Naple's most iconic square is framed by Prefettura di Napoli a government office on the north, on…read morethe south by Palazzo Salerno (Sede del Comando Territoriale Sud - currently military offices), by the royal palace on the east, and Basilica of San Francesco di Paola to the west. The last two are open for visitors and pretty quiet on an April evening. The port area and waterfront public park Giardini del Molosiglio are nearby within walking distance to the southeast. As magnificent and grand as these surrounding buildings and others nearby are, this piazza also very much a piece of the local cloth. Where school groups and tourists frequent during the day, is open space in the evening for kids riding bikes and playing soccer, for families taking walks with strollers and dogs. While I was there it was fun to see a group of students singing along to a couple musicians on a guitar and mic, a few kids flying kites, the sun setting to the west casting a warm glow onto the structures in the square. Fun facts: - named after a plebiscite (aka referendum or survey) which united Naples with the rest of Italy. - Joachim Murat, bro-in-law of Napoleon had planned to dedicate the square to the emperor though when the Bourbon rulers were restored to the throne plans changed. Hence today the two statues in from of the church are Bourbon kings Charles III and his son Ferdinand I. They also instructed the completion of the neoclassical basilica along this square. - there's a local game/tradition of attempting to cross the square blindfolded starting from the center of the main entrance of the royal palace with the goal of walking directly in the middle of the two statues. Legend is that it's an impossible feat, due to the irregular shape of the square, uneven cobblestones and slight slope. - the square became a parking lot in 1963 to deal with the overflow of cars in the city, then reconfigured back to pedestrian only in 1994.

It's the main public square in front of the Royal Palace of Naples. It's very close to Stazione…read moreMarittima terminal where many cruise ships dock. I'd say this square is about a 10 minute walk away. There's a pedestrian walkway that makes it easy. This is another great walkable city, and much easier than navigating the narrow roads by car. It's a lively square full of tourists and local residents. There's much to do and see here. I think even the pickiest eater will find something delicious at any of the restaurants and bakeries around it. What attracted me the most were the statues in the niches between the arched columns of the palace. The stone work was also very impressive. This type of volcanic rock was readily used for construction throughout the city during that time period. It's very evident here. You'll continue to see it as you walk through the historical city center. It's a must just for the historical significance of it. You might as well see this plaza while walking around the city center.

A hike up Mount Vesuvius is the perfect way to get panoramic views of the Naples area, and wow, are…read morethey stunning! The hike itself is straight up and not paved for one mile there and back. I would not advise you to try and make it to the top if you aren't athletic. Just go up a little ways and get some photos. If you do make it to the top, you can enjoy a nice gift shop with souvenirs and even a glass of wine. They do provide bathrooms at the entrance but they were disgusting.

Mount Vesuvius is pretty bare and dusty; nothing polished about it. You feel where you are the…read moreentire time. It's not long, but it's enough to slow you down. At the top, you're right at the crater. Just you, the edge, and a very real reminder of what it is. A beautiful view of the Bay of Naples behind you but at the same time knowing it's that same volcano.... The one that buried Pompeii changes the tone a bit. It's not dramatic; just heavy. Worth doing the hike but just don't expect it to feel super touristy.

Piazza Tasso is a lovely square in Sorrento…read more Lucky to stumble across a local festival on our cruise ship tour to Sorrento and Pompeii. Our tour guide was not sure what they were celebrating. Take time to check out the beautiful baroque yellow church and everything Limoncello while you are in the neighborhood. The lemons in Sorrento are enormous and the geography reflects their impact. Limoncello granitas. Lemon pasta. Lemon biscotti. Lemons on everything from dish towels, baskets and bags to headbands. My sister-in-law even bought a pair of swim shorts that were covered with a large lemons in the pattern. Nice for a short stop while exploring Sorrento. Tip: There is a bathroom next to the church. It takes one euro each.

