What to see in Naples, Italy | Naples travel guides

In Naples, some may find the actual conditions of many buildings and streets, and the rampant graffiti, off-putting. Others claim this is "the immense character and culture of Napoli...and even the dirt and grime has its own flavor...a Neapolitan recipe for reality, and great fun". Naples' peculiarity is that the city centre is not the elegant part of the city. Just do not expect in the city centre the pristine conditions of many other major European cities, since the historical centre, unlike most European cities, is not the "downtown". If you want to visit the elegant part of the city, you can walk around the wonderful lungomare, the Riviera di Chiaia or Via Francesco Caracciolo.

Most sites in Campania including Pompeii accept the Campania Card for tourists free entry. Some cards also include a pass for the local public transportation.

Note: Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte, Castel Sant'Elmo, the Certosa and Museum of San Martino and the museum Duca di Martina can be visited FREE of cost until 31 May 2011 timing restrictions might apply (http://www.pierreci.it/16...)

Castel dell'Ovo at Porto Santa Lucia

Naples' known port with the Egg Castle on a small peninsula. The castle currently houses the Museum of Prehistory.

Castelnuovo (Maschio Angioino)

A huge medieval castle at the shore which houses the main city museum featuring various collections, but most importantly a picture gallery with focus on 19th Century Italian painting.

Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte

(http://www.museo-capodimo...) Napolitan National Gallery, a must-see! Displays the Burgia, Farnese and Borbon collections with mainly Renaissance and Baroque Italian painting. Among the famous artists on display: Caravaggio, Tizian, Giovanni Bellini, Annibale Caracci, de Ribera and Giordano. A beautiful park surrounds the museum.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale

(http://www.marketplace.it...) It is the biggest roman architectural museum in the World, even bigger than the National Museum of Rome. Its collection is astonishing both considering the quality and the quantity of the objects on display. Naples Archeological Museum houses wall paintings and different objects removed from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and other excavation sites in the area. In addition, you can admire the Farnese collection of Roman sculptures including the famous sculptures of the Caracala Baths. â¬9.00 for admission. European citizens pay â¬ 6.5, children get in for free. If you are a EU-citizen, under 25 or over 60, you can get in for the reduced price of â¬3.25. There is also an audio guide available talking about the statue collection on the first floor, however most of the amazing artifacts such as original Roman murals of mostly Greek mythologies are not covered. All descriptions of the exhibits are in English and in Italian. It is a must-see, an incredible collection of artifacts. The Museum also contains the well signposted "secret room" containing the erotic sculptures, paintings and murals from Pompeii.

View of Mergellina (from via Orazio or via Petrarca)

Certosa di San Martino

A Carthusian monastery at the top of a hill near the city centre. It houses the Museum of City History.

Parco Virgiliano

A nice park with a stunning view of the surrounding area. It is about half an hour off the city centre, but certainly worth the effort! Not to be confused with the Park in which Virgil's Tomb is found.

Piazza del GesÃ¹ and Piazza S.Domenico Maggiore

The New Jesuite Church is among the most extravagant Baroque churches in the world! Across the street you will find the Santa Chiara Monastery (http://www.santachiara.info). It is worth a visit for its beautiful garden decorated with frescos and coulorful columns. If you continue towards S. Domenico Square you will pass by the St Angelo on the Nile Church with its Donatello's altar. The Sansevero Chapel nearby is also well known for its marble sculptures of veiled figures.

Napoli Sotterranea

(http://www.lanapolisotter...) Underneath San Lorenzo Maggiore medieval church.You can witness the remains of the Roman city. The tunnels served as shelters during WWII.

Castel Capuano

Castel Sant'Elmo

Catacombe di San Gennaro

Medieval catacombs on Capodimonte hill.

Quadreria dei Girolamini

(http://www.girolamini.it/) A beautiful small picture gallery mainly of Italian Baroque painting and some works of famous De Ribera. Free of charge and just across the street from the Duomo.

Duomo

(http://www.duomodinapoli.it/) Naples' main church with two luxurious chapels. Underneath it you can find excavation of a Roman site. Near the duomo you can find the St. Gennaro Treasury Museum, with arts exhibits from the duomo and another heavily frescoed chappel.

Pio Monte della Misericordia

(http://www.piomontedellam...) A church and a picture gallery both belonging to an old charity organisation. The gallery mainly displays Napolitan Baroque paintings.

Teatro San Carlo

(http://www.teatrosancarlo.it/) Naples' famous opera house.

Piazza del Plebiscito

Naples' main square. Surrounding it you will find the Royal Palace Palazzo Reale - open to tourists, the San Carlo Theatre and the Galleria Umberto.

Acquario - Villa Comunale

A park near the shore with Europe's first public aquarium in its centre. Nearby is the Cortes Museum of Applied Arts. La Casina Pompeiana in the park is home to changing exhibitions focusing on photography.