Naples (Campania): itinerary on foot


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Itinerary on foot to visit Naples, the ancient capital of Campania, what to see among interesting buildings and monuments in the historic center.


Naples in short

Naples, the provincial capital and of the Campania region, extends almost to the center of the homonymous gulf, between Vesuvius and the volcanic area of ​​the Campi Flegrei.

The territory of the north-western part of the city, made up of hills, basins, terraces and valleys, resting on a common base of Neapolitan tuff, constitute a very important environmental resource for the urban nucleus of Naples.


This area together with the vast historic center, listed in the UNESCO sites as a World Heritage Site, is part of the most valuable areas of the city.

Naples is one of the oldest cities in Europe, its urban layout, its historic buildings testify to its long and eventful history.

The city has two original nuclei, the first called Parthenope is located in Pizzofalcone, was founded in 800 BC. by a group of Rodiesi navigators and then it was enlarged and inhabited by Greek colonists from Cuma from 680 BC. (few remains of this area).


The second is located a few kilometers away from the first, was called Neapolis (new city), its structure inspired by the foundations of Athenian urban planning has been preserved until today as the current historic center of Naples has overlapped precisely the urban layout of this ancient city (Neapolis).

Therefore a visit to this part of the city allows you to appreciate monuments dating back to different periods, located a short distance from each other.

There are outdoor and underground archaeological excavations with Roman and Greek remains, catacombs, statues and bas-reliefs, monumental friezes and obelisks, churches and monasteries, cloisters, castles, palaces and palaces, fountains, various museums and the famous streets of the nativity scene.


Itinerary on foot

Arriving in Naples from the sea, the first monument we encounter is the Maschio Angioino or Castel Nuovo, which is located on Piazza Municipio.

The castle, built by the Angevins in the thirteenth century, was completely rebuilt in its current forms by the Aragonese in the fifteenth century and subsequently renovated by the Bourbons.

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On the promenade stands Castel dell’Ovo, which stands on the islet of Megaride, a landing point that hosted the first inhabited center of the city.

The origin of the castle dates back to around the twelfth century, successive extensions were made by the Normans and Angevins.

On Piazza del Plebiscito overlooks the majestic Royal Palace which, according to Domenico Fontana's design, was built in 1600 by the Spanish viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples.

The palace became the residence of the Spanish viceroys, of the Austrian ones, of the Bourbon rulers during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and then it was one of the residences of the Savoy royal family.

Today it is open to the public and is intended for various functions.

On the north side of the Royal Palace stands the prestigious San Carlo Theater, which communicates with the Palace through a door located behind the Royal Stage.

It is the opera house of the city of Naples, one of the largest in Europe, built by Charles I of Bourbon in 1737, based on a project by Giovanni Antonio Medrano.


A fire in 1816 caused serious damage and the theater was rebuilt by Niccolini.

One of the four entrances of the Galleria Umberto I opens in front of the San Carlo Theater.

The gallery was inaugurated in 1892 and became the artistic and party center of the city between the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s.

Still today it is a large and elegant meeting place with nice shops.

Near the church of the Incoronata in Capodimonte is the entrance to the Catacombs of San Gennaro, ancient underground cemetery areas dating back to the second century, consisting of two non-overlapping levels.

In the fifth century the relics of San Gennaro were moved to this place, later placed in the Cathedral.

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