Although it's a fairly dirty port city, Naples has always impressed travelers with its beautiful bay and setting. Nearby
Mount Vesuvius forms the backdrop to the city and bay. Naples is the home of Pulcinella (the ancestor of Punch and Judy), the Great Caruso, pizza and the matchless actress Sophia Loren. It has benefited from an energetic mayor who has instituted a number of tourist-friendly programs, including closing off a number of piazzas to vehicular traffic, extending museum hours and cleaning up the main port of Molo Beverello, where boats leave for the nearby islands.
Not to be missed are a walk through the historic center, where you'll see the church of Santa Chiara and its gorgeous majolica-tiled cloister; the chapel of San Saero, with its superb marble statuary; the beautiful 16th-century church of San Giacomo degli Spagnoli; and the street of San Gregoria Armeno, where craftspeople create the famous Neapolitan creche figures.
Naples has many museums that are worth a visit. Among the standouts are the National Archaeological Museum, which has a splendid collection of mosaics and frescoes and the largest classical sculpture ever found, the Farnese Bull, dating from around 200 BC. Within the museum is the Secret Cabinet, containing erotic art from Pompeii and Herculaneum. This chamber is open to the public by reserved entrance only. Other highlights include the Museo Nazionale della Ceramica (pottery) and the Museo and Galleria di Capodimonte with works by Renaissance and baroque masters (note the impressive ceiling). There are also several castles of note (including Maschio Angioino, Castel dell'Ovo and Sant'Elmo) and two royal palaces (one at Piazza Plebiscito, where you can visit the royal apartments, and another at Capodimonte, where you can see a good museum and walk through the manicured grounds).
Unfortunately, the city does merit a few words of warning. Pickpocketing and purse snatching are rampant. Do not wear flashy jewelry, carry much cash in your wallet (or even carry a purse or wallet at all, for that matter) or wander around after dark. And we don't recommend driving in Naples, because it can sometimes be a scary experience. If you do decide to bring a car into the city, make sure you leave nothing of value in it, not even in the trunk. Break-ins are common.
You could easily spend up to two nights touring Naples, although it can be seen on day trips if you're staying elsewhere on the Sorrentine Peninsula. For most people, no trip to Naples would be complete without a trip to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii or Herculaneum. Just north of Naples in the town of Caserta, you'll find an impressive Bourbon palace, built in the 1700s, that rivals Versailles. The medieval town of Caserta Vecchia nearby has an 11th-century castle and a 12th-century cathedral. Take time to walk through its ancient streets. Also nearby are the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Naples is 144 mi/232 km southeast of Rome.
