I can't think of a reason NOT to go to Naples !!! I have been there 9 times and will return again in October. I do alot of traveling and it is by far my favorite city. Maybe those who don't like Naples are people who compare. Anytime I travel I try to stay away from the tourist areas and try to see how the actual natives of the area live and always enjoy each place I visit. I once had a person say to me"I would have liked Mexico had there not been so many Mexicans.........another said I really didn't like the Alaskan cruise because it was so cold".........these people are vacationers not travelers and there is a definate difference. I always say a vacationer should find a nice resort, relax and enjoy it....a traveler loves to see different lifestyles, sites, food, homes of the locals and appreciates the differences from thier life. I VOTE FOR NAPOLI !!

I looked at the Trip Advisor forums before going to Naples last week and from reading some of the comments on here I thought I had made a dreadful mistake in going there at all. I loved it !!! Napoli is a wonderful vibrant living city, It is not chocolate box pretty, nor a theme park but the sense of history is palpable. Beautiful churches everywhere, Visit the Sansevero chapel and gaze at the most fascinating, poignant and beautiful sculpture I have ever seen "the Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino" Walk through the lovely friendly streets nearby. Visit the Archeological museum, the oldest in Europe and marvel at the mosaics and frescos recovered from Pompeii which are over 2000 years old and look as if they were created yesterday. Don't miss visiting Pompeii itself and you will come away with the firm belief that we have invented absolutely nothing within the past two millenia apart from electricity and motorised transportation. Ischia is beautiful and well worth a visit. Take a walk along the promenade in the evening I felt perfectly comfortable strolling along it well after midnight on my way back to my hotel. The food is superb, prices are reasonable particularly when compared to Rome. I suppose to be perfectly objective about this there are a couple of observations that do need to be made. The area around the central station Piazza Garibaldi feels seedy even during daytime and I was also advised to avoid the Spanish quarter. The ongoing refuse collection issue is a little off putting and when we were there last week the aforementioned Piazza Garibaldi area was a disgrace with rubbbish piled high everywhere but it wasn't quite so obvious in the Chiaia district where we stayed. Don't be put off visiting Naples its a marvellous city and I will certainly be back.

Looks like we have another convert to the cause. Welcome aboard John!

I don't care what people write about Naples; I've never been but I have always wanted to go, and I'm flying out on Tuesday for a week and am looking forward to it :-)

Therefore I appreciate the suggestions of what to do and what to see and where to go, thanks.

One question: any ideas of where a single guy (in late 30's/40's) should hang out to meet people in the evening? Can be to meet other travellers or locals; and can send me message to my tripadvisor inbox if nec.

Will give a report when I get back home :-)

Cheers

TB

tigerbee,

you've got suggestions for more fantastic stuff than anyone can cover in a week, right here on this thread.

If you need details on anything in particular, you may want to post your question(s) in a separate thread.

Enjoy Naples, it is one of a kind and definitely one of the great places in this world!

With kind regards,

P_M

FOOD! what better reason!

Also the island of Procida,,,it gets forgotton but it is truley the most wonderful place, you can walk the whole length of it and the people are wonderful!

Hey peregrin-man, was just thanking the previous posters for their suggestions; yep, there is plenty on forum, guess i'll post any other question separately, thanks (hope its good in brighton janey btw that's my home town ;-) TB :-)

For me it was a trip of a lifetime, since I am of the heritage and wanted to see where my people came from.

The Naples underground tour was awesome, and for me just walking the ancient streets of Spaccanopoli was great. It moving to see people that looked like my family even though they were strangers. I have a video of an old woman walking down one of the ancient streets that was a dead ringer for my Grandmother.

It was also so great to be able to identify with some of the native Neopolitan dishes that I grew up with. I definitely felt a bond to the city. I never felt unsafe or out of place. I loved it.

Stasz

fantastic post, marais75

merci for starting it (saving it for future reference) - I'm certain I would love Naples, it sounds so vibrant!

Excellent post Marais! I agree,love it ALL!! It's real theatre and i always enjoy my visits.

And behind all those wonderful old doors...lie alot of hidden wonders!