Things to see in Naples
Attractions
Spaccanapoli
This warren of laundry-hung lanes features street-side shrines, heirloom businesses, local lottery shops and tightly packed families in medieval palazzi. Originally the ancient Roman road that bisected the town, wander its length from Via Benedetto Croce in the east to Via Vicaria Vecchia in the west, taking in the lively Piazza Maggiore along the way.
Address: , Spaccanapoli, Naples,Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website:Admission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Teatro San Carlo
Commissioned by King Charles of Bourbon and opened in 1737, this opera house is the oldest working theatre in Europe and is famous for its pitch-perfect acoustics. Its six gilded tiers and frescoed canopy make for a magnificent evening experience, especially amid a vociferous Neapolitan crowd. Guided tours of the building are given daily.
Address: , Via San Carlo 98, Naples, 80132Telephone: +39 81 797 2331.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 1030-1730, Sun 1030-1400.
Website: http://www.teatrosancarlo.itAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
This magnificent archaeological museum houses some of the world's most significant Greco-Roman antiquities and mosaics which sit alongside stunning Etruscan and Egyptian pieces from the royal Bourbon and Borgia collections. It also has numerous artefacts from Pompeii. In the Secret Room, visitors can see a collection of ancient erotic artwork.
Address: Historic centre, Piazza Museo Nazionale 19, Naples, 80135Telephone: +39 81 442 2149.
Opening times:
Daily 0900-1930.
Website: http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/museoarcheologiconazionaleAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Pompeii
Naples is a good base for exploring the ruins of Pompeii. Destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, the excavated Roman town lies about an hour away by train. Lost for more than 1,500 years, it has been a tourist site for over two centuries. Much of this has to do with the remarkable preservation of the town and its artefacts due to lack of air and moisture after its burial. For a taste of life in southern Italy nearly two millennia ago, Pompeii is as good as a time machine.
Address: , Pompeii, Naples,Telephone: +39 81 857 5111.
Opening times:
Mon-Sun 0830-1930 (1 Apr-31 Oct) Mon-Sun 0830-1830 (1 Nov-31 Mar).
Website: http://www.pompeiisites.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Chiesa Santa Maria della Sanità & Catacomba di San Gaudioso
Beneath the Chiesa Santa Maria della Sanità are the catacombs of St Gaudioso, a North African bishop who died in Naples in 452 AD. Accessed by a staircase beneath the altar, you can glimpse mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 5th century. English language tours should be booked at least four days in advance.
Address: Historic centre, Piazza Sanità 14, Naples, 80136Telephone: +39 81 744 3714.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1000-1300.
Website: http://www.santamariadellasanita.itAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: NoUNESCO: Yes
Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte
Set in lush gardens on a hill overlooking the city, this palace was built in 1738 by Charles of Bourbon and houses an outrageously extravagant collection of medieval, Renaissance and baroque art in its 160 rambling rooms. The great and the good are on the first floor, including Bellini, Botticelli, Masaccio, Titian and Caravaggio.
Address: , Via Miano 2, Naples, 80131Telephone: +39 81 749 9111.
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 1000-1300 and 1700-2000, Sat-Sun 1700-2000.
Website: http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/museodicapodimonteAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
San Domenico Maggiore
Dating back to Charles of Anjou's original commission in 1238, this is one of Naples' most important churches. Today it's a fusion of different styles, with remnants of the original church and elements of the 17th-century baroque makeover seen through its 1850 neo-Gothic restoration. The chapel inside is dedicated to Thomas Aquinas.
Address: Historic centre, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore 8, Naples, 80139Telephone: +39 81 459 298.
Opening times:
Mon-Sun 0930-1200 and 1700-1900.
Website:Admission Fees:
Yes.
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Castel Nuovo
The colossal castle on the city's seafront, known as Maschio Angioino, is as glorious as it is imposing. Built as the royal residence and military headquarters of the Angevins, it now houses a gallery with works from the Renaissance and other periods. There's also an armoury and its historic Palatine chapel.
Address: , Piazza Municipio, Naples, 80133Telephone: +39 81 795 7713.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0900-1900, Sun 0900-1400.
Website:Admission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Il Duomo
Built in the early 14th century, Naples' cathedral is dedicated to the city's patron, San Gennaro. His blood is kept vials to protect the city from a fatal Vesuvian eruption. The highlight is the baroque chapel of St Gennaro with its ceiling frescoes and Giuseppe de Ribera's canvas of St Gennaro Escaping the Furnace Unscathed.
Address: , Via del Duomo 147, Naples, 80138Telephone: +39 81 421 609.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0800-1230 and 1630-1900, Sun 0800-1330 and 1700-1930.
Website:Admission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Stazioni d’Arte
The city has sought to reinvigorate its metro stations by inviting renowned artists from across the globe to contribute installations, sculptures, photography, and more. Curated by Italy's foremost art critic, Achille Bonito Oliva, the once dirty and unwelcoming underground network has revitalised Naples' arts scene and helped to reduce congestion on the roads.
Address: , Various, Naples,Telephone: +39 81 227 2111.
Opening times:
Sun-Thu 0600-2300, Fri-Sat 0600-0200.
Website: http://www.metropolitanadinapoli.itAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Osservatorio Turistico
Address: Colonnato di San Francesco di Paola, Piazza del Plebiscito 12, Naples,Telephone: +39 081 247 1123.
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1900.
Website: http://www.comune.napoli.itThe official, municipal information office in the city is the Osservatorio Turistico, which is situated on the grand Piazza del Plebiscito, near Castel Nuovo.
Tourist passes
Valid for three days, the Naples Artecard (+39 6 3996 7650; www.campaniartecard.it) is an integrated card that offers free or reduced entry to more than 40 attractions in the city, including museums, archaeological sites and underground tours, and free travel on the city's transport system. The card is available from the train station, news agencies and hotels as well as participating museums.
