I've just booked up a long weekend in Naples in mid-April, and I'm really quite excited.
We're already planning to do the main events, ie, Pompeii, Herculaneum. But other than that, my knowledge of the town and area is very limited.
If anyone has been out there, are there any must-see sights of historical importance or beauty? I think we're also planning to have a butchers at the catacombs as I like a bit of the macabre.
Thanks in advance! :wine:
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:01:00 PM
I've just booked up a long weekend in Naples in mid-April, and I'm really quite excited.
We're already planning to do the main events, ie, Pompeii, Herculaneum. But other than that, my knowledge of the town and area is very limited.
If anyone has been out there, are there any must-see sights of historical importance or beauty? I think we're also planning to have a butchers at the catacombs as I like a bit of the macabre.
Thanks in advance! :wine:
Pompeii is very large, was quite surprised but to be honest after about 1/2 hour i was getting bit bored, one street looked like another. Still that was me you may well enjoy wandering around all of it.
:54:
Quote from: alfie on March 19, 2013, 01:34:26 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:01:00 PM
I've just booked up a long weekend in Naples in mid-April, and I'm really quite excited.
We're already planning to do the main events, ie, Pompeii, Herculaneum. But other than that, my knowledge of the town and area is very limited.
If anyone has been out there, are there any must-see sights of historical importance or beauty? I think we're also planning to have a butchers at the catacombs as I like a bit of the macabre.
Thanks in advance! :wine:
Pompeii is very large, was quite surprised but to be honest after about 1/2 hour i was getting bit bored, one street looked like another. Still that was me you may well enjoy wandering around all of it.
:54:
I'm going to be hugely interested in seeing as much of it as possible having spent such a long time studying it during Latin lessons at school. I want to find the via where Caecilius, Matella and Quintus lived with Clemens the slave.
Capodimonte is worth going to. A good museum / gallery, combined with some gardens and space, which after 10 seconds in Naples you will really feel the need for!
Pompei and Herculaneum were amazing. I found the latter more interesting as the buildings are more complete, you could easily see how much stuff had to be shifted to excavate the site, and just seeing what used to be the waterfront was very evocative.
Just a word of advice, keep away from the Docks area it is not a very friendly place!
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:38:14 PM
Quote from: alfie on March 19, 2013, 01:34:26 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:01:00 PM
I've just booked up a long weekend in Naples in mid-April, and I'm really quite excited.
We're already planning to do the main events, ie, Pompeii, Herculaneum. But other than that, my knowledge of the town and area is very limited.
If anyone has been out there, are there any must-see sights of historical importance or beauty? I think we're also planning to have a butchers at the catacombs as I like a bit of the macabre.
Thanks in advance! :wine:
Pompeii is very large, was quite surprised but to be honest after about 1/2 hour i was getting bit bored, one street looked like another. Still that was me you may well enjoy wandering around all of it.
:54:
I'm going to be hugely interested in seeing as much of it as possible having spent such a long time studying it during Latin lessons at school. I want to find the via where Caecilius, Matella and Quintus lived with Clemens the slave.
I was to start with, but it is hard walking on the cobbles and trying to stop my wife from falling over and it was really hot, but enjoy it mate it is an experience.
Make sure you get a guide at both sites as they bring it to life. The Commentary on the brothel in Pompei is funny ! The casts of dead bodies is sad but the guides point out chariot wheel ruts, fast food shops of old etc
Sorrento, is pretty as is Positano and Ravello (Where they held the G8 meeting) and a coach trip would probably cover all 3
Capri and Ischia can be reached by ferry boats.
If you like Lemoncillo as an after dinner drink they often give it to you free.
One point of caution if you are staying in Naples is keep to the main streets. I believe some areas are gang controlled
Hope you enjoy it - Good food good wine nice people.
Quote from: In the Enclosure on March 19, 2013, 01:45:58 PM
Make sure you get a guide at both sites as they bring it to life. The Commentary on the brothel in Pompei is funny ! The casts of dead bodies is sad but the guides point out chariot wheel ruts, fast food shops of old etc
Sorrento, is pretty as is Positano and Ravello (Where they held the G8 meeting) and a coach trip would probably cover all 3
Capri and Ischia can be reached by ferry boats.
If you like Lemoncillo as an after dinner drink they often give it to you free.
