Spaccanapoli
Spaccanapoli
4.5
About
This part of Naples is full of crowded, colorful alleys full of shops, plastic rosaries, fresh seafood and famous artisan workshops specializing in the city's famous nativity scenes. The street officially starts at Piazza Gesù Nuovo
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The area
Neighborhood: Pendino
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Restaurants
2,527 within 3 miles
Attractions
965 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,452 reviews
Excellent
2,822
Very good
1,300
Average
258
Poor
43
Terrible
29
Roger Williams
Boston, MA2 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
It is one of the most important streets of the city, and literally "splits" Naples in two. Furthermore, in Spaccanapoli there are buildings, churches and monuments of great architectural value. Spaccanapoli is the most famous street in Naples: not to be missed!
Written September 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vanessa P
Calgary, Canada1,328 contributions
Jul 2022
Interesting area to wander around and see art and culture. I had no idea that the late soccer player Maradona was considered a star in the city. FREE activity!
Make sure to have a Napoli coffee and the pizza is the bast in Italy!
Make sure to have a Napoli coffee and the pizza is the bast in Italy!
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Agnieszka Martina
Rome, Italy11 contributions
Feb 2020
Spaccanapoli is a line that divides Naples into two parties, you can't see it being down in the center.
Instead you can note it easily from the garden of Complesso of Saint Martin on the hill. Take a cable train (funicolare) to reach it!
Instead you can note it easily from the garden of Complesso of Saint Martin on the hill. Take a cable train (funicolare) to reach it!
Written April 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
dhcbecker
Brea, CA182 contributions
Mar 2022
Just like any other street in Naples. I don’t understand why this street has attracted so much attention. It is like most other streets in this town—narrow, dirty, grafitti, sewage smells, vendors (who basically sell the same things many times over on each block) and the occasional fantastic Italian architecture. Like I said, this is what is going on pretty much all over Naples, a city with a rich and long history. It just has a higher concentration of things.
Written April 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
marcin m
68 contributions
Apr 2022
The street that never sleeps. We were lucky to live just next to it and witness its busy and vibrant atmosphere all day long. One of the pictures you keep having in your mind many days after leaving Napoli.
Written April 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Patapata
5 contributions
Sep 2020
Unforgettable walk in an amazing street of this fantastic city.
You plonged in the real Naples were tipical behaviours and eno-gastronimic culture are on the spot. Lots of very peculiar shops of arts and dozens of little churces.
You plonged in the real Naples were tipical behaviours and eno-gastronimic culture are on the spot. Lots of very peculiar shops of arts and dozens of little churces.
Written December 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dennis A
Australia6,920 contributions
Mar 2011 • Couples
This may be the best map:
http://ac-support.europe.umuc.edu/~jmatthew/naples/mappage.html
but there is much in the surrounding streets which is of the same character, also part of the city which only began to become modern, get drainage, depart from the form of the Greek city in the end of the 1800s.
You can simply wander and find. And you find, certainly away from peak tourist season, that you can be relatively alone among the locals in the street. We had an apartment for a week (via www.homelidays.it ) in via Luigi Settembrini, just to the northeast of this, home of the Museo Madre (museum of contemporary art) and a short walk from the Archaeological museam, which is north of Spaccanapoli. It's worth making Spaccanapoli and surrounds, without any necessary planning, the route by which you walk out or walk home. And if you are not living nearby, use the Metro station at Piazza Cavour or Museo (the archaeological museum) and walk downhill from there towards the port.
Remember when using the roads in Naples that its fun, not scary. If cars make sensible use of the space available by being 1cm (half inch) away from each other, then be assured the same rule applies for pedestrians. Never lose your cool, watch the traffic with fringe vision as you stride nobly forward.... also (my partner's rule) watch and go with the old locals across the street.
Don't look for public toilets in Italy, use the toilets provided by bars, where you buy coffee. Of course, if you have coffee every time... !
http://ac-support.europe.umuc.edu/~jmatthew/naples/mappage.html
but there is much in the surrounding streets which is of the same character, also part of the city which only began to become modern, get drainage, depart from the form of the Greek city in the end of the 1800s.
You can simply wander and find. And you find, certainly away from peak tourist season, that you can be relatively alone among the locals in the street. We had an apartment for a week (via www.homelidays.it ) in via Luigi Settembrini, just to the northeast of this, home of the Museo Madre (museum of contemporary art) and a short walk from the Archaeological museam, which is north of Spaccanapoli. It's worth making Spaccanapoli and surrounds, without any necessary planning, the route by which you walk out or walk home. And if you are not living nearby, use the Metro station at Piazza Cavour or Museo (the archaeological museum) and walk downhill from there towards the port.
