Neapolitan Week

It's the ideal city for a weekend away, in which case you can limit yourself to a quick dash around the most famous spots, or it can be the perfect destination for a longer stay too.

by Silvia Semonella

In recent years, Naples has seen a growing number of tourists who appreciate its historic beauty and scenery and love its wonders and its contradictions.

With a whole week available, there's the chance to visit some of its most beautiful and evocative sites.

There are several possible routes: here we suggest two, which could prove useful and enjoyable.

Itinerary 1: Spaccanapoli, the Monastery of Santa Chiara, the Sansevero Chapel, Via dei Tribunali, San Gregorio Armeno, the Cathedral, Naples Underground

Costs:

• Metro tickets, 2 euros (2 tickets at 1 euro each);
• Entry to the Monastery of Santa Chiara (to visit the wonderful majolica-tiled cloister; entry to the church itself is free), 6 euros – concession 4 euros;
• Entry to the Sansevero Chapel and a visit to the Veiled Christ, 7 euros – concession 5 euros;
• Entry to Naples Underground, 10 euros (concession 8 euros);
• Cathedral: free entry.

This itinerary takes in the highlights of the beautiful historic centre, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can start from the "Dante" or "Museo" stops on Metro Line 1 and, from there, reach Spaccanapoli (the lower decumanus).

From here you can easily reach the Monastery of Santa Chiara and Via dei Tribunali (the upper decumanus), the parallel street, where you'll find the famous San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the nativity scenes, and, just a few steps away, the Sansevero Chapel Museum, home to the fantastic Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sammartino.

Following Via dei Tribunali to the first crossroads, you'll find Via Duomo, with the cathedral dedicated to San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), the city's patron saint.

For the more adventurous, the visit can continue with Naples Underground, a tour through the depths of Parthenope. The entrance is on Via dei Tribunali, right next to the church of San Paolo Maggiore. Note: this is the only genuine, authorised entrance!

Also, a tip for lunch: the historic centre is home to Naples' oldest and most famous pizzerias. Why not take the opportunity to try the renowned Margherita pizza, the classic folded "pizza a portafoglio" (wallet-style pizza), or fried pizza?

Itinerary 2: Certosa di San Martino, Castel Sant'Elmo, Posillipo, Gaiola

• Metro tickets 2 euros (2 tickets at 1 euro each);
• Entry to the Certosa di San Martino: 6 euros;
• Entry to Castel Sant'Elmo.

The Certosa can be reached in various ways: first of all, by arriving at Piazza Vanvitelli station via Metro Line 1, which can also be boarded at the central station of Piazza Garibaldi; alternatively, if setting off from the city centre, you can take the funicular railway: the Montesanto line can be caught from the Pignasecca area, near Via Toledo, and its terminus is Via Morghen; or again, if setting off from the Vomero district, bus route V1 terminates right at San Martino.

To reach the Montesanto funicular, take Metro Line 1 and get off at the Toledo stop; from there, you then need to turn left, just after Piazza della Carità, and keep going straight ahead until you reach the station. From there, you can take the funicular and get off at Via Morghen, which, as mentioned, is the terminus: from here, simply walk up the road on the left and, within 10 minutes, you'll have arrived at your destination.

The Certosa boasts a museum and a garden, the latter truly stunning, from which you can admire the whole of the Bay of Naples.

Castel Sant'Elmo is an ancient fortress located right beside it; it's often home to temporary art exhibitions but, regardless of these events, it offers an even more complete 360° view of the bay. Absolutely not to be missed!

Lastly, the Gaiola beach is found in Posillipo and is one of the best and most beautiful in Naples (it's a Protected Marine Area). The quickest way to reach it is bus route 140, which takes you to the stop at Capo Posillipo, the final stretch of the district. Once off the bus, you'll need to take the small road on the left, just before the bridge: the Discesa Gaiola (Gaiola descent). Following it all the way down will bring you straight to the beach.

Other itineraries

There are countless ideas for other routes: a day spent on the seafront, with a visit to Piazza Plebiscito, the Royal Palace and the Riviera di Chiaia; a visit to the beautiful ruins of Pompeii (a private coach will take you directly to the site from the city centre); a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and, from there, a bus to Capodimonte with the chance to visit the Capodimonte Museum (which houses works of enormous value) and the wonderful park attached to it, and so much more... in short, all you need is a bit of enthusiasm, a love of culture and a comfortable pair of shoes!