Naples Italy

I have four days between my trip to Munich and the start of my Sicily tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT).  I decided to go to Naples, where I have always wanted to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  I took an 1 1/2 hour flight on easyJet from Munich to Naples.  EasyJet is a budget airline that flies all over Europe.  It was modeled after Southwest Airlines in the United States.  It provides a convenient and affordable way to fly between mid- and small-size airports.

I landed in Naples on a late Monday morning.  Through my research I found that you can take the Alibus from the airport to the city center for only 5 euros.  That is much more affordable than a taxi which will cost about 30 euros.  The bus stops about 500m from the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) called Serendipity that I booked.  I had trouble finding my way initially but eventually found an old building next to McDonald's.  It was deceiving on the outside because it looks nothing like the pictures I saw on the internet.  I was welcomed by Alessandra the owner.  When I entered the B&B everything looks modern.

I picked Serendipity because it is convenient to everything and everywhere I wanted to go.  It is located in Piazza Garibaldi, the main square of the city.

Entrance to the B&B

B&B Apartment

I come to Naples because there are two places I want to go:  Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  I saved them for days 2 and 3 respectively.  On the first day I walked around the city.  Two things I was surprised by:  the number of non-white immigrants (mostly Africans and Indians) and how dirty the city is.  Granted, it is a very big and old city but that should not preclude it from overflowing trash cans and litter in Garibaldi Square and the nearby streets.  

I was told that the Naples Cathedral or Duomo is a must-see.  Alessandra, the hostess, show me where all the popular landmarks are.  They are clustered around the city center.  

One of the streets in the city center

Outside the duomo

Another city street

Overflowing trash

Tourists on the streets

Inside the Cathedral

One of the beauty of visiting Naples is the food.  My B&B hostess gave me a list of suggested restaurants in the area.  One of them is a pizza restaurant.  Of course, Naples is famous for its Neapolitan pizza.  I went to the Franco Gallifuoco restaurant and the crust of the pizza is the best I ever had.  I think it has a lot to do with the dough and the wood-fired oven they use.

Pizza chef and the wood-fired oven in the background

My Margherita pizza

The Franco Callifuoco restaurant

I had many delicious meals in Naples, all recommended by my hostess.  One of the most memorable recommendation is a pastry shop just below my room.  It's called "Attanasio" Vico Ferrovia 1.  Here's a Google map of its location:  Sfogliatelle Attanasio.

Here are all the recommendations she gave (from a WhatsApp message):

Food tips 🥐🍕🍝

RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA

Close to Serendipity 

“Franco Gallifuoco” (pizzeria and restaurant)

Corso A. Lucci 195

“Mimí alla Ferrovia” (restaurant)

Via Alfonso d’Aragona 19/21

https://www.mimiallaferrovia.it

“La cantina dei mille” (restaurant and pizzeria)

Piazza G. Garibaldi 126

“Amoroso 1876” (restaurant and pizzeria)

Piazza G. Garibaldi 121

Around the city

“Diego Vitagliano” via Santa Lucia 78 (pizzeria)

“I decumani” (pizzeria)

Via dei Tribunali

“Signora Bettola” (trattoria)

via Medina 72 

el +39 081 377 8653

“La locanda del Gesù Vecchio” (trattoria)

Via Giovanni Paladino 26

“Officina del mare” 

Piazzetta dei marinari 20 (on the seafront nearby Castel dell’Ovo) only fish or pasta with seafood

BREAKFAST

“Attanasio” Vico Ferrovia 1

is the most famous pastries shop in Napoli, from Serendipity just turn on the corner

(Close on Monday)

“Granato” piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi 

“Cuori di sfogliatella” piazza Garibaldi 93

Sfogliatelle Attanasio

A couple of days later when I came back to Naples I tried to go to the Sansevero Chapel and Museum.  Unfortunately I could not get in because all the tickets were sold out that day.  If I had known it was so popular I would have booked the ticket in advance.  This is a "must-see" if you ever go to Naples.  Here is a link to its website:  https://www.museosansevero.it/en

Then I decided to walk to the nearby National Archaeological Museum of Naples.  It has many beautiful sculptures from different ancient periods of history in Naples.

My next two stops are Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.