One point of caution if you are staying in Naples is keep to the main streets. I believe some areas are gang controlled
Hope you enjoy it - Good food good wine nice people.
Superb! I'll definitely take your advice there. Not sure if I'll get enough time to go to Capri as well, as it's a Friday-Monday trip. I was intending to go there last year with my ex, but we ended up going to the Semana Santa week in Seville, Cordoba and Granada. I'm off to Naples with my best mate, so I also need to make time to do plenty of boozing! ;)
Fantastic city, beautiful and historical area.
'Some of the streets may be gang controlled' is a bit of an understatement. If you like a bit of excitement and 'local colour', Naples is definitely the place for you. A bit like Marseille on speed.
Maradona and Napoli - a marriage made in heaven.
Avoid 'Godfather' jokes.
Quote from: JBH on March 19, 2013, 01:41:22 PM
Just a word of advice, keep away from the Docks area it is not a very friendly place!
I think that's pretty sound advice for any harbour town in the world mate.
Out of interest, what's it like as an English speaker with the locals? My Italian is non-existent, and my Latin is rusty at best. I'll be employing the use of a phrase book and accentuated hand gestures, but may need to revert to speaking loudly in English on occasion.
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 02:11:11 PM
Out of interest, what's it like as an English speaker with the locals? My Italian is non-existent, and my Latin is rusty at best. I'll be employing the use of a phrase book and accentuated hand gestures, but may need to revert to speaking loudly in English on occasion.
You could always do what I do when I'm in Paris -- speak German. It always improved the quality and speed of service.
Quote from: HatterDon on March 19, 2013, 02:12:54 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 02:11:11 PM
Out of interest, what's it like as an English speaker with the locals? My Italian is non-existent, and my Latin is rusty at best. I'll be employing the use of a phrase book and accentuated hand gestures, but may need to revert to speaking loudly in English on occasion.
You could always do what I do when I'm in Paris -- speak German. It always improved the quality and speed of service.
Made my day, HD!
On a (slightly) more serious note: it's been a few years since I was last in Southern Italy, but, on the subject of receptiveness to English on the scale 0 (Paris) to 9 (Amsterdam) I'd put Naples at about 4 [London would be an 8].
Incidentally a mate of mine who is something of a Classical scholar seemed to get by OK with Latin.
Quote from: cmg on March 19, 2013, 02:22:12 PM
Quote from: HatterDon on March 19, 2013, 02:12:54 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 02:11:11 PM
Out of interest, what's it like as an English speaker with the locals? My Italian is non-existent, and my Latin is rusty at best. I'll be employing the use of a phrase book and accentuated hand gestures, but may need to revert to speaking loudly in English on occasion.
You could always do what I do when I'm in Paris -- speak German. It always improved the quality and speed of service.
Made my day, HD!
On a (slightly) more serious note: it's been a few years since I was last in Southern Italy, but, on the subject of receptiveness to English on the scale 0 (Paris) to 9 (Amsterdam) I'd put Naples at about 4 [London would be an 8].
Incidentally a mate of mine who is something of a Classical scholar seemed to get by OK with Latin.
Brilliant! Nice one mate. Latin it is.
I've only been to Naples for one day as part of a cruise in 2011, but it was great. We went up Vesuvius and then went round Pompeii. Absolutley wonderful trip if that's the kind of stuff you enjoy.
I'd highly recommend taking a guided tour round Pompeii as you would miss some of the important stuff if you went on your own
I've always intended to get to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, Naples etc , but never quite got to go.
Chatting with my barber who was born just outside Naples, one thing that he suggested was that the trip to Capri was a rip-off, and if seeing the Blue Grotto on the island was not a priority , then the sightseeing time would be much better spent going to Ischia instead.
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:38:14 PM
I'm going to be hugely interested in seeing as much of it as possible having spent such a long time studying it during Latin lessons at school. I want to find the via where Caecilius, Matella and Quintus lived with Clemens the slave.
Oh, no, you've just revived thirty-year old nightmares of Mr Jenner, his excruciatingly unfunny jokes and poor old me trying to work out why the fact that I had done so well in Classical Studies in the first year was a trigger for the school to stick me in Latin in the second and third years. When we had to select our O level subjects, for some reason I forgot to stick Latin on the list. Mea Culpa!
