Things to Do in Naples

Plebiscito Square

This square is one of the first stops in Naples, almost like the most central point where all roads lead. On one side, there’s the Royal Palace, and on the other, the San Francesco di Paola Church, inspired by the Pantheon, making this the spot in Naples that most resembles other Italian cities. If it weren’t for this square, I feel like Naples would completely fall outside my perception of Italy. Especially at night, the statues of the Naples kings at the Royal Palace look quite magnificent, as if they’re about to come to life and walk through history towards you. So, I recommend seeing it both day and night. The Christmas Eve lights on the church side also added a beautiful ambiance. I would’ve been much happier if we hadn’t come across the restoration work.

Galleria Umberto I

One of the most attractive places with its glass-covered dome. It’s the place I remember most from my first visit. One of the first shopping malls in the world, it’s named after the King of Naples. The glass dome and ceilings make the interior very bright and spacious. It mostly houses expensive brands, along with a few places for food and coffee. I can’t help but think that McDonald’s creates a bit of contrast. The design of the interior and the carvings on the walls will interest you more than the shops. It’s also a good shelter from the rain. I remember there were some astrological symbols from my first visit, but this time I couldn’t find them as I didn’t quite remember what I was looking for. Maybe they were covered for protection.

Garibaldi Square

While reading hotel reviews, someone had written that this place is like Eminönü in Naples. I realized how accurate that was when I arrived. Vendors are everywhere, and in the evening, everyone packs up, and it feels like life here always moves fast and in a rush. However, unlike Eminönü, there’s a shopping mall inside the train and metro stations here, with stores, markets, restaurants, and cafes. Modernity and chaos are intertwined.

We also learn the name Garibaldi from our bus driver. He was a great general who fought to unite Southern and Northern Italy.

Via Toledo

A narrower street compared to İstiklal, but it rivals İstiklal when it comes to shops—perhaps even better—but it doesn’t quite feel like Nişantaşı. “Via” means street in Italian, so you’ll see it a lot throughout this writing. Anyway, this road is, of course, a must for shopping and snacks. Also, it’s a necessary route to reach different spots. This was the path we used most frequently, and we could never quite finish walking it. If you take a look down the side streets while walking on this road, you’ll also spot laundry hanging between the alleys, which is one of the things most mentioned about Naples. On these side streets, there are many old buildings, and several churches along the road. Also, if you visit around Christmas time, note that you’ll need to walk this road to check out the Christmas markets.

Castel dell’Ovo

Located by the seaside, this castle is worth seeing for its free entry and the views it offers. The name means “Egg Castle.” There’s a legend that a magical egg was buried under the castle during its construction, and if the egg breaks, the castle will fall. The castle’s name comes from this legend—or maybe it’s the other way around, I’m not sure 🙂

The castle, which also hosts various exhibitions, is within walking distance from the city center. It might be nice to take a photo of it from a distance at night.

Castel Nuovo

Located right across from the ferries to Capri, we only saw this castle from the outside. Honestly, it didn’t seem as appealing as Castel dell’Ovo, so we didn’t feel the urge to go inside. By the way, I wouldn’t say Castel dell’Ovo is that interesting either, especially after visiting Bodrum Castle… 🙂 Now, as I’m writing, the information I’ve gathered about Castel Nuovo gives me the impression that it promises more on the inside than its exterior suggests.

The castle, which is also within walking distance from the center, has an entrance fee, though luckily, it’s only 5 euros. Just a note for those who want to visit.

Spaccanapoli

Upon the recommendation of an Italian friend, we visited this area, which means “the street that splits Naples in two.” As you walk down Via Toledo, you turn left and start climbing a steep hill. I’m not exactly sure which areas this region covers, but you can head to the observation point across from the Church of Santa Lucia Vergine al Monte via Via Pasquale Scura, opposite Via Benedetto Croce, to photograph both the historical and modern faces of Naples. If you climb a bit higher, you can reach the San Martino Museum, which was also recommended to us but we didn’t have time to visit. On the same hill, there’s also Sant’ Elmo Castle. You can take the funicular to reach here as well. If you look at the road you came up from, it really does seem like it splits the city in two—at least, that’s what the view from the photos suggests. Unfortunately, we couldn’t notice this from where we were. Before going, if you look at images of Spaccanapoli, you won’t miss the point of focus when you visit.

Churches in Naples

Many magnificent churches are located on Via Benedetto Croce, one of my favorite streets, and the parallel Via dei Tribunali. Of course, you shouldn’t compare Naples’ churches to Rome’s, but they have their own grandeur. Via Benedetto Croce is one of the busiest streets, with many patisseries, restaurants, and street vendors. It’s also a nice opportunity to escape the crowds of Via Toledo. If you walk this road in the evening, the churches lit up in the dark will look even more beautiful.

Since it was Christmas time, there were also unique artworks called “presepe,” symbolizing the birth of Jesus, in the churches, Castel dell’Ovo, and Via San Gregorio Armeno. These are mostly finely detailed small figurines that depict not just the birth of Jesus but an entire village, covering quite a large area.

In addition to this, there are tours in Naples Sotterranea showing the underground ruins of Naples, which was recommended to us, but we didn’t have the chance to visit.