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Naples, Italy
Historic gritty lively loud Naples
In my humble opinion, Naples is the most chaotic, frenzied, large city in Europe.
Many travelers don’t visit the city; they simply use it as a stop off point for visiting other popular cities and venues.
Often described as tumultuous and gritty, Naples is a fascinating city teeming with vibrant energy and, yes, a touch of chaos. Travelers who get to know this city's dynamic culture and layers of history often find it captures their heart when they least expect it. From royal palaces to castles, world-class museums, and some of Italy's best street food, Naples is unexpected in the best possible ways.
Naples is a city of too many contrasts to describe. One moment you're gazing up at the impressive glass dome of the Galleria Umberto I or admiring Roman statues in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the next scooters are zipping past you down impossibly narrow alleyways as you discover artisans continuing centuries-old craft traditions.
As we sailed into the city, we saw the imposing Castel dell’ Ovo, one of Naples most scenic and historic spots that sits on an island jutting out into the gulf south of Santa Lucia AND powerful Mt Vesuvius forming the lucious backdrop.
With more than 2,700 years of history and culture to explore, Italys third-largest city presents multiple feasts for the 5 senses with visits to the centro storico, a walk along Spaccanapoli, visits to the churches and layers of history under-ground, and opportunities to enjoy the best pizza in Italy.
From Naples, you can visit such great sites as the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, the Heraculaneum, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, islands of Ischia and Procuda, and hikes to Mt Vesuvius.
Unfortunately, on this rainy day, I cannot visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale because it is closed on Tuesdays.
Instead, I will stroll around both the chaotic, narrow alleys of the historic city center and the posh Chiaia neighborhood west of the port.
Italy has still not received the memo that smoking is hazardous to your health.
There are so many motorcycles on the pedestrian street that I was almost run over several times.
At some intersections, there are no stop lights so pedestrians simply walk in the street while cars drive around just like in Vietnam of India.
There were many vendors who were warned by the police to stop conducting business. They simply wheeled the cart away until the police drove away and then wheeled the card back to resume the sale.
The life of a wandering traveler!!
I will edit with this post when I return home.