Quote from: Rupert on March 19, 2013, 02:50:29 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 19, 2013, 01:38:14 PM
I'm going to be hugely interested in seeing as much of it as possible having spent such a long time studying it during Latin lessons at school. I want to find the via where Caecilius, Matella and Quintus lived with Clemens the slave.
Oh, no, you've just revived thirty-year old nightmares of Mr Jenner, his excruciatingly unfunny jokes and poor old me trying to work out why the fact that I had done so well in Classical Studies in the first year was a trigger for the school to stick me in Latin in the second and third years. When we had to select our O level subjects, for some reason I forgot to stick Latin on the list. Mea Culpa!
Endless hours of pain with Messrs Ogilvy and Kennard at Emanuel School, repeating the terms 'flocci non facio' and 'simulaque' ad infinitum...
Or as my friend Adam just commented on Facebook:
"However no where near as much time as you spent with your chums in the masturbatorium of your poncy school deliberating over a biscuit."
get on the train for a short ride down to Sorrento
maybe pop on the ferry over to capri
I stayed in Sorrento for Easter 3 years ago, it would be a nice place for a day trip for Naples. If you want boozing there's plenty of squares with bars, and most staff speak English. I was there just after we beat Jeventus in the Europa, I told the owner of a bar I was a Fulham fan and he kept giving me free drinks as he hates Juventus.
Ischia is beautiful and worth the ferry trip. Check the timetable online as they may still have a reduced service in April.
There is a bus that loops the island and stops in the main villages and beaches. Negombo spa is worth an afternoon. Built on a hillside with a lovely beach, thermal pools and a lap pool. Good place to enjoy the sun.
Pompei and Vesuvius are a must. Vesuvius is an easy climb but gives spectacular views of the bay and the crater. Always plenty of tour buses up there so you should be able to get one.
Pompei gets extremely hot - even in April. Theres no shade. Wear good walking shoes and take lots of water. I've been a few times and not seen it all.
The castle in town is good. You will get views of Napoli's ground on the way up and unbeatable views of the city at the top. There is another castle/fort on the bay which has some good seafood restaurants nearby.
Be careful in the Spanish quarter - this is the only bit which is particularly sketchy. You shouldn't really have any reason to visit here but just in case. Only other things to be aware of are traffic (pedestrians are merely an obstacle to be swerved round) and hawkers flogging cheap leather shoes and fake sunglasses/handbags).
Positani and Ravello are stunning. Sorrento is pretty but gets a lot of package holiday makers. Not a bad thing as it has a buzz and the prices are cheaper for food/beer. It's a long day out but worth it. If you are on the bus then you want to sit on the drivers side to get the best views on the way down and opposite on the way up. Driving is an option but take full insurance and a spare pair of pants.
English isn't as widely spoken as in the North or Rome outside of the tourist areas but people are generally friendly and receptive.
Enjoy!
Quote from: King_Crud on March 19, 2013, 04:20:24 PM
I stayed in Sorrento for Easter 3 years ago, it would be a nice place for a day trip for Naples. If you want boozing there's plenty of squares with bars, and most staff speak English. I was there just after we beat Jeventus in the Europa, I told the owner of a bar I was a Fulham fan and he kept giving me free drinks as he hates Juventus.
We went to Sorrento for a few days abut 5 years ago (flew to Naples and got the small train along the coast). Pompeii was good but like Burt we found Herculaneum to be more interesting. Vesuvius was well worth the trip up whilst a trip along the Amalfi coast was excellent if you like stunning scenery with some nice towns.
People we met out there did a trip to Capri and advised it was pure rip-off and recommended not to go, advice we gratefully accepted.
I stayed in Pozzuoli which is just down the road from Naples which is very nice,do Pompeii and take the bus to Amalfi the views are brilliant.
Sorrento is a bit to set up for the English for me,you can buy Tetley bitter and the food English Italian like spag bol it should be ragu as most of the is regionized so you only really get ragu in Bologna.
If you wat to order food ask for quanto è che cane nella finestra.
something you may find useful is Pizzeria Brandi for pizza, clinton and other went their, it is where pizza margherita was inveneted.... it is pretty good and when in Naples, the home of pizza, really Pizzeria Brandi is sort of a landmark, pizza in italy is the premierleague, all we get here is league one level pizza (and often not that). I loved it
Also if I recall in the city centre there is an arcade full of shops and in there are a couple of ice cream shops to die for, make sure you wait to find the right ones you'll know them when you see them.