Remember when using the roads in Naples that its fun, not scary. If cars make sensible use of the space available by being 1cm (half inch) away from each other, then be assured the same rule applies for pedestrians. Never lose your cool, watch the traffic with fringe vision as you stride nobly forward.... also (my partner's rule) watch and go with the old locals across the street.
Don't look for public toilets in Italy, use the toilets provided by bars, where you buy coffee. Of course, if you have coffee every time... !
Written February 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
donatKalamata
Kalamata44 contributions
Naples isn't a city as any other, it's an entire world made by it's 3.000 years of uninterrupted but tragic history. You can whitens this history in every corner in the historical center and specially in Spaccanapoli, the long street that divides the old city in the middle, now mostly pedestrianized. Walking along you can see among the monumental churches and palaces a crowd of people walking selling things at the street sides, talking theatrically and sometimes singing, so you feel like playing in a retro Italian comedy. There you can find some of the most important city sites: Sta.Chiara, Jesu Nuovo, S.Domenico Maggiore, Capella Sansevero, the Hellenistic statue of the Nile and others. One good point for coffee and sweet is the Scaturchio at Piazza S. Domenico.
Written February 3, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,324 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
This straight, narrow, cobbled street is my favorite in Naples, because of its location and because there is so much to see here. Spaccanapoli dates back to Greco-Roman times and cuts through almost the exact center of the city's historic district. When we walked its 1.2-mile length in June, we saw old palaces, stunning churches, shops, bakeries, bars and restaurants.
Musicians along the way played everything from drums to violins to guitars. Some street performers appeared in costumes that reflected the city's earlier-era days. And the crowd of residents and tourists moving forward slowly seemed to be in very high spirits as they crowded the narrow, 20-foot-wide, mostly pedestrianized thoroughfare. Many stopped to look at street vendors' wares, such as jewelry and pottery, or formed lines at eateries with window counters to buy food to go.
We opted to visit some of Naples' major sights that are located on Spaccanapoli or nearby. These included Santa Chiara with its stunning cloister and San Domenico Maggiore with an unusual painting of Mary Magdalene dressed in her own hair. There is a treasure trove of places to visit. We started our walk in the morning, because many of the churches are closed in the afternoon. Charming city squares offered the opportunity for a respite.
For those heading here, a good place to start is by the Western end at Piazza Gesu Nuovo. Here the street is called Via Benedetto Croce, which changes to Via S. Biagio dei Librai and crosses Via Duomo, where it becomes Via Vicaria Vecchia and exits the historic center. Spaccanapoli is an informal name given to the entire stretch.
Musicians along the way played everything from drums to violins to guitars. Some street performers appeared in costumes that reflected the city's earlier-era days. And the crowd of residents and tourists moving forward slowly seemed to be in very high spirits as they crowded the narrow, 20-foot-wide, mostly pedestrianized thoroughfare. Many stopped to look at street vendors' wares, such as jewelry and pottery, or formed lines at eateries with window counters to buy food to go.
We opted to visit some of Naples' major sights that are located on Spaccanapoli or nearby. These included Santa Chiara with its stunning cloister and San Domenico Maggiore with an unusual painting of Mary Magdalene dressed in her own hair. There is a treasure trove of places to visit. We started our walk in the morning, because many of the churches are closed in the afternoon. Charming city squares offered the opportunity for a respite.
For those heading here, a good place to start is by the Western end at Piazza Gesu Nuovo. Here the street is called Via Benedetto Croce, which changes to Via S. Biagio dei Librai and crosses Via Duomo, where it becomes Via Vicaria Vecchia and exits the historic center. Spaccanapoli is an informal name given to the entire stretch.
Written February 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KathyW201
New South Wales, Australia10,516 contributions
Oct 2015
Take the Metro Line 1 to Dante, as you exist the station face the piazza and walk left through the Porta Alba ancient city gate and you're in this stunning labyrinth of history and real life going on.
The first street on your right after you walk through the gateway is full of musical instrument stores and you can hear the repairers/makers tuning and crafting their instruments as you walk by. The Conservatorium of Music is also near Porta Alba and you can hear the students on the piano or violin as you pass by - this is so extraordinary.
There are so many things to see in Spaccanapoli but I would rate the atmosphere right up there. The street markets, shops, stalls selling vintage postcards and magazines, a cup of espresso for 80 cents and cakes that are a riot of colour and sugary bliss. Watch the residents in the apartments up high lower their buckets down on on a rope and a shop keeper comes along and drops in a loaf of bread - so the resident doesn't have to walk down 80 stairs. You just don't see this street life anywhere else in Italy.
Enjoy it while it lasts - Naples is an undiscovered jewel.
The first street on your right after you walk through the gateway is full of musical instrument stores and you can hear the repairers/makers tuning and crafting their instruments as you walk by. The Conservatorium of Music is also near Porta Alba and you can hear the students on the piano or violin as you pass by - this is so extraordinary.
