Naples or Genoa

Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:02 AM
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Naples or Genoa

Hi,

Before we finalize our plans, I have one question:

Which city would you choose to visit for 4/5 nights, Naples or Genoa and why?

Thanks.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:17 AM
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Neither. Though Naples and Genoa are interesting in their own right, there are better places to visit in Italy.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:26 AM
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Hi Loacker,

We have visited many places in Italy and the question is a choice between the Naples and Genoa.

If we go to Naples, we will then spend about a week in the Amalfi Coast, and if we go to Genoa, we will travel down the coast back to Rome.

Thanks
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:33 AM
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where is Sandralist when you need her?

What time of year are we talking about?

I've been to Naples and would love to spend more time there, but never been to Genoa, and never felt a great urge to do so.

Naples plus the Amalfi would be a great choice but probably not so good in July and August.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:37 AM
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Hi annhig,

We are going to be there mid-August for a total time of about 12 days.

Naples seems so interesting but from what I have been reading, you would think that it is dirty, crime ridden and generally a place to avoid, and this is what scares me. Is this true even today?

Thanks
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 02:57 AM
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Hi MyBeautifulBalloon [great screen name, BTW!]

I know exactly what you mean about Naples, and it's instructive that Italians can feel just the same - when we visited with our Italian class a few years ago, our teacher [who was herself a student there for several years] was keen to give us tips about avoiding crime, and I've heard similar things from other Italians. More than that it has drivers that are completely mad, backstreets that are entirely unlit, and [to me] an atmosphere of "edginess" which I haven't felt in many other places. OTOH it has wonderful things to see, extremely friendly lovely people, [like the shopkeeper who guided us to the station when we were completely lost] and great food.

On your other thread I have made a suggestion about places you could go between Genoa and Rome, namely Orbetello and Massa Marittima, which having read this I think might be far more up your street. Certainly you would be more relaxed and comfortable!
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 04:44 AM
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Hi annhig,

I always loved that 1967 5th Dimension song Up, Up and Away, and was so surprised that nobody had taken my screen name, especially in a travel forum.

I saw your other post and appreciate it very much. What is causing me some hesitation is that I think would prefer to spend a week in the Amalfi Coast instead of driving down the coast from Genoa to Rome. Also, it is much closer to Rome, so we spend less time travelling. Finally, we can use the train for most of the trip (only using a car as those days we travel through the Amalfi Coast).

However, if you think that Genoa is almost as interesting as Naples, and that the places we will visit as we travel down the coast are as beautiful as the Amalfi Coast, we will do that plan instead.

Thanks again for all of your help.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 05:49 AM
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While Genoa is a beautiful city, I think you would find more to do to fill 3 or 4 days in Naples. Spend 3 days there (or 4), then head down the coast. Just pick your hotel/location well, and enjoy the vibrancy of that city.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 05:54 AM
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However, if you think that Genoa is almost as interesting as Naples, and that the places we will visit as we travel down the coast are as beautiful as the Amalfi Coast, we will do that plan instead. >>

oh dear - the responsibility!

I absolutely understand the dilemma, MBB. [please excuse my abbreviating your screen-name; how silly of me not to get the allusion to the song!]. One factor that might influence me to prefer Genoa to Rome as opposed to the Amalfi and Naples is the time of year - wherever you are it will be hot but the Amalfi is likely to be heaving.

I'm not sure how many nights you've got total, but taking it that you've got 12 days, so 11 nights, I would spend 3 in Genoa, 2 in Pisa/La Spezia [the first being very crowded the second a little more rough and ready], 2 in Massa Marittima, and 4 in Orbetello. I would definitely book hotels in the first and last but not sure about the places in the middle - you might leave those until the night before.

If you can't find anywhere in Orbetello itself, you might look at Porto Ercole in stead.

let us know how it works out!
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 07:17 AM
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Naples is a beautifull city, and just like Paris, New York and other big cities you do not have to walk around with big cameras, jewelery and so on.....
If you visit the big streets and do not go to the small silents streets, the change they steal from you is as big as any other big city!!
Naples has a lot to see and visit like museums, churches and much more! So I reccomand Naples and the amalfitan coast, but I've never been to Genua!
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:43 AM
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I must say that feeling even a little fearful of walking the small, medieval alleyways in the evening, which is something my family and I love to do, makes me very uneasy.

While visiting museums and historical sites is important and interesting, it is the evening and nighttime walks that has made us fall in love with many cities and places in Italy.

Am I wrong to feel this about Naples?
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:58 AM
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"Finally, we can use the train for most of the trip (only using a car as those days we travel through the Amalfi Coast)."

I wouldn't want to be driving the Amalfi Coast in August, or did you intend to drive somewhere and just park the car during your stay?

Can you even find available lodging on the AC for August at this late date? Or is this trip in 2017?
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 09:19 AM
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I've never been to Genoa, but can recommend Naples. My trip report might interest you; click on my name to find it.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 03:24 PM
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<Am I wrong to feel this about Naples?>

There are people everywhere. It's not some Dickensian horror story. The Historic Centre around Via Tribunali is very busy - as is the Spanish Quarter. The best pizza places in Naples are along Via Tribunali (Sorbillo and Di Matteo).

The Lungomare down on the bay is a pedestrian zone and is busy with restaurants and people walking until way past midnight.

Many people on these forums have either never been to Naples or haven't been there recently. They make ill informed judgments based on other peoples' predjudice (the Italian language school people are an example). Naples hasn't been ruined by mass tourism and maintains an authentic historic centre where real people live and work. It is not overrun with twee souvenir shops or restaurants advertising in ten languages.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:35 PM
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@ annhig, re: “great screen name, BTW” … hmm. Compare the screennames, question formats, and response formats to:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...es-choices.cfm

It seems to me that, in the best case scenario, MyBeautifulBalloon has made a poor choice of posters to emulate. JMO, and I could easily be wrong....
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 09:13 PM
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I have been to both Genova and Napoli. For that many nights, I would choose Napoli. Neither has been overran by tourist. Genova is not as popular and Napoli is so big, the city exists for residents.
Genova has grandeur and run down places as well as "interesting" neighborhood that feels more like in Africa than in Italy. However, unlike Napoli, Genova as a base to visit CT as day trip is not effective. CT is overran by tourists during the day. If you want to go there when it does not feel like you are in a subway station during the rush hour, stay in CT, not in Genova. Napoli on the other hands has many top places to visit within as well as a good base for Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Caserta, etc. AC is bit far as a day trip, but can be done. Napoli gave me more vibes than Genova.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 09:33 PM
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@ Loacker,
@ Holly_uncasdeawar
@ rosanna75
@ Jean
@ Michael
@ Blueeyedcod
and
@ greg --

you, too, might want to see the link I posted above, and as I suggested, compare the info. Just a thought....

As a completely unrelated thought ;-), I don't think starting a new screen name replaces the need to apologize to another poster. JMO. Nor do I think starting a new screen name is the best way to deal with prior offenses to multiple posters. Again, JMO.

@ MyBeautifulBalloon -- Best wishes for your travels.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 01:59 AM
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kja,

Not sure who you are, but it appears you have way too much time on your hands.

Good luck, though
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 02:40 AM
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They make ill informed judgments based on other peoples' predjudice (the Italian language school people are an example). >>

since I assume that is a reference to what I wrote, 'Cod, this was not prejudice on the part of our teacher but a result of her experience of being a student in the city for several years. I was trying to address the fears of the OP who may have a more restful experience by not going to Naples on this occasion.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 05:42 AM
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kja - I didn't even post on the thread you linked to. I have no idea what your point is.
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