Holiday lettings in Naples

There is a great variety of accommodation on offer in Naples, and the distinctive contrasts between each neighbourhood mean they invariably portray the city in different lights. The historic centre of Naples is a maze of tiny alleyways and lively piazzas, its epicenter located from the coastline to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in the north. Quartieri Spagnoli is the home of Neapolitan life and a fantastic neighbourhood from which to gain a grasp of the real Naples. Centro Storico is another quintessentially Neapolitan neighbourhood, although not for the faint-hearted. Parts can seem run-down and after dark there can be a certain edge, but this shouldn’t stop you exploring this vibrant neighbourhood at the nucleus of ancient Naples. Hugging the shoreline is the upmarket neighbourhood of Chiaia, home to wealthy Romans and visiting tourists. Designer boutiques, art galleries, mansions and parks characterize the area, and the bars and restaurants draw the fashionistas. Vomero, a green residential neighbourhood that can be reached by funicular, is another beautiful neighbourhood well worth exploring.

No trip to Naples should overlook the extensive collection of ancient Roman artifacts and historic remains in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Another must is the preserved cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the famous victims of the devastating volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The Museo di Capodimonte (formerly a Bourbon palace) has a vast collection of works from the Renaissance painters. During the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, Naples was an important place of culture and politics. Naples is second only to Rome in Italy for religious fervency and the number and elegance of its churches reflect this. Catacombe di San Severo was built in the late 16th century and stands on the foundations of a former monastery that was founded by Naples’ first bishop. Here you will find a stunning wall fresco from the fourth century depicting St Peter and San Severo. Another religious site worth visiting is Cappella Sansevero. This chapel was built in 1590, but thanks to an eccentric revamp in 1749, is filled with the work of some of Italy’s most loved sculptors.

The Neapolitan love for food is much-celebrated and their reputation for pizza unmatched. Other famous dishes such as parmigiana di melanzane (aubergine parmigiano) - a sumptuous dish of fried aubergine, tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil and parmesan - and gnocchi alla sorrentina also originated in the city. Seafood, too, is plentiful – with mussels, polpette and cozze featuring on most menus. Wonderful arancini (fried balls of risotto rice) and crocche di patate (fried potatoes mashed with herbs, then lightly coated in breadcrumbs and fried) is also available from most street vendors. Another much-loved dish is ragu, a slow-cooked meat sauce served with either pasta or chunks of bread. Naples is also famous for ice cream and you can find a stunning array of flavours at most gelateria. The types of ice cream are broadly separated by either crema (creamy) or frutta (fruit). The most popular flavours include nocciola (hazelnut), stracciatella (plain ice cream with chunks of chocolate) and fragola e limone (strawberry and lemon).

Naples is a major transport hub for southern Italy, attracting hordes of visitors on their way to visit Pompeii and the the Amalfi Coast. You can also easily take an overnight trip to the enchanting town of Amalfi or go a little further afield and travel to the island of Sardinia. While Naples is a large city, the vast majority can be witnessed on foot. The majority of travelers forgo all public transport other than a bus or two or a ride on one of the feted funiculars. There is a metro service in the city, but this is mainly used by commuters. The traffic in Naples can make bus travel unbearable and in the vast majority of cases it is quicker and easier to cover the distance on foot. You can buy tickets from newsstands and Tabacs, and simply stamp them when boarding the service. There are four funicular railways – Centrale, Chiaia, Mergellina and Montesanto. These all only take you up to Vomero, but are still considered a quintessential Naples experience.