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For the Love of Napoli

by Caroline Franklin
(USA)

Naples

Naples

I can not tell you how much I loved Napoli. My sister and I stayed there for a week, we stayed right in a apartment on Via Del Tribunalli in the middle of everything in the historical center.

To us Napoli was beautiful so full of history, and yet so misunderstood. There is so so much to see there besides her poverty and the poverty is not her choice but her government has abandoned her and her people. They cant help themselves because they are so poor and don't have the tourism that the North, Rome, and the Amalfi coast gets, thanks to so much bad press.

Santa di Chira and the Museo Cappeella are unreal, San Gennaro (which we got to see the feast of),The Duomo, San Gennaro Catacombs, Capododimonte Museum, Cimitero delle Fontanelle, so beautiful,

The waterfront Castel Nuovo, Galleria Umberto, which is being fixed but it had to take a child to die for them to do it - so sad, the Palace which is starting to be fixed too. Pizza del Plebiscito under a little construction as well. The shopping everywhere: Via Pignasessa the real Napoli shopping, and the fancy places too. The fountain of the Giants, the walk along the waterfront. I can go on and on we saw it all and filmed and took pictures of everything.

I being a American Italian and raised in an Italian neighborhood of Brooklyn back in the sixties this to me was a flash back.

We loved it our families are from Napoli, Palma Campania, and Sorrento. We went there too and to Positano the second week. I drive so we had a car for everything and we could explore.

We always take apartments so we can cook a little, being we eat only Italian and can't pass up the fresh veggies and fish.

I am not afraid to drive the mountains or the tiny streets or in the city. lol.

I love all of Italy we will be going to your Venice next year, our first week to the North but we will return to the SOUTH the second week we just love it and the people. And I pray that in two years when My sister retires to come and spend two months a year in the country.

Napoli is real it's Italy too, she is a part of this country and to Italian Americans she is our heritage because so many of our families came from the south. So the connection is there for me - very much so.

I hope your country gives this city some help and I hope you do go to see her again and close your eyes to her poverty and open it to her history because she is not going away, she is part of your country, and so are her people who are warm happy and of course loud.

GOD BLESS YOU and yours, I will return to Italy she is in my blood forever, and friendly just like me I AM NEAPOLITANO forever. CAROLINE

Maria's reply: I loved reading your passionate and fiery defense of Naples. It's easy to tell that you have Neapolitan blood flowing through your veins :-)

Although I have never liked Naples very much you have inspired me to give the city another chance and I hope to visit again next summer.

I must admit that in many ways Naples is the city that is the most "Italian" of all. It is the Italy that most foreigners think of as being "typically" Italian and as you say it is loud, brash and passionate. It is hard to ignore and perhaps I've been wrong to try.

To rekindle a few memories or to get an idea of what the city is like if you've never visited have a look at this beautiful gallery.

Comments for For the Love of Napoli

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I love Naples
by: Anonymous

I'm crazy for Naples! I've been there 16 times. Everything you mentioned and so much more. I love the people. And, IMHO, Naples has the best food in Italy!

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Thank you
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your article. We are travelling to Naples after two weeks in Rome in October, our second visit, but staying in Sorrento. I love Naples, the atmosphere and the sights, we will make a return visit to the National Archaeological Museum as the main drive of all our holidays is history

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I loved Naples
by: Amanda Richards

I spent 2 weeks in the south last year and lived every minute of it. Landing in a Rome, I couldn't wait to leave it behind and when I got to Napoli, I finally felt like I was in Italy. Such a wonderful city full of architectural and cultural gems. Its true that it has not had the economic progress of the north and I would avoid the train station, but the people, the food, the shopping and the culture & architecture make up for it. Had a wonderful time there before moving in to the Amalfi coast. I can't wait to visit Napoli again soon

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For the Love Of Napoli
by: Anonymous

Last year my daughter, sister and I went to Italy. We landed in Rome then went to Florence by train. Then my daughter rented a car and we drove down to Sorrento, Positano and Capri. Also stopped in Naples. It is very sad to see that Naples (where my Mother's family is from) is so poor. They are beautiful, passionate people. My father's Mother was from Salerno and we did not have enough time to drive to Salerno but hope that someday we can return. I loved Italy and to be honest except for the Vatican- Rome was not my favorite. It was dirty - too commercial, etc. I loved the countryside and Sorrento, Positano and Capri and was happy to make a stop in Naples. Hope that the next time Naples has recovered. Love our heritage.

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