Careful with those accentuated hand gestures!
Quote from: li_special on March 19, 2013, 08:58:04 PM
I stayed in Pozzuoli which is just down the road from Naples which is very nice,do Pompeii and take the bus to Amalfi the views are brilliant.
Sorrento is a bit to set up for the English for me,you can buy Tetley bitter and the food English Italian like spag bol it should be ragu as most of the is regionized so you only really get ragu in Bologna.
If you wat to order food ask for quanto è che cane nella finestra.
specify; "the one with the waggly tail"..........?
Quote from: Supermitch on March 19, 2013, 07:31:55 PM
Quote from: King_Crud on March 19, 2013, 04:20:24 PM
I stayed in Sorrento for Easter 3 years ago, it would be a nice place for a day trip for Naples. If you want boozing there's plenty of squares with bars, and most staff speak English. I was there just after we beat Jeventus in the Europa, I told the owner of a bar I was a Fulham fan and he kept giving me free drinks as he hates Juventus.
We went to Sorrento for a few days abut 5 years ago (flew to Naples and got the small train along the coast). Pompeii was good but like Burt we found Herculaneum to be more interesting. Vesuvius was well worth the trip up whilst a trip along the Amalfi coast was excellent if you like stunning scenery with some nice towns.
People we met out there did a trip to Capri and advised it was pure rip-off and recommended not to go, advice we gratefully accepted.
I went to Capril for a day trip, besides the prices for food I thought it was a lovely place to wander around, the views over the back were stunning. Like I said, we went at Easter, which apparently was a very quiet time, I would hate to go there in the high season.
The last time I was there the big reason to go to Capri was to see Gracie Fields home. But I guess she hasn't the pull nowadays. Still worth a visit and The Blue Grotto is interesting. Although in the time available as Ron says not a priority.
Thought Pompei and Vesuvius tours were great back then. Although the comment about it all looking the same is interesting. When I was there some old biddy complained of it being dusty. So enjoy it and enjoy the long weekend. Plenty to see and plenty to enjoy.
Just two tips: watch your wallet. And get out as soon as possible.
Thanks for all of the tips people, I've taken them on board and am working on a plan!
I forgot to mention Vesuvius... An absolute must.
Capri was disappointing, very much over-rated, and so many designer shops it felt like the Bicester outlet village with some water next to it.
Quote from: Burt on March 20, 2013, 01:00:04 PM
I forgot to mention Vesuvius... An absolute must.
Capri was disappointing, very much over-rated, and so many designer shops it felt like the Bicester outlet village with some water next to it.
I wasn't planning on missing that one! I love a good volcano, but knowing my luck it'll choose that day to erupt! :026:
Quote from: The Equalizer on March 20, 2013, 01:16:22 PM
Quote from: Burt on March 20, 2013, 01:00:04 PM
I forgot to mention Vesuvius... An absolute must.
Capri was disappointing, very much over-rated, and so many designer shops it felt like the Bicester outlet village with some water next to it.
I wasn't planning on missing that one! I love a good volcano, but knowing my luck it'll choose that day to erupt! :026:
When I was there you could see the odd bit of venting going on.
Reminded me of this board after a defeat.
082.gif
There'll be plenty of venting going on once I've got a dozen Peroni's and a couple of glasses of Valpolicella down me! :wine:
Trip report:
Naples is an absolute pit. I've been to townships in South Africa that were better maintained. The main faults I had: there was nowhere to eat or drink. And I mean nowhere. We lucked upon a small restaurants on the main drag, but yesterday we walked for 2 hours through squalor and crowds and found nothing at all. The streets were disgusting, the people on mopeds absolutely mad, and you're taking your life into your hands just crossing the road. The street pedlars and beggars are a menace, the cab drivers robbers and the waiters lazy. I've never seen more people spend so much time just hanging around in the street in my life, it makes me wonder how anyone makes a living out there.
