tdk320n

I will be in Naples for 2 days including MAY 1. .I know that May 1 is a National Holiday,
Will any of the attractions including stores , museums and churches be open?
I have been given conflicting stories by people I have contacted there.
I have been to Pompei and Sorrento so I am not interesrted in going there..

Any help will be appreciated.

Blueeyedcod

Just about everything will be closed. Check individual attractions websites to see if they are open or not - I just checked the official website of the Archaeological Museum and they are closed, as is the Capodimonte Museum.
I think it would be a good day to take a walk. Start at Via Nazario Sauro and follow the path along the coast as far as you can go (to Mergellina - it's about 3km). Stop there for a drink, something to eat, gelato at Chalet Ciro - if it's a nice day you could keep walking. There is a small beach just up ahead and a large palazzo that is deserted and crumbling but a beautiful place with an extraordinary story (Palazzo Donn'Anna).
You could turn around and walk back past Villa Communale (the big park) and then turn left into Chiaia and explore the streets around there. Take a map and some water - Naples is great for walking especially the seafront which is pedestrian only past Castel dell Ovo.

sandralist

I think you can take a guided tour of the opera house that day. The tours are English and are inexpensive (about 6 euros), and they are about 45 minutes. The theater is quite interesting and of great significance to Italian opera. It's a pride and joy of Naples. You can e-mail the theater to find out:

http://www.teatrosancarlo.it/it/page...e-guidate.html

I would be extremely surprised if the churches were closed, and Naples has many of note. I also would imagine that most of the local tour guides would be available to show you around that day, and would ferret out what is open and take you to unusual and lovely spots for views. You can look up reviews on TripAdvisor.

But you can also walk around on your own and it is fascination. You can probable download soem walking tours from the internet. If they don't include taking the funiculare up to Vomero (a neighborhood on Naples above the city, you might want to go up there as well for a look see.

sandralist

It appears that the cloister of the church of Santa Chiara is open on holidays. This a unique and beautiful garden decorated with handpaintied tiles. It is not far from the operhouse and the waterfront.

http://www.monasterodisantachiara.com/orari-e-tariffe/

sandralist

Also, if you have souces in Napoli, ask them about the festival of Maggio dei Monumenti. I am finding bits and pieces about it on the internet, but it appears that some major monuments of the city -- like the Certosa di San Martino -- have been open in past years, plus there is huge schedule of events all over the city (music, parades, carnival-type games). If I can find out anymore about it, I'll post the info.

sandralist

I found this brochure from the 2013 events of Maggio dei Monumenti that is both in English and Italian, which will give you a very good idea of the focus of the festivities. For this year, since May 1 is on a weekend, the events will begin on May 1 according to the official website of Napoli.

http://www.cariparma.it/system/carip..._260420131.pdf

Scrolling through the brochure myself it appears that there may be concerts on May 1 at the Teatro San Carlo, which would no doubt limit the avaiabiitiy of the guided tours.

Blueeyedcod

Teatro San Carlo is closed during holidays.

As for churches, they are churches and not tourist attractions so theoretically open 365 days a year - however you will need to check opening and closing times. If there are specific ones you wish to visit, then turn up between 7am and 11am and *most likely* you will find them open. This won't be difficult as most of Naples baroque masterpieces are within a 2km radius so if one is closed, just keep going and find another one - however most are usually closed from 1pm to 4pm. IMO - If you only see one church in Naples - try and make it San Gregorio Armeno - with Gesu Nuovo a close second.

sandralist

Finally, it also appears that the Cappello San Severo will be open on May 1, and many people consider this chapel one of the highlights of a visit to Naples because of its extraordinary artworks:

http://www.museosansevero.it/it/info...rari-e-tariffe

Blueeyedcod

Edit - *tours* of Teatro San Carlo are closed during holidays.

sandralist

Yes, sorry -- the guided tours are not availble on national holidays. I blew right past that info on the web page.

tdk320n

Thanks to all of you who have responded with so much valuable info,
Can I ask one other thing of all of you?
Suggestions for great pizza and a good restaurant to experience genuine southern Italian cooking.
My roots are Calabrese so I grew up with this food.
I will be staying at the Hotel Piazza Bellini .
Again many thanks.

sandralist

For me it is always a treat to go to Mimi Alla Ferrovia for an old-school Neapolitan feast of pasta and fish and dessert served by serious waiters with style. If you can handle the minor complications of getting up to Vomero (by funicular or taxi), then Dona Teresa is an almost historic example of the tiny (6 tables) neighborhood trattoria of Napoli with a limited choice menu that changes daily, house wine, dreamy tastes, and a bill of 15 euros. An easy choice would be the super-friendly Hosteria Toledo, which despite getting plenty of tourists, sticks to delicious, simple tradition. I don't know if any of these are open on your dates, and all our popular, so reserve if they are open.

I am a huge fan of almost everything about Napoli except its pizza, but I am sure others can advise.

Blueeyedcod

I love Da Nenella which is an almost stereotype of Naples - but without the stereotype as it's full of locals

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restau..._Campania.html

As for pizza, whenever I'm there I always go to Sorbillo on Via Tribunali and Starita (a bit out of the way but metro to Materdei is close). I also love Da Michele which unfortunately has a touristy reputation - which is mystifying to me as whenever I've been there it is impatient locals standing outside with their tickets waiting to be called in by Antonio for their two sublime varieties - Marinara and Margherita (that's it). Other well known pizza restaurants I've been to are Brandi and Di Matteo but realistically if you go to a Neapolitan restaurant that advertise a 'Vera' pizza method then you'll probably get something decent. I've had pizza in some of the Lungomare restaurants (opposite Casel dell Ovo), in Santa Lucia's back streets, in Posillipo, Mergellina and Chiaia and they are just as good as Sorbillo and its ilk. Naples is proud of its pizza. You can get duds (and I have had those too) but you'd be very unlucky.

Bear in mind Naples' pizza is not like Rome or New York or anywhere else. It is somewhat 'soupy' in that the crust is soft and doughy and blistered with carbonised bread bubbles and the sauce can puddle in the middle. This is how they are made in Naples. If that's not your thing then you may be disappointed or dislike it.

sandralist

>>>>" I also love Da Michele which unfortunately has a touristy reputation - which is mystifying to me "<<<<

I think part of the reputation is due to it being featured as the place where Julia Roberts ate pizza in "Eat Pray Love"

Waldo

Hey Blueeyecod, or anyone interested: The absolute best pizza on earth is made at TUTINO's. This place is located on Via Sopramurro, across from the Circumvesuviana terminal on Corso Garibaldi. The easiest way to explain getting there is- from the end (or beginning) of Piazza Garibaldi, where there is a big statue of Joe Gari, walk towards the sea on Corso Garibaldi until you get to Porta Nolana. Walk towards the big arch in Porta Nolana, but make a left turn before you go through the arch, on the street closest to the arch. Walk down this little street a short way, and look up to the second floor on your right. You will see "Pizza Tutino". Just go in and go up a narrow flight of stepa and you're there. If the owner is there (he usually stands near the top of the steps), get him into conversation if you can. Let him know you are American. He absolutely loves Americans. He told me that during the WW11, his family was all killed during the battle for Naples. He was taken in by four GIs, and lived with them as sort of a mascot. He was well fed, clothed and sort of adopted by these GIs. He subsequently traveled to the US and visited all those guys, in Nebraska, Alabama, Ohio and New York. He attended the funeral some years later of the soldier from Alabama. He speaks great English, and tells great stories of his experiences with the Americans. The pizza place has fantastic pizza and other things likr Arancini, and fried polenta, but the pizza is the standout. It's a neighborhood place, and is always full. The natives know what's good. Whenever I go there and he sees me, hey exclaims, "L'Americano sta ca!" (Neopolitan for the American is here).Hey Blueeye- do you know how the name "Sopramurro" originated?

bvlenci

It's Via Sopramuro (or, local spelling, Soprammuro). It means "on top of the wall", and I assume it means that it ran along the top of the city walls. There are streets with the same name in other cities.

Joe Gari? I'm sorry, I find that a little offensive.

Waldo

Sorry, it's spelled the way I wrote. One M and two Rs. I checked with my sister in law, who resides ion Naples. In the old days there was a wall surrounding central Naples. The only way to enter or exit the area was from four stations. They are: Porta Nolana, Porta Alba, Porta Capuana, and I forget the last one. If you go along the route that was the wall, you can still see it at various places, and furthermore, some people actually live in niches they have made in the wall. You can see the same thing in Rome. The people in the area call Tutino's pizza restaurant " 'n coppa e murra," which means "on the walls" in Neopolitan. Did you know that "Joe Gari" spent a large part of his life in Staten Island? Also, "Joe Green" spent a lot of his life in New York, when he was not fiddling around with his operas.

Waldo

I'm sorry, I meant "joe Greens". Lighten up, it's only fun.

willit

"I think part of the reputation is due to it being featured as the place where Julia Roberts ate pizza in "Eat Pray Love"

It may well be, but I have never seen it without a huge queue, and I started going to Naples long before the film.
I am happy to admit that "Bad Pizza I've had in Naples" would be a contender for the worlds smallest book.

Blueeyedcod

Eat Pray Love wasn't even a very well known film and really only seen by women of a certain demographic I can't imagine it is solely responsible for the popularity of Da Michele. It is mentioned in many guide books and anything Rick Steves mentions becomes an overnight sensation (I have trouble getting into one of my favourite Rome hotels because of this). Don't know if it's in Rick Steves book - this is just an example. It's certainly in my Naples guide books.
Interestingly, Jamie Oliver had pizza in Brandi and wasn't impressed - doubt that's affected their business.
Waldo - yes must go to Tutino's - I'm not American but it appears they are very welcoming regardless.