Naples, or Napoli to Italians, is an ancient city on the Western coast of Italy that has an incredibly rich cultural history and is famous as the birthplace of pizza. Here are three reasons that Naples should be a priority for you to visit.
Food
The food in Naples is legendary—from the creation of modern pizza as we know it in the 19th century to the development of countless pasta dishes including spaghetti puttanesca and Neapolitan ragu, Naples has contributed an enormous amount to our modern culinary world. This is something citizens of Naples (Neapolitans) are very proud of, which is reflected by the great quality and quantity of restaurants and street food stalls across the city.
History
Naples’ history is no less impressive than its culinary significance. The imposing shape of Mount Vesuvius frames the Western skyline of Naples and is less than an hour’s drive away, as are the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii that were destroyed by Vesuvius. The city also boasts the ‘National Archeological Museum of Naples’ which contains many relics from the Ancient World and is considered a world class museum of antiquity.
Culture
The city of Naples has a reputation for being hectic and bustling, but also very friendly and welcoming. Neapolitans are deeply passionate about food and football and the city often has a festival-like atmosphere during the summer months. It is also les touristy than cities such as Rome and Florence, so travelling to Naples can be a very immersive experience of Italian culture.