Travel to Naples, Italy.

Country/Town visited: Naples, Italy
Date of stay: 3 times between 2005 and 2009
Where you stayed:  B&B Firenze
Travelled with: Friends and twice as a couple 
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned
Many people think twice about going to Naples, mainly because of the bad rap it often unjustifiably gets. I must admit, the first impression you get when you arrive at the main train station leaves a lot to be desired. Dirty rubbish strewn about everywhere, homeless people rummaging around and dodgy street salesmen trying to flog off stolen/broken electronic goods. 

But if you look past all that and get to know the REAL Naples, you will be in for a treat. After all, you wouldn’t judge London by the time you spent at Heathrow Airport would you? And if you’ve been watching too many godfather movies, don’t worry about the Mafia being on every street corner. Overall, Naples is a pretty safe place.

I’ve been to Naples 3 times now and I still wish I could’ve spent more time there. It is actually a very picturesque town, situated on the west coast of Italy by the Gulf of Naples, and is known for its rich history, culture, architecture and especially food, among others.

The Bay of Naples is a sight for sore eyes and has a certain aura about it. With the mighty Mt. Vesuvius looming over the whole city, it is a constant reminder to the locals of the destructive power that it displayed al those many years ago.

There is plenty to see and do in Naples, mostly accessible by foot but there are also plenty of trams and buses around to catch if you are venturing out a bit further. Highlights include:

- Magnificent churches dating back as far as 1200AD, such as the Cattedrale di San Gennaro, and San Lorenzo Maggiore, where beneath it an ancient underground Roman market has been excavated and is open to the public. 
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