Naples, italy
Attractions Guide

There's a saying that while Rome may be the heart of Italy, Naples is the soul of Italy. Naples is located approximately 3 hours south of Rome via train or car, and is the nearest major city and transit hub to Pompeii and Capri, and also usually used as a gateway city to Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Naples is a coastal city and is the third largest city in Italy, with a history of habitation stretching back thousands of years. As a home to many important historical structures, Naples’s historic city center is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The most beautiful plaza in Naples is the vast Piazza del Plebiscito, which hosts the long grand neoclassical colonnades of a royal basilica on one side, and the Royal Palace of Naples on the other.

Royal Basilica

Naples’ royal basilica is the Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola, with its stunning Greek-style columns rounding around half of the square, somewhat reminiscent of St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. In the center of the colonnades is the basilica’s large domed structure, reminiscent of Rome’s Pantheon. Inside the church are many more columns and magnificent details.

Royal Palace

The 17th century Royal Palace of Naples was a former royal residence used historically by the rulers of the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Inside this lavish palace you can admire the majestic marble stairways of the Court of Honor, and the elegantly decorated ballroom, called the Hall of Hercules. The palace also contains the lovely Royal Apartments with original historic furnishings.

San Carlo Theatre

Attached to the Royal Palace of Naples is the San Carlo Theatre, an extravagant 18th century opera house with ornately decorated interiors. The theatre still hosts operas, orchestras, and ballets, as well as guided tours to see the theatre’s beautiful interior.

Galleria Umberto I

The Galleria Umberto I of Naples is an extravagant covered shopping mall built in the 19th century, with an intricate iron and class vaulted ceiling. The design of this stunning shopping gallery is based on the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II of Milan.

Cappella Sanservero Chapel

One of the top attractions in Naples is the incredible Museo Cappella Sansevero, a 16th century chapel known for its collection of important rococo-style sculptures, made by 18th century Italian artists. The sculptures at the chapel are very elegantly displayed, and the chapel’s walls are highly embellished with fine details.

Additionally, the chapel’s ceiling is painted in highly ornate frescoes. Combined together, all of these highly aesthetic elements make the chapel a truly magnificent sight to behold.

Castel Nuovo

Naples’ Castel Nuovo (New Castle) is actually quite old, originally built in the 13th century. The New Castle is located just behind the Royal Palace located along the harbor. The Castel Nuovo’s exterior consists of massive imposing medieval walls, making it very heavily fortified.

Within the castle you can admire its historic rooms, including the Hall of Barons, an armory hall, and a civic museum of art. This castle also hosts several lovely little old chapels, including the Palatine Chapel which once hosted frescoes by the famous Giotto.

Ovo Castle

On the tiny island/peninsula of Megaride connected to Naples by a small bridge is the Ovo Castle, an imposing medieval fortress and former royal residence with a long history. The Ovo Castle is very picturesque when viewed against the sea, and you can climb to the castle’s rooftop for amazing panoramic views over the Naples coastline.

Castel Sant’Elmo

On a hill above Naples’ historic city center is the Castel Sant’Elmo, a giant medieval fortress with steep star-shaped walls. Due to its prime hilltop located, this castle’s walls provide breathtaking panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius, and the surrounding islands. The castle also hosts a small museum of 20th century Neapolitan art.

Certosa di San Martino

Adjacent to the Castel Sant’Elmo is the Certosa di San Martino (Charterhouse of St. Martin), a large baroque-style Carthusian monastery complex. Inside the monastery you can admire strikingly elaborate and lavish interiors decorate with beautiful frescoes.

This monastery’s most famous feature is its vast cloister, which hosts gardens surrounded by elegant arched columns. Certosa di San Martino also hosts a smaller cloister, as well as a museum of fine art.

Napoli Sotterranea

The Underground Naples (or Napoli Sotterranea) tour is located near the Cappella Sansevero and is the top underground tour in Naples. This tour ventures through an eery network of underground passageways and tunnels originally constructed by the Ancient Greeks. Within these tunnels you’ll see stunning illumined ancient Roman aqueducts, as well as air raid shelters used during WWII.

The Napoli Sotterranea tour also includes a visit to the remains of an ancient Roman theater used by Emperor Nero.

Bourbon Tunnels

Just behind the Royal Palace are the incredible Bourbon Tunnels, which actually connect to the Royal Palace via underground tunnels. This network of underground tunnels connect the palace to military barracks, as well as the stunning illuminated waters of an old manmade underground lake (see along the longer tour).

The Bourbon Tunnels were also used during WWII and contain bomb shelters, dilapidated old cars, and other interesting sights. You’ll need to book a tour to see this amazing underground world.

Catacombs of San Gennaro

To the north of Naples’ historic center are the city’s most popular catacombs, the Catacombs of San Gennaro (St. Januarius). The many spooky passageways of these catacombs were constructed in the 3rd-4th centuries, and are available for exploration via a guided tour.

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are actually the largest Christian catacomb complex in Southern Italy. You’ll find this catacomb complex located below the Basilica dell’Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio.