Naples aside, the trip was amazing. Our hotel (just on the Via Carbonara) was lovely and had possibly the fittest receptionists and the nicest bed I've ever slept in. Herculaneum and Pompeii were incredible. Simply stunning places full of so much history. For all of the hoo-har about Pompeii, I actually preferred Herculaneum in the things that we discovered. Pompeii was very large, and I walked every single part of it that was open over about 5 hours, but there was nothing to help bring the experience to life. In this I mean, you stroll around with the audioguide, but it didn't really make you feel anything for the people that lived there. It just explained murals on walls, the works of the playwright 'Terrence', and descriptions of the forums and temples. The exhibition at the British Museum makes much more effort in this respect than Pompeii itself. It was still incredible to be walking on those streets though.
Yesterday we made the trek up Vesuvius. I can safely say that I am unfit. It was a real slog to get to the top, but worth it in the end. One of the best views I've ever seen, and a decent amount of smoke coming from the stack itself. You can almost feel the raw power of that mountain beneath your feet and as you look over the landscape below, you just feel for those who once lived there.
All in all a brilliant trip though. We didn't make it to Sorrento, Capri or Amalfi, but there's always next time if I'm in the area. I highly recommend staying away from Naples unless it's for a day trip. There are some wonderful sights there, but generally it's just not a nice place.
Thanks to all who made their recommendations.
Pizzeria Brandi. Look it up and get there early as they queue down the road.
Good to get feedback on a post like this!
When you dance down the street
With a cloud at your feet, you're in love
When you walk in a dream
But you know you're not dreamin', signore
'Scusami, but you see
Back in old Napoli, that's amore
I lived in Pozzouli, an outlying district of Naples, when I was a kid (some years ago now, I admit) but I do remember a fantastic amphitheatre down the road, which was meant to be the 2nd or 3rd largest in Italy behind the Colleseum in Rome and a Vesuvius 'outlet' called Volcano Solfatara which although dormant is more active in that it bubbles away and you can smell the sulpher being pushed out the ground. There were the odd Roman ruins down by the port where you can catch a ferry to Ischia, so you could make a day of it in Pozzouli.
I do remember going to the Sao Paulo - the first football match I ever went to was in Naples a few years before Maradona arrived - and getting tear gassed!
We also avoided the centre of Naples pretty much for the reasons already mentioned in this thread! Keep your wallet well hidden as there are pickpockets that would make the Artful Dodger look like a ham fisted novice!!
Quote from: The Equalizer on April 16, 2013, 01:53:44 PM
Trip report:
Naples is an absolute pit. I've been to townships in South Africa that were better maintained. The main faults I had: there was nowhere to eat or drink. And I mean nowhere. We lucked upon a small restaurants on the main drag, but yesterday we walked for 2 hours through squalor and crowds and found nothing at all. The streets were disgusting, the people on mopeds absolutely mad, and you're taking your life into your hands just crossing the road. The street pedlars and beggars are a menace, the cab drivers robbers and the waiters lazy. I've never seen more people spend so much time just hanging around in the street in my life, it makes me wonder how anyone makes a living out there.
Naples aside, the trip was amazing. Our hotel (just on the Via Carbonara) was lovely and had possibly the fittest receptionists and the nicest bed I've ever slept in. Herculaneum and Pompeii were incredible. Simply stunning places full of so much history. For all of the hoo-har about Pompeii, I actually preferred Herculaneum in the things that we discovered. Pompeii was very large, and I walked every single part of it that was open over about 5 hours, but there was nothing to help bring the experience to life. In this I mean, you stroll around with the audioguide, but it didn't really make you feel anything for the people that lived there. It just explained murals on walls, the works of the playwright 'Terrence', and descriptions of the forums and temples. The exhibition at the British Museum makes much more effort in this respect than Pompeii itself. It was still incredible to be walking on those streets though.
Yesterday we made the trek up Vesuvius. I can safely say that I am unfit. It was a real slog to get to the top, but worth it in the end. One of the best views I've ever seen, and a decent amount of smoke coming from the stack itself. You can almost feel the raw power of that mountain beneath your feet and as you look over the landscape below, you just feel for those who once lived there.
All in all a brilliant trip though. We didn't make it to Sorrento, Capri or Amalfi, but there's always next time if I'm in the area. I highly recommend staying away from Naples unless it's for a day trip. There are some wonderful sights there, but generally it's just not a nice place.
Thanks to all who made their recommendations.
Told ya, it is our own Liverpool (with all due respect for Liverpool of course).