Description
Passing through the cornerstones of Neapolitan cultural life in the past and present, this rich and stimulating itinerary explores the enchantment, elegance, variety and historical and urban complexity of the Neapolitan capital, a World Heritage Site and the keeper of almost three millennia of history.
The stages
Each stage of this route honours a different aspect of Naples and its heritage, from the cult of food to the worship of elegance, from art to history and much more. The various cultural influences that led to the formation of the Naples we know today can be explored, experienced and discovered on this tour, visiting the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), the Museo Duca di Martina (Duca di Martina Museum), the Certosa di San Martino (Charterhouse of San Martino) and Castel Sant'Elmo (Sant'Elmo Castle). In between, visitors can walk through the beating heart of the city, from Caffè Gambrinus to Palazzo Mannajouolo, from the Chiesa di Santa Teresa a Chiaia al Quartiere (Church of Santa Teresa a Chiaia) to the Quartiere del Vomero (Vomero district).
Visit to the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)
Duration: 2 hours
At the heart of Naples' political life for over four hundred years, from 1600 to 1946, the Royal Palace is a treasure trove of art and memorabilia, a key symbol of one of Europe's most prosperous kingdoms.
Short break at Gran Caffè Gambrinus - 15 minutes
A historic meeting place for both Italian and international intellectuals, politicians and entrepreneurs, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus is one of Italy's most renowned examples of a literary café. Founded in 1860, it thrived until 1938, when it was deemed a meeting place for anti-fascists and was closed. After the First World War, part of its historic rooms hosted the Banco di Napoli (Bank of Naples), until the Sergio family took it over in the early 1970s to restore it to its former glory.
Walk to Via Chiaia and Via dei Mille - 45 minutes
This ancient natural waterway at the base of Mount Echia, in the San Ferdinando district, Via Chiaia led to the western end of Naples, brushing against the coast. Together with Via dei Mille, honouring Garibaldi's soldiers who fought for the unification of Southern Italy in 1860, Via Chiaia is part of a pair of streets that should not be missed by anyone visiting Naples. Along these two streets are some of the most extraordinary historical monuments in Naples, including churches, bridges, theatres and noble palaces.
Short stop at Palazzo Mannajuolo - 15 minutes
Found on Via Filangieri in the Chiaia district, Palazzo Mannajuolo is one of the most remarkable examples of Art Nouveau architecture in the city. Constructed between 1909 and 1911, the structure reflects modernist and neo-Baroque elements, with an iconic spiral staircase, embossed marble and wrought iron banister.
Long stop at the Chiesa di Santa Teresa a Chiaia - 30 minutes
Founded around 1602 by the Spanish community of the Discalced Carmelites, the church was then rebuilt several times thanks to the generosity of Neapolitan nobles, representing a valuable testimony of Baroque religious architecture.
Lunch break in the Vomero district - 45 minutes
Vomero, a hilly district and symbol of the Neapolitan free style, went from being almost uninhabited, and far from the city, to being promoted as a noble, bourgeois and even royal residence starting from the 1800s. An area full of historical monuments and essential attractions, including the Duca di Martina Museum, Castel Sant’Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino, from which you can enjoy one of the most extraordinary views of the city.
Show moreVisit to the Duca di Martina Museum
Duration: 2 hours
A meeting point between history and nature, the Duca di Martina Museum, placed like a jewel in the magnificent setting of Villa Floridiana, was once a Bourbon royal residence and today houses one of the most renowned and extensive collections of decorative arts in Italy.
Show moreVisit to the Certosa di San Martino
Duration: 2 hours
Crown of the Vomero Hill, this Carthusian complex offers not only one of the most iconic and incredible views of the city, a truly breathtaking bird's eye view, but also a rich and fascinating museum tour to discover the history of Naples.
Show moreVisit to Castel Sant’Elmo
Duration: 2 hours
A “rugged and jagged” mountain on which to build a military citadel, which later became a military prison and a symbol of oppression. Today, returned to the civil and cultural development of Naples, Castel Sant'Elmo offers itself to visitors as a multifaceted place for dialogue between arts, disciplines and cultures.
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