There are so many things to see in Spaccanapoli but I would rate the atmosphere right up there. The street markets, shops, stalls selling vintage postcards and magazines, a cup of espresso for 80 cents and cakes that are a riot of colour and sugary bliss. Watch the residents in the apartments up high lower their buckets down on on a rope and a shop keeper comes along and drops in a loaf of bread - so the resident doesn't have to walk down 80 stairs. You just don't see this street life anywhere else in Italy.
Enjoy it while it lasts - Naples is an undiscovered jewel.
Written November 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
princessjoi
Bangkok, Thailand2 contributions
Where do I park if I want to visit Spaccanapoli?
Virgina C
Chino Valley, AZ787 contributions
Sorry! We traveled by train, and stayed in the central area, so we didn’t have a car. Maybe you can go on the Naples website for parking information. Another possibility is looking at google maps to look for parking. Try looking for: parcaggio — or something like that spelling, which indicates “parking area” in Italian.
justine8429
Swansea County, UK12 contributions
What time do the shops and cafes close?
Bhaskar M
Nashville81 contributions
We were there rather late, several evenings, and many shops were still open. Different shops close at different times, but restaurants, bars, dessert bakeries, etc. were open late. Hope this helps.
Tonia S
Province of Matera, Italy2 contributions
Siamo due signore e dovendo gustare una buona pizza in piazzetta Nilo, chiedo se la zona si puo' attraversare con tranquillità a piedi fino alla stazione CENTRALE volendo percorrela a piedi, attraversando dunque via San Biagio, Forcella e Corso Umberto, dopo pranzo di domenica ?
gaudiNapoli
napoli108 contributions
Gentili signore, Napoli, come tutte le grandi città, presenta qualche minimo rischio ( pensate che qualche anno fa nella civilissima Londra mi hanno rubato il borsello in un pub ). Detto questo vi invito a fare con tranquillità il vostro percorso suggerendo soltanto alcune norme prudenziali che andrebbero prese sempre e ovunque : non indossate preziosi vistosi ( anche perchè le donne belle e simpatiche lo sono a prescindere dagli ornamenti ) e suggerirei l'utilizzo di un marsupio piuttosto che quello della borsa tradizionale. Per il resto godetevi la passeggiata e state tranquille. Un saluto da Mario
wuffwuff9
Ross, CA36 contributions
Did you actually stay in Spaccanapoli or just visit for a while? We are planning on staying in Naples 4 nights and thought of basing ourselves at the Hotel Decumani in Spaccanapoli. Is it safe? Will it be too long in that area? Is it easy to get around the rest of the city from there? Or.... would a hotel near the waterfront be better with a visit to Spaccanapoli?
Thanks....
Rebalti70
Naples, Italy108 contributions
There is not only ONE answer (as often happens in life....). The waterfront area is beautiful and deserves a day on its own., it's perfect if you're into a romantic mood. Though I do recommend the historic decumani district in order to savour the real heart of town. Naples is like an old fascinating lady that used to be extremely attractive when she was young. Discovering its antique beauty is part of the enjoyment. The historic center is safe if you don't carry expensive watches, cameras or mobile phones. Being an enthusiastic Neapolitan I will be more than happy to have you as guests for a pizza when you' ll be in town. You can send me a msg via facebk ( Antro Rebalti ). Have a nice trip and congratulations for choosing this wonderful town.
Spaccanapoli (Naples) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Spaccanapoli
- We recommend booking Spaccanapoli tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 106 Spaccanapoli tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Spaccanapoli:
- Naples Walking Tour with Underground Ruins (From $44.60)
- Naples Street Food Tour With Local Expert (From $41.79)
- Naples Walking and Sightseeing Tour With Local Expert (From $86.89)
- Street Food Tour of Naples with City Sightseeing and Top-Rated Local Guide (From $41.79)
- Naples walking tour of the Most-famous Sites Monuments (From $49.49)
- Hotels near Spaccanapoli:
- (0.03 mi) Bed and Breakfast Medea
- (0.03 mi) Angolo S. Chiara
- (0.03 mi) B&B San Sebastiano
- (0.03 mi) La Casa degli Artisti
- (0.04 mi) Wellness HM Napoli
- Restaurants near Spaccanapoli:
- (0.00 mi) Fruittiamo
- (0.00 mi) Lombardi A Santa Chiara
- (0.00 mi) Moccia Spaccanapoli
- (0.00 mi) Fresco & Toast
- (0.01 mi) Bar 7Bello
- Attractions near Spaccanapoli:
- (0.02 mi) Palazzo Filomarino
- (0.02 mi) Via Benedetto Croce
- (0.02 mi) Scriptura
- (0.03 mi) Stampe e Oggetti d'Epoca
- (0.03 mi) Face Shop