Catacombs of San Gaudioso

Also located north of Central Naples (near the Catacombs of San Gennaro) are the Catacombs of San Gaudioso (or Saint Gaudiosus). The entrance to this catacomb is located below a grand staircase within the Basilica di Santa Maria della Sanita, a beautiful church. The crypt room below the staircase and altar of the basilica is very elegantly decorated.

The tour of the catacombs takes you to ancient tunnels beneath the church which were built in the 4th-5th centuries. Many ancient frescoes are painted on the walls of the catacomb tunnels.

Naples Cathedral

After the Capella Sansevero, Naples’ most popular church to visit is the Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta, which is also known as the Duomo di Napoli, or Naples Cathedral. The facade of the 14th century Naples Cathedral is quite photogenic, combining several architectural styles. Within the cathedral are lavish interiors and frescoes.

Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro

The Naples Cathedral’s main attraction is its Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, an extravagantly decorated baroque chapel with breathtaking frescoes painted on its dome by the great Domenichino. Today this chapel is a museum hosting religious relics, silver busts, and a collection of priceless jewels and artifacts.

Church of Gesu Nuovo

Naples’ Church of Gesu Nuovo (New Jesus) has a very eccentric exterior, which is covered in small repeating stone pyramids. Inside the church is quite lavish with many fine details and intricate frescoes, including a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper.

Monastery of Santa Chiara

Just across from the Gesu Nuovo Church is the massive 14th century Monastery of Santa Chiara. Santa Chiara is most famous for its gorgeous cloister, which is quite large and filled with elegant and vibrant Majorca tile designs. These Rococo-style Majorca tiles are very colorful with highly intricate designs depicting many different scenes and flower vines.

The Majorca tiles of Santa Chiara cover many columns, benches, and walls surrounding beautiful gardens, making the cloister a highly photogenic and unique attraction.

Church of Saint Anthony in Posillipo Terrace View

Built on the hillside near the western shoreline of Naples is the Church of Saint Anthony in Posillipo, a popular tourist attraction due to its balcony terrace offering breathtaking views over Naples.

The views from the terrace just below the Church of St. Anthony look out directly over the coastline of Naples, with massive Mount Vesuvius in the background. The best times to enjoy the views from this terrace are before sunset during golden hour, or at night when Naples lights up.

Naples National Archaeological Museum

Naples’ most popular museum is the Naples National Archaeological Museum, which houses an incredible collection of ancient artifacts and treasures. The museum specializes in ancient Roman artifacts from the surrounding area including from Ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum.

This archaeological museum contains many Greek and Roman antiquities, including the famous Farnese Marbles which are ancient Roman copies of grandiose sculptures originally sculpted by the Ancient Greeks, for which the originals no longer exist.

Other major artifacts at this museum include the collection of Herculaneum papyri, the stunningly intricate Farnese Cup, and a significant collection of ancient Bronze statues. This museum also houses stunning mosaics around at Pompeii, as well as one of Italy’s largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts.

National Museum of Capodimonte

Among Italy’s largest museums is the National Museum of Capodimonte, housed within the opulent Palace of Capodimonte in Northern Naples. This museum hosts the foremost collection of Neapolitan paintings and decorative art, with a significant collection of Italian fine art including works by Titian and Raphael.

The Capodimonte Museum also hosts a significant portion of the ancient Roman Farnese marble sculptures, sharing the collection with the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

Zevallos Stigliano Palace Museum

Near the Galleria Umberto I you can visit the Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano, a grandiose 17th century baroque-style palace which now operates as a museum. This museum displays an impressive collection of fine art and sculptures set amongst opulent interiors.

Pignatelli Museum

To the west of Central Naples is the impressive Villa Pignatelli, a neoclassical home set behind a beautiful garden and palm trees. This grand 19th century structure is quite photogenic and now serves as a museum. Inside the Villa Pignatelli is elegantly decorated with fine details and historic furnishings, as well as a carriage museum.

Palazzo Donn’Anna Palace

One of Naples’ most photogenic attractions is the Palazzo Donn’Anna (also known as La Villa Sirena), which is located right on the water in Western Naples. This historic palace has a very beautiful and interesting appearance due to its elegant architecture and partially-dilapidated unfinished look. You can admire this palace from the popular beach located just east of the palace.

Parco Virgiliano

Along the coast the western outskirts of Naples is the hilltop Parco Virgiliano (or Park of Remembrance), which is popular for its incredible views over the coast. From the Parco Virgiliano you can enjoy stunning views overlooking Nisidia Island, which is connected to Naples via a bridge. You can also enjoy views over the scenic Baia Trentaremi bay from this hilltop park.

Pausilypon Archaeological Site

Below the northern side of Parco Virgiliano is the entrance to the Cave of Sejanus (or Grotta di Seiano), an ancient Roman tunnel and walkway lined with arches that travels beneath the hilltop park. The Cave of Sejanus is about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long, connecting pedestrians to the ancient Roman Pausilypon Archaeological