag.

In the ancient times, Naples was called the city of the seven castles because it was the only city in the world that boasted seven castles within its boundaries: Castel dell’ Ovo, Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino), Castel Sant’Elmo, Castel Capuano, Castello del Carmine, Castello di Nisida and Forte di Vigliena. These castles were located in such a way as to provide a powerful defense to the Gulf of Naples from naval attacks. 

Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples' grandest piazza is the city's gathering spot, playground, and a central focal point. It is elegant and airy. The enormous open space is a sunny spot in the heart of Naples, known for its tight, narrow streets and population density.

The Royal Palace of Naples is a historic building located in Piazza Plebiscito, one of the city's landmarks. It is one of the most representative museum complexes in Naples, holding objects, decors, tapestries, and rooms dating back to the Spanish and Bourbon periods and important paintings and frescoes by artists of the time.

There are few places in Napoli that are as recognizable as the Castel Nuovo in the heart of the city. The fortress was built 13th-century and it is a home of some of Giotto's frescoes and the Società Napoletana di Storia Patria (Neapolitan Society of Italian History) and the Historic Archive, with an extraordinary collection of over 30,000 volumes, magazines, historical books, prints, and drawings.  

The name of this famous castle, Castel dell' Ovo (Castle of the egg) believes to come from the Roman poet Virgil, who was supposed to have put a magical egg in the foundations of the castle.  If the egg would brake the castle would fall.  This castle has been a powerful and unbreakable fortress to control the land and the sea for centuries. I love castles.

It is the oldest standing fortification in Naples, as the site has believed to have been fortified since the 6th century BC by the Greeks when the peninsula was an island isolated by the land.

Overall I'm giving Napoli an astonishing 10 points. Yes, you do need to be a little bit careful and look out for your stuff but the FOOD... Thanks for reading the article I hope you liked it, and we’ll read on in the next one. 😀😀