Not getting robbed in Naples
Technically my first trip to Naples was over a decade ago, but my grandmother refused to let us get out of the bus – too dangerous. My second visit was similarly brief, although it involved a little more foot-to-pavement time. So this time, my third visit, I was ready to soak it all in. Surely all those rumors about crime in Naples were exaggerated?
Struffoli like my grandmother used to make
We were welcomed by a taxi driver who tried to charge us double for our trip to the hotel, and I wondered if all this fear of crime might actually be founded. But my doubts quickly faded as we eased our way into life in this fascinating city.
The last time I was in Naples, this square contained a sculpture of horse parts
Naples is a wonderful walking city, with so much life and vibrancy. It also has a galleria so similar to Milan’s that I could look up and be confused as to where I was.
Via Toledo is the main shopping street, and over the course of three days we wandered up and down it many times. A network of narrow walking streets was lined with shops selling nativity scene figurines and Pulcinellas. I’m guessing they sell other tourist trinkets the rest of the year.
Christmas lights over Via Toledo
There were nativity scenes and Christmas decorations everywhere you looked, including inside this giant wheel of parmigiano:
We spent most of our time in Naples walking or eating, but we did squeeze in a couple of sites, too. The Archeological Museum contains more Roman statues than you can shake a fig leaf at. Other highlights include various plunder from Pompeii and the mildly pornographic ‘forbidden room,’ which is more titillating to anticipate than to actually view.
We also loved the Castel dell’Ovo, an imposing structure which juts out into the water and houses the odd free art exhibit. I must have taken hundreds of photos of the interesting architectural spaces that we wandered through.
In Naples we found the locals to be friendly and the prices low. And the food, well, it deserves a post all its own.
Do subways do this in other cities?
Walking all the way from the beach (not sure what’s the area called) to the Railway station was most adventurous, and thankfully no one mugged us 