Napoli is one of Europe’s most diverse and fascinating cities, and an intriguing place to travel to. Often misunderstood, this Italian city has some of the country’s most beautiful architecture, ancient historic sites, delicious food, interesting traditions, and a friendly, welcoming people. Located in the Southern Campania region, Napoli (or Naples) has a very different character from most other Italian cities.
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Some of the tours in this video:
Naples private food tour: bit.ly/3NPEnBw
Cooking course: bit.ly/3PABlTg
Day trip Amalfi coast: bit.ly/3NQ9D3t
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In this travel documentary, I’m exploring the streets of Napoli and its surroundings. From the buzzing, narrow alleys of the old city center to the grand churches and cathedrals. From historic palaces and castles to mysterious underground tunnels. And from ancient archaeological sites under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius to one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of coastline.
The video was made in March 2023 when I had the chance to travel to Naples and surroundings for 12 days.
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Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:
We start our journey in the old city center of Naples, with its charismatic narrow streets and vibrant markets. This is the beating heart of Napoli, where much of daily life takes place outdoors. After introducing some of the city’s history and culture, I take a food tour around these same streets, going beyond the city’s most famous dish (Margarita pizza). I also try my hand at making pasta myself, with a cooking course that dives deeper into culinary and family life in the region.
You find espresso bars and cafes all over Napoli, but perhaps the most famous one doubles as a shrine to Diego Maradona. This famous football player has received a saint-like status, and you will see his face all around the city. The city’s stadium is also named after him.
While religion plays an important role in society, Neapolitans have a long-standing tradition of mixing Catholic faith with a combination of rituals, legends, myths, and miracles. I dive a little deeper into this, and also visit some of the city’s most interesting churches, like the Duomo Cathedral and the Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo.
The architecture in Napoli resembles the city’s rich and diverse history, and walking through the different neighborhoods almost feels like time traveling. From cloisters and monasteries to forts and palaces, you can find yourself in a different era at every corner of the street.
I also explore the city’s charming coastline, with small fishing ports, hidden beaches, tranquil boulevards, and many restaurants. It’s a pleasant contrast to the hustle and bustle of downtown. Don’t miss the metro stations, which are an attraction of their own, displaying art and design that could be part of a museum. Finally, I also visit three of the impressive underground tunnels and/or cities, the Bourbon Tunnels, San Gennaro’s Catacombs, and Napoli Sotterranea.
In the second part of the video, I explore some of the most important sights around Napoli, starting with the impressive, yet fearful, Mount Vesuvius. This volcano is one of the most active in the world. Its most violent (and well known) eruption was in 79AD, which devastated Roman cities like Pompeii and Herculaneum. Interestingly, both these places are well preserved (due to a layer of volcanic ash and pumice that ‘protected’ much of the sites).
After visiting those, we explore the coastline, with the charming villages and imposing mountains of the Amalfi coast, including the towns of Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. This is also one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations. I finish this journey on the attractive island of Procida, which is less visited by tourists than the 2 bigger islands in the region. It’s full of historic buildings, scenic vistas, black sand beaches, and a laidback atmosphere.
Timestamps / video chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:01 Napoli
31:00 Beyond Napoli (Vesuvius)
33:56 Pompeii
37:08 Herculaneum
38:32 Amalfi coast
42:38 Procida
45:56 End