Spaccanapoli or Pompeii....
 

Help! I will only be in Naples for one day (on a cruise) and I am torn between seeing Pompeii or Spaccanapoli. I saw a documentary on the beautiful Nativity sets they make there and I want to purchase one so bad!! I also would like to see the Pizzaoili's doing their thing! If I chose the Spaccanapoli tour then Pompeii is definitely out. What to do??? I am also traveling with a friend of mine, I love her to death but she is a bit of an airhead....When I told her I chose the Pompeii tour, she said, "What's that?" Can you believe that? I fear that she will not appreciate Pompeii and I will be stuck listening to her whining! Does anybody have any advice for me as far as what I should choose? I'm sure I will return at some point since my husband is not able to come along this time. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

Choose Pompeii.

Some other time you can go to Spaccanapoli, but not on a tour. Unless it's a tour for just three or four people, I think it would feel very strange going through the neighborhood as a tour group. I didn't even notice the nativity sets when I was there, but I was just enjoying wandering around somewhat aimlessly to get the feel of the neighborhood. I was with some of my cousins from Sicily who now live in Umbria, who'd come to Naples for the day to meet me, so we were a little bit more focused on getting to know one another than on seeing specific things in Naples.

Hi TravelFairy, I agree with cmt, go to Pompeii. If you friend is not interested let her make her own plans. Don't ruin your vacation by giving in to someone that has no idea of "what is what". If you will be there in the next couple of months however do take some bottle water with you and be sure to dress for very hot/humid weather. Sunscreen and even a hat to shade your face would be good.

And have fun!

I haven't been to Spaccanapoli, but I loved Pompeii. I would also rather not be on a group tour of a city neighborhood, but a group tour of Pompeii would be a good way to see it, provided the guide is good. And if he or she isn't, you could break away and wander on your own.

Hi TF,

Good advice above.

You could also just visit Naples on your own.

From the cruise dock take a cab to The Archaeological Museum, see the antiquities from Pompeii.

Walk down Via E. Pessina to Pzza Dante. Take Porta Alba to Calle San Severo. See the Capella San Severo and the "Veiled Christ".

Have lunch at Pizza Bellini (Piazza Bellini).

Walk downhill through Spaccanapoli from Piazza Bellini to the train station.

Take bus no. 1 to Pzza Municipio, see the Pzza Plebiscito and the Public Gardens, walk along the waterfront to Castel dell'ovo, return to your ship.

Have a nice day in Naples.

((I))

Wow! Thank you all so much for your advice! I think the solution will be to do the morning tour of Pompeii and reserve the afternoon to explore Naples on my own! I will follow the above itinerary. Thanks again. It's nice to have people like you all to point us novice travelers in the right direction. Mille Grazie!