One can talk endlessly about holidays in Italy. There is probably no other country in the world that has such a variety of historical monuments and architectural values. Each city here is an open-air museum, you want to study it, get to know it, immerse yourself in the worldly atmosphere and come back again. This time in our article we will talk about one of the most famous cities in Italy.
Sights of Naples can surprise even the most experienced travelers. This city is radically different from the rest, only here the local dialect has gained great popularity, which is spoken by almost every Neapolitan. Naples is also full of surprises - in its vicinity, you can easily be left without documents and jewelry. So that every tourist has a clear idea of what to do in this beautiful city, let's get acquainted with the main attractions of Naples and the surrounding area.
Vesuvius Volcano
Of course, start talking about important places thatshould be on the must see list of every tourist, follows from the famous Mount Vesuvius. The active volcano of the Apennine Mountains system proudly rises above the city and is an important landmark of Naples. To date, there are over 80 references to the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, but the largest, which claimed thousands of lives, occurred in 79. Several cities immediately plunged into darkness from ash and lava. As you know, tourism in Italy is an important financial component of the country, so the authorities are always trying to organize the best conditions for vacationers. Several attempts were made to equip specialized lifts to the volcano, but as a result of regular eruptions, the structures were repeatedly destroyed. Today, there is only one way - to climb the hiking trail to the top of Vesuvius.
Pompeii. Landmark of Naples. Photo and description
When it comes to climbing the crater of Mount Vesuvius, all tourists must visit the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. It was he who was completely buried under the ashes as a result of the strongest volcanic eruption in 79, which we have already mentioned above. Excavations of the completely destroyed territory began in the 18th century. Now Pompeii is a full-fledged museum complex with those exhibits that were dug out from under the ashes.
Herculaneum
Herculaneum is the same ancient city as Pompeii, which was damaged by a volcanic eruption. Most of the population managed to escape, butthe city itself was badly damaged. It should be noted that many buildings and architecture of that time were well preserved as a result of lava solidification. Herculaneum is an important tourist destination at the moment.
Piazza del Plebiscito
If you have ever been to Italy, you probably know that the word “piazza” can be found here at every turn. So, in translation from Italian, this is a square. Piazza del Plebiscito is a central place in Naples, located within walking distance of the city's port. This area gathered around itself important buildings of the Middle Ages and the New Age. The square got its name in 1860, at that moment a referendum was held for joining the province of Piedmont.
Royal Palace
The building has a majestic name, because various crowned persons regularly stayed here. The Royal Palace acted as a residence for high society. In 1837, the palace building was seriously damaged, but was subsequently reconstructed. The facade of the palace is decorated with statues of famous Neapolitan rulers, and the library of Victor Emmanuel III is located in a separate palace wing.
Basilica of Naples
The Basilica of San Francesco di Paola is made in the neoclassical style of the 19th century. The temple was built during the reign of Ferdinand I and dedicated to Saint Francis. According to the king, it was he who helped to win back the lands captured by the French. Looking closely at the façadebuilding, you can recognize in it the outlines of the Roman Pantheon, which served as a kind of model at the time of the construction of the basilica. If anything can be considered the main attraction of Naples, then this is the Church of St. Francesco.
San Severo Chapel
Previously, the San Severo Chapel was a private church owned by an influential family at the time. The first duke of this family built a tomb in honor of the Madonna for the miraculous cure from a serious illness. The interior decoration of the San Severo Chapel delights the eye of every tourist. Until the middle of the 18th century, the chapel served as the temple of the Society of Freemasons.
Umberto Gallery I
What's the first thing that comes to your mind when it comes to Milan? Of course, most of the travelers represent the famous Duomo Cathedral and the no less majestic Milanese gallery of Victor Emmanuel. But what if you were told about the existence of a counterpart of the original gallery in Milan, which is also located in Naples? And indeed, on Neapolitan soil, there is a 19th-century shopping arcade, created according to the Milanese model. This is the rare case when a copy has surpassed the original version. The Umberto I Gallery is an important landmark in Naples.
