Naples is Italy at its most intense — chaotic, passionate, beautiful, and real. The birthplace of pizza, the gateway to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, and a city where ancient ruins, Baroque churches, and the looming silhouette of Mount Vesuvius create a drama unmatched anywhere in Italy. With 3,000 years of history layered beneath its streets, Naples rewards the adventurous traveller.
Getting to Naples
By train: Napoli Centrale connects to Rome (70 min, Frecciarossa from €20), Florence (3 hours), Milan (4.5 hours). By air: Naples International Airport (NAP) is just 7 km from the centre (bus €5, taxi €20 fixed rate to centre).
Pompeii — Frozen in Time
On August 24, 79 AD, Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii under 6 metres of volcanic ash. What emerged from excavations is the most complete ancient city in the world — streets, houses, shops, baths, theatres, temples, even a brothel with explicit frescoes still visible on the walls. Walking through the Forum, the House of the Faun, and the eerily preserved plaster casts of victims frozen in their final moments is a haunting, unforgettable experience.
Getting there: Circumvesuviana train from Naples (30 min, €3.60). Tickets: €16, allow 3-4 hours. Hire a guide (€120-150 for 2 hours) — it transforms the experience from "looking at ruins" to "living in ancient Rome."
Mount Vesuvius — Climbing the Volcano
Yes, you can hike to the crater of Vesuvius — Europe's most dangerous volcano (it last erupted in 1944). The walk from the car park takes 30 minutes up a zigzag gravel path to the 1,281-metre summit. Peer into the steaming crater (300m across, 200m deep) and take in 360-degree views of the Bay of Naples. Bus from Pompeii (€3.10), crater entry €10.
Naples Old Town — UNESCO Heritage
Naples' Centro Storico (Historic Centre) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the largest in Europe. The narrow Spaccanapoli street splits the old town like a knife, lined with churches (over 400!), artisan workshops, and street food stalls. Visit the stunning Naples Cathedral with the blood of San Gennaro, the Cappella Sansevero with the astonishing Veiled Christ sculpture, and the underground Napoli Sotterranea — Greek and Roman tunnels 40 metres beneath the streets.
Naples Pizza — The Original
Pizza was invented here in the 18th century, and Naples remains the world capital of pizza. The rules are strict: San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, wood-fired oven at 485°C, cooked for 60-90 seconds. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele (since 1870) serves only Margherita and Marinara — and the queue stretches down the street. Also try Sorbillo and Di Matteo. A whole pizza costs €4-7.
Practical Tips
- Campania Artecard: €21-34 covering transport + museums including Pompeii and Archaeological Museum
- Day trips: Amalfi Coast, Capri, Herculaneum (smaller, better-preserved than Pompeii)
- Safety: Naples has improved dramatically — use normal city precautions, keep valuables secure
- National Archaeological Museum: World's finest Roman collection including Pompeii mosaics and the Farnese Bull
Bring Naples & Pompeii Home
The ancient streets of Pompeii, the smoking crater of Vesuvius, the chaotic beauty of Naples — southern Italy at its most dramatic. Our MemBoards souvenir cutting boards capture the volcanic soul of Campania.