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Is this address in Naples a nice spot to spend 3 days?

Is this address in Naples a nice spot to spend 3 days?

Old Mar 25th, 2011, 07:39 AM
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Is this address in Naples a nice spot to spend 3 days?

Hello!

Before reserving this apartment in Naples' Centro Storico, can someone comment on the neighborhood?

I like the fact that it's very near to a metro stop, and the appartment looks great!

http://www.lestanzedidante.com/

Merci!
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 07:48 AM
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It is near the heart of the centro storico in Naples. Those who are not used to city living might find it a bit raffish. I think it is a good location.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 08:10 AM
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I think we will be looking forward to some action and city excitement after our week on the Amalfi coast!

There is also this one...

http://www.viadelduomo.com/dove_siamo_inglese.html
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 08:52 AM
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I think nowhere in Naples is a nice place to spend 3 days. Naples is in my opinion a hellhole of a place, dirty, noisy and unsafe. Avoid!
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 09:11 AM
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I don't think it's possible for a city to be all bad...
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 09:50 AM
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No but in that area be very careful of where you go say at night - especially down really narrow alleys - the Italian government did send in troops not long ago to combat crime against tourists I believe. And now the local government has enlisted the help of former pickpockets to devise ways to help combat street crime, which at least was rife.

Harlem in New York is fairly safe if you know what you are doing and take precautions - I think the same could be said about Naples - the city center is one of the poorest areas in Italy and this often translates to petty crime against perceived wealthy tourists IMO.

This centro storico to me is one of the few remaining old-world town centers in Europe - narrow lanes with laundry strung between apartments, etc. - like Italian cities all lookd when I first started going to Italy decades ago - this is why I love that area. But I would not want to stay there - when I went recently there was garbag all over the place - litter everywhere, etc. I actually stepped into a deep pothole in the poorly maintained cobblestone streets and ended up in the ER - look down when walking.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 09:57 AM
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We just spent 6 days in Naples, around the corner from Piazza Dante. We loved it. Yes, it's gritty and chaotic. But it's also laid back and very friendly. Expect to see some trash, some crumbling facades and some graffiti. But keep an open mind and just wander. It felt real, authentic and full of spirit.

We spent about 2.5 days exploring the city, then used it as a base for going to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis and Paestum.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 09:57 AM
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PS. We stayed at a small B&B called Bellini 67: www.Bellini67.com. It's nothing fancy, but the price was right and the owners were lovely.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 10:02 AM
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We've been going to and from Naples for a decade now, and see it slightly differently...

But it's funny how much difference presentation makes, isn't it? The description etc of that 1st one is actually more encouraging on VRBO than their own website....
http://www.vrbo.com/283998

At the very end of that entry you'll find a couple of encouraging reviews.

Although the road up through Piazza Dante is a lot busier than the one which passes the Duomo, the apartment's nearer to the very pleasant Piazza Bellini area and, as you spotted, has better connections, so - of the two - that would be my choice.

But before deciding, you might like to have a look at both areas using the Streetview facility in GoogleMaps?

And if you're going to be using the buses, Metro etc, try this...
http://www.unicocampania.it/files/mappe/zona_centro.pdf

Last autumn the tourist offices were giving away large printed copies of that, but they may have run out by now!

Peter
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 10:16 AM
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You sound like you can take it in stride and I think you will be fine.

If the centro storico is too gritty, or if you would like to be in a less congested area, take a look at Chaia or Vomero.

I stayed a few nights in hotel in Chaia a few years ago and we walked everyplace, including all of the sites in the historic center. Last year I stayed in the historic center off Spaccanapoli. Lots of graffiti but I did not perceive it as dangerous. But then, I come from New York.

Much of Chaia is upscale and a world away from the historic center.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 10:17 AM
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sorry for the poor spelling. Chiaia.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 10:31 AM
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I agree with Ekscrunchy -- I didn't feel unsafe at all during my entire week there. We wandered everywhere, late at night, no problems at all.
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 10:32 AM
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Can't believe I never thought of using Street View! It does give me an excellent idea!

From what I've seen in the historical center, I think I'll maybe choose this http://www.hotelpiazzabellini.com.

But I WILL check in Chiaia if it's easy to get to the historical center!

Yeah, I think I can take it in stride too... ;-)
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 05:31 PM
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Jojonana,

A few years ago I stayed at Hotel Pinto Storey *** in the Chiaia area. It was right across the street from the metro stop at Piazza Amadeaus. In mid- Sept the A/C had already been turned off and I paid a little extra to have it on. I'm a light sleeper and needed to keep the window shut for quiet, even though the hotel was on (if I remember correctly) the 5th floor.

I had a nice single room, enjoyed the area and took the metro to the Arch Museum, then on to the train station. Very easy.

Buon viaggio!
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Old Mar 25th, 2011, 11:21 PM
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Getting around Naples isn't too difficult - and a whole lot easier if you download some of the public transport maps that you'll find here...
http://www.unicocampania.it/index.php?lang=en

(You'll almost certain want the one of the AC, which is tucked away under "Sorrento")

And if we've not had it mentioned before, if visiting many of the museums etc, the Artecard is worth a look - perhaps this version, which comes with a transport pass...

http://www.campaniartecard.it/itinerary.cfm?id=13

Otherwise, for example, you can buy all-day cards for use within Naples and its immediate surroundings for just €3.10 - less at weekends...
http://www.unicocampania.it/index.ph...ietti&action=4

Sure I must have suggested this by now, but it has a good article on the UnicoCampania ticekting system, and their descriptions of the various attractions show which buses and Metro lines etc will get there... http://www.inaples.it/eng/quinapoli.htm

Piazza Bellini is a very pleasant place to just "hang" and, thanks to its proximity to the University, surrounded by interesting book shops.

The area up near the Pinto Storey is all much swisher, and handy for my own favourite part of the city, Mergellina and the area along the Via Partenope waterfront... although from all of those are at least a bus ride away from the historic centre...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mainlynaples

Peter
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Old Mar 26th, 2011, 09:29 AM
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The idea that Naples is like Harlem and it is somehow a uniquely dangerous place to walk around because if you don't watch where you put your feet, you could injure your foot is a reminder how much fun the internet can be for creating urban mythology.

Obviously Naples horrifies some tourists, but others find it highly rewarding. I hope you will use your time there not just to hang out and watch laundry flap but to see some of the most important artworks in Europe, inside the Capodimonte, the Archeological museum, the Certosa, the Capella Sansevero, the cloisters of Santa Chiara, the church of Sant'Anna dei Lombardi and the Caravaggio in the Pio Monte della Misericordia -- and there is much more than that if you have the energy and time. You can safely skip the Galleria, and the inside of the Castel Nuovo, and the Castel d'Ovo entirely. I also think you can skip the Duomo -- and certainly don't put seeing the Duomo ahead of seeing the Capella Sansevero or the cloisters at Santa Chiara.
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Old Mar 26th, 2011, 09:33 AM
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PS: I like the location of Piazza Danta better than piazza Bellini because not only do you have a Cafe Mexico right there -- truly outstanding coffee-- but you have really excellent transportation connections in all directions, and it is walkable to the archeological museum and the bus that goes from there to the Capodimonte.
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Old Mar 26th, 2011, 06:23 PM
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Thanks so much zeppole! Sounds like what we like to see...
And Cafe Mexico is on our list now!
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Old Mar 26th, 2011, 06:51 PM
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I'm confused... Isn't Piazza Dante and Piazza Bellini really close to one another? Maybe I'm reading the map wrong...
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Old Mar 27th, 2011, 02:35 AM
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No, it's not your map-reading that's wrong!

Peter
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