Castle Nuovo
The palace was built by order of Charles of Anjou, but the monarch never managed to settle in it, because he was killed during the uprising. Today, the castle is an important tourist destination, and is also included in the rubric “Whatwatch in 1 day? The landmark of Naples beckons with its majestic views, and also combines a sense of impregnability of this building and the luxury of a royal residence. The castle acted as a haven for the Spaniards and the French, and also once was in the hands of the Russian squadron. Tourists come here to visit the museum and the headquarters of the historical community at the same time.
Fontanelle Cemetery
In Naples, you can not only admire the beautiful, but also the terrible. On the slopes of Materdeus Hill there is a whole ossuary that attracts many tourists from all over the world. The first burials were made here at the beginning of the 17th century, since during the period of the plague, about a hundred people died every day. Later, the Fontanelle cemetery was used to bury the homeless and the poor. Starting from 1837, the cemetery acquired the status of an abandoned one, later it began to be ennobled, and today tourists are allowed here.
Gulf of Naples
Tourists come to Italy not only to enjoy the greatest architectural heritage, but also magnificent beaches. The Gulf of Naples is one of the most visited seaside resorts in the country. Holidays on the Tyrrhenian Sea, washing the western coast of Italy, have long been very popular and in demand among tourists. The most popular places for a beach holiday are considered to be the islands of Ischia and Capri. In addition, picturesque views of the city, the famous volcano Vesuvius and others open up from the shores of the Gulf of Naples.sights of Naples. Tourist reviews say that this is one of the most beautiful embankments in all of Italy.
Castle dell'Ovo
A powerful coastal fortification, towering majestically on the edge of the city at the foot of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Geographically, the fortress is located on a small island, but at a great distance it resembles a full-fledged cruiser. At first, the building acted as a villa for a Roman commander, but after that it was reconstructed and the walls were strengthened in case of an attack from the sea. Further, the building served as a haven for the monks, and after the castle was adapted for a prison. A photo of the sights of Naples is presented below.
City museums
The next stop in exploring this magnificent city will be the museums. There are two popular places in Naples: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Archaeological Museum. The first contains the most extensive collection of Titan. An interesting fact is that most of the collection was collected by the Farese family, whose descendant is Pope Paul III. In order to accommodate all the works of Michelangelo and Titian, a separate palace was built in the 18th century.
The Neapolitan Archaeological Museum boasts a variety of specimens from the excavations of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia. Initially, the building, which was later given over to the museum, acted as a university, then the private collection of the Bourbons and Farnese, as well as the royal library, were moved here.
Cathedral of Saint Januarius
Saint Januarius is considered the patron saint of Naples, so they could not do without the construction of a temple in his honor. Tourists are attracted to the cathedral not only by the fact that many unique murals of the 14th century have been preserved inside the chapel, but also by the main relic that the walls of the temple keep - a vessel with the frozen blood of the saint. The Italians have their own ritual: three times a year, when a sufficiently large number of believers gather, the blood becomes liquid again for a while.
Santa Chiara
Santa Chiara is a complete religious complex named after Saint Clare of Assisi. The territory has two zones: the monastery, as well as the museum and the tomb of the rulers. As a result of the reconstruction of the complex, the predominant style in architecture was baroque. Just like the Neapolitan Opera, the Santa Chiara complex was badly damaged by bombing during the war. Ten years later, it was completely restored and returned to its original appearance.
Visa processing
Italian visa is in great demand among Russian tourists. Recall that Italy is part of the Schengen Agreement. Thus, if you are a happy owner of this Schengen, then you can freely travel around all European countries, with the exception of the UK.
You can apply for a visa directly at the Consulate General of Italy, the visa center or through travel agencies, in the latter case, the cost of a visa will increase significantly. Also worth noting is the factthat Italians are very loyal to the issuance of permits to enter the country for a long period of a year. So you have every chance to enjoy the beautiful city of Naples and other picturesque places.
How to get there?
Naples airport is located right in the city due to the terrain, so getting from it to the city will not be difficult. Our country has an excellent air connection with Italy, but despite this fact, there are no direct flights from Moscow. Usually all companies flying to Italy from Russia make connections in Rome, Paris or Amsterdam.
Conclusion
In today's article, we tried to acquaint readers in detail with each of the main attractions of Naples in Italy. Photos and descriptions of places that every tourist should visit can be found above. We hope that the information was as useful as possible for you, dear readers. Have a nice trip and new discoveries!
