yestravel

This will be our second trip to Naples having been there just 2 years ago. We will be there in April for 3 days. Previously we visited the following:
National Archaeological Museum of Naples
Santa Chiara Church
The Capodimonte Museum and Park.
Cappella Sansevero
Gesu Nuovo Church
We took the funicular one day and spent our time in the Vomero and spent a day wandering around the wterfront.

What other sites would you recommend for us to visit while in Naples? Thanks!

sandralist

I enjoyed the short guided tour of the opera house. It takes less than half an hour and doesn't cost much.

I don't know if when you went to Vomero you included a trip to Sant'Elmo and San Martino, but that is very worthwhile.

The church of Pio Monte della Misericordia has an important Caravaggio. The church of Sant'Anna dei Lombardia has a stunning Vasari chapel. Near the train station, the Church of San Giovanni a Carbonara is startling for its sculptures and artwork. If you go to the Duomo of San Gennaro, the ancient bapistery is atmospheric and worth a look. The bookstalls in Port'Alba.

yestravel

Thanks for all the suggestions!

neckervd

In the neighbourhood, you find of course the fumarole di Pozzuoli, Ercolano, Caserta, Pompei and the 3 Islands.

Blueeyedcod

There is so much to see in Naples you could fill a month - here are some places I love:
- Castel Nuovo - artwork, great halls, a chapel and a Roman necropolis
- San Gregorio Armeno - the baroque cathedral and the nativity street
- The Bourbon tunnels
- Naples Underground
http://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/naples-underground/
- Palazzo Reale - for the staircase alone
- Sant Angelo a Nilo - a sculpture by Donatello is here
- Santa Maria delle Anime (tour the crypt downstairs - a very interesting side of Neapolitan life and superstitions)
- Visit Mergellina at the other end of the bay - have gelato at Chalet Ciro
- Take a walk around Chiaia - beautiful shopping (drop into Marinella for a tie or a scarf)
- See Palazzo Donn'anna - preferably early in the morning - it's at the far end of the bay as well.

That's just in Naples itself. You could also take a ferry to Procida - the least known and visited of the bay's islands. It's absolutely gorgeous and like a slice of the Greek Islands without the crowds. There is a restaurant called La Conchiglia on a sandy beach - they will pick you up from Marina Corricella in a little boat and take you around to their restaurant for lunch (reservations needed of course +39 081 896 76 02) a really relaxing way to spend an afternoon and you can walk out of the restaurant and have a swim if you feel like it and don't mind April's water temperatures.

Hope you have a great time

Waldo

Hey Blueeyedcod--I go to Naples very often, but there is one thing they (my in-laws) tell me which I cannot believe. I go to the Palazzo Reale quite often, and I check to see if what I'm told is bull. I'm told that the staircase you mentioned above, is made of one solid piece of marble. I check for seams and other signs that it's not one piece, but I don't find any. However, I still don't believe it.
Also, no one in this great big wide world has ever had a tour of San Carlo Opera House equal to the tour I had. That's one of the great stories I have of Naples.

Blueeyedcod

Waldo - that's an interesting story - I've just consulted my little guide book bought at the palace and it says

'visitors would have entered by the majestic grand staircase which occupied an entire wing of the building in the seventeenth century and was faced with marble from all over Southern Italy and inlaid in stucco in the mid nineteenth century'

So hey whilst I wish it were one large piece of marble (wow!) it seems it's not. I love the little court theatre inside the palace as well. For 4 euro admission, the Palace has got to be one of Naples' bargains.

jan47ete

Don't forget the food and antique markets!

Waldo

Hey Blueeye- You gotta be British! You use the King's English, writing "whilst" instead of "while". Here in the Colonies we spell words like "color", and not "colour". As G. B. Shaw said, "We are two countries separated by a common language".

yestravel

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

dgunbug

Yestravel - we will also be spending three days in Naples this June. Since you have already spent time there, how would you best allocate your time as a first time visitor to naples?

yestravel

First we are not fast travelers anymore and enjoy spending time wandering and sitting in cafes rather than seeing another site or two. Second Naples was the first stop after an overnight flight from DC so we used Naples to recover from jet lag and know we missed lots, but knew we'd be back. That said,
The Archaeolagy museum was definitely the top site for us. We spent quite a few hours there, but you could definitely spend more. We had planned to go to Paestum for a day trip, but never fit it in. the area around the water was not as appealing to us as the Centro Historico. it's lovely down there, but we preferred other areas. Some time spent in Vomero was worth it. We also liked Santa Chiara Church and Gesu Nuovo church. Exploring the little alleys and streets for the atmosphere took some time. The Pio Monte della Misericordia which has the Caravaggio is worth seeing if you're into Caravaggio. As I recall we stuck our heads in lots of churches, some lovely, but their names slip my mind at this point. I see from all the suggestions we have lots to see. If anything knocks our socks off when we go this month, I'll try and post back. Have a great trip!

Waldo

As I've written many times before, the best site in Naples to visit is absolutely free. All you have to do is get on the number 32 bus in the Piazza Garibaldi and ask the driver to alert you (you don't even have to do that, you will know when you get there), to let you off at the third or fourth stop when you reach Via Petrarc. You get off the bus and witness the most glorious view in this wide world. The view of the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius in the background. I'm sure many people have seen the photo of this view, but seeing it in person is unbelievable. I can't describe the feeling. You gotta see it to believe it!

dgunbug

Yestravel - enjoy your trip. I'll look forward to hearing from you when you return.

Blueeyedcod

Waldo that view is indeed incredible. OP if you're wary of taking public transportation, the HoHo bus blue line also takes in that view. Tickets for the HoHo are valid 24 hours and there are three lines - all taking you to the major sights.
Naples - unlike Rome - is great for the HoHo bus. It even has a small bus which covers the tiny streets of the Historic Centre. Some information is here.

http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it/eng/index.htm

(Waldo am not British but same hemisphere lol - good guess)

worldinabag

Hi

What about a visit to the 18th century Royal Palace in nearby Caserta - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/549

yestravel

No problem taking public transportation. What is the fare and do you pay when boarding or for you need a card? Thanks

jan47ete

Newsstands sell tickets and cards as you need a card. Go on online and google Naples transport and you can see what is available.

Blueeyedcod

You need the number #140 bus. It departs from the San Carlo stop at Municipo or you can catch it down by the port behind Castel Nuovo.

Not sure what jan47ete means by 'you need a card'. You can just get a ticket from the nearest tabacchi / newsstand. Validate them in the small machines when you board - you'll see people doing this. You must ride with a validated ticket, which gives you around 120 minutes of travel time before it expires.

jan47ete

As of Jan 1, 2015 there is a new ticketing system. So you can buy a Tutta la regione (the whole region) Campania ArteCard, for 32E and travel in Naples and the region.