This is a great square in the center of Sorrento which have a bunch of great shops around it, great…read moreplaces to eat, and their Main Street which, for the most part, is closed to all car traffic except for security and business support. The smaller walking streets around it are pretty cool too for all kinds of things and souvenirs if they are desired. There are some great places for coffee too. The square can get pretty busy with cruise ships coming in and out of Naples and Sorrento so if you like it a little less crowded, get there early or in the off season.

Intriguing architectural facade for appreciation if you're in the neighborhood!…read more Commissioned by Nicola Moscati, marquis of Poppano in 1738, the Rococo design is attributed to Ferdinando Sanfelice, who connected two existing palazzo buildings with an imaginatively devised double staircase, also used in other buildings by the same architect. This was referred to as "falcon's wings" due to the curving arched outline of the ascending staircases on either side of an octagonal base. In the 19th century the lower apartments of the building were purchased by businessman Tommaso Atienza, nicknamed lo Spagnolo (the Spaniard), hence the building's current name. This is quick walk-by situation, neither the building nor stairs are open to the public. You can walk through the base of the stairs from one side to the other, both sides used as a parking lot currently as of April 2026.

One of the best experiences I've ever had. We had an archaeologist-led private tour and couldn't…read morehave asked for more. Amazing history, absolutely huge - I didn't understand the scale of Pompeii until we were there. Worth the trip to Napoli to visit Pompeii alone! Spectacular 10/10 highly recommend!!

The Scavi di Pompei is the English name for the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which is an ancient…read morecity once buried by ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It's one of the most remarkable sites in Italy for visiting, and I would suggest at least make it a half day trip or a minimum three hours visit here.

Opulent, over the top, grandiose, extravagant... These…read morewords don't do justice to all I saw today. With 280+ acres this place is 5 stories tall and over: 1.48 MILLION SQ FT, 1200 rooms, 1000 fireplaces, 1700 windows!!! The backyard is just as lavish as the inside of the home; I've never seen a residence like this. As I write this I'm still at a loss for words at the sheer scale of the property. We spent 5 hours here and logged over 10 miles walked! If you have the chance it's worth doing, especially if you like history, architecture or just getting your steps in with unique things to see.

This is a stunning place with amazing grounds and gardens! Unfortunately, the inside was closed,…read morehowever, the gardens are lovely, and it's also nice to pay 10 Euros per person for a golf cart to take your party up and down the hill to see all the gardens without having to walk uphill in the heat.

Visiting Pompeii Archaeological Park was like stepping back in time. I loved wandering the ancient…read morestreets and learning about the history of this incredible place. It was both fascinating and emotional. Walking the same paths people traveled nearly 2,000 years ago was surreal, but seeing the casts of the victims who were preserved by the eruption brought tears to my eyes. It was a powerful reminder of the human tragedy that occurred there. Be prepared for a lot of walking, and some of the cobblestone paths can be rough and uneven in spots, so comfortable shoes are a must. Despite that, it was a truly amazing and unique experience that I'll never forget. If you love history, this is one of those places that leaves a lasting impression.

Beautiful historical site dating back to the time before Christ. The last time I was here was in…read more1985 and was so long ago that I really forgot most of what I had seen. It was like I was seeing it for the first time. This is an archaeological site with a story to tell and one where I highly recommend that you get a guided tour as the story they have to tell is super interesting, very educational and entertaining. Doing it yourself, which I usually am a big fan of, is something you should avoid in this case. The guides are the storyteller's here and do an excellent job of weaving in key events and dates and the lifestyle of the Roman people that lived here at the time of the second eruption. They also go into great detail on the type of construction they had at that time and how they rebuilt the structures after the major earthquakes that occurred in front of the major eruption that happened in 79 AD. Added details, which I was not even aware of was their was a first major eruption that occurred with Mount Vesuvius in 2000 years BC! Who knew? This is just an example of the type of details they go into which makes this guided tour so fascinating. If you are a fan of history as I am and love seeing ruins and how people live thousands of years ago, then this is an absolute must visit. It's one of the best archaeological sites I've ever visited in my 69 years of being on this earth and being a seasoned traveler on top of that.