TELL ME WHERE YOU GO AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT TO SEE
Naples is a city that fascinates me every time I visit: a place where there is a unique mix of vitality, culture and tradition in every corner. There is so much to explore that even several days are never enough. If in a previous article of mine I suggested how best to spend a day in the Neapolitan city, here I want to share with you everything there is to see in Naples.
Naples Museums
Museum of Capodimonte
The Capodimonte Museum, located in a magnificent park on the hill of Capodimonte, was created at the behest of Charles of Bourbon to house the Farnese collection. Here you will find masterpieces by Caravaggio, Titian and many others.
Royal Palace
Of all the museums in Naples to see, the Royal Palace is one of the must-see museums.
The building is the residence of the Bourbon dynasty, overlooks Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, and is one of the most beautiful places in Naples.
Inside you can admire both the Royal Apartment and the Royal Chapel, which hold fabulous art masterpieces created by the most famous painters of the Bourbon period.
The Royal Palace also houses the National Library, which holds more than two million books and is the most important library in southern Italy, indeed one of the most important libraries in the world.
The halls of the library once hosted court parties.
Caruso Museum
Also located within the Royal Palace is a recently opened museum, the Caruso Museum. Here the singer’s personal belongings are on display, accompanied by videos and installations, which together narrate the life and career of this music icon.
Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum in Naples is one of the most important in Italy. It houses extraordinary artifacts from, for example, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Among its collections are mosaics, statues and everyday objects.
Palace of Arts
The Palace of the Arts in Naples, also known as PAN, is home to cultural events and contemporary art exhibitions. My advice is to check out the exhibition schedule to find out what’s on during your visit to Naples.
Certosa di San Martino
A visit to the San Martino complex is a must if only for the unparalleled view of the Gulf of Naples. It can be reached by bus or the characteristic funicular railway and is an example of Neapolitan Baroque architecture by Cosimo Fanzago. In addition to the cloister, you can visit the museum rooms, which are rich in paintings and in which an extraordinary nativity scene is also preserved.
Tesoro di San Gennaro
The Museum of the Treasure of St. Gennaro, open since 2003, holds a priceless heritage of sacred artifacts donated over the centuries by the faithful and illustrious personalities. These include the necklace of St. Gennaro with one of the world’s largest emeralds, the insignia of the Order, and the bishop’s mitre.
Churches to see in Naples
Religious feeling in Naples has always been strong and is reflected in the fine churches and religious buildings.
Cappella Sansevero
The Sansevero Chapel in Naples is a place shrouded in an atmosphere of mystery and beauty, where Giuseppe Sammartino’s famous “Veiled Christ,” made in 1753, awaits visitors. To make sure you see this artistic marvel up close, it is essential to book well in advance. Find out why this work is so magical: here I tell you 5 things to know about the Veiled Christ.
Complex and Cloister of St. Clare
The Santa Chiara complex is an iconic place in the historic center, cloaked in curious legends, particularly about a mysterious soul that seems to lodge within these walls. In addition to the museum, do not miss in particular the cloister with its colorful majolica tiles, which has now also become a perfect pattern for a selfie during the visit, thus entering the contemporary.
Cappella di San Gennaro
The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, located in Naples Cathedral, embodies the deep bond between Neapolitans and their patron saint. Created by the will of the people during a difficult period for the city, its interior displays a fusion of Baroque art from Emilia and Naples, with works by Domenichino, Lanfranco, and Jusepe de Ribera.
Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio in Arco
Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco in Naples is an artistic gem, famous for its Baroque sculptures and frescoes that narrate the theme of purgatory. Above all, the heartfelt cult of pezzentelle souls is experienced here: the faithful venerate and care for the abandoned bones of anonymous souls, so much so that the religious building is also known as the church “de’ ‘e cape ‘e morte.”
Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo
The Church of the Gesù Nuovo is immediately notable for its original dark ashlar facade. Built on the former Sanseverino palace at the behest of the Jesuits, the interior features marble decorations by Cosimo Fanzago.
Other points of interest in Naples
Walking the streets of Naples is the right way to savor its truest essence: the sounds of the markets, the colors of the people, the smells of coffee and delicious pastries. There are many points of interest in the city, some well hidden.
Naples Underground
Among the things to see in Naples there is one that is not quite in the light of day, but gives real excitement. These are the corridors that run underground in the Neapolitan city and which, fortunately for us, can be visited. For underground Naples there are multiple entrances, each with noteworthy peculiarities, such as the Galleria Borbonica.
Galleria Umberto I
Just like the largest and most cosmopolitan European cities, Naples has its own glass and iron shopping arcade. This one in particular is from the late 19th century and was conceived by King Umberto I himself. Today it is populated with stores and cafes where you can taste delicacies such as sfogliatella.
Spaccanapoli
Walking through Spaccanapoli you can really say that you are in the heart of the city: this long street, made up of a succession of streets, in fact bisects the historic area of Naples and reaches as far as the Quartieri Spagnoli.
Via San Gregorio Armeno
A mandatory stop to enter one of the best-known traditions, Via San Gregorio Armeno is also known as the street of nativity scenes. Here, in fact, stores and stalls are crowded all year round offering colorful characters that are true works of artistic craftsmanship.
Piazza Dante
Piazza Dante takes its name from the presence of a sculpture of the famous man of letters Alighieri created here in the late 19th century by Tito Angelini and Tommaso Solari. In ancient times, a busy market was held here; today it is largely a pedestrian space frequented by locals and tourists.
Waterfront
The Naples waterfront is considered from Via Sauro to Mergellina, passing through Via Partenope and Via Caracciolo. In addition to kiosks for original aperitifs, walking along these streets one can see Castel dell’Ovo and Vesuvius towering in the distance.
Subway art stations
A number of Naples subway stations have become very famous, and are now themselves destinations on this journey through the city. The art stations-as they have been nicknamed-include, for example, the Toledo, Dante and Duomo stops.
To enter this somewhat mysterious city with an open heart, my advice is to experience it without stress. There are so many things to see in Naples, so I recommend that you book entrances or buy tickets in advance to enjoy unique experiences without getting lost in the long lines. You will then be able to fully savor every moment in this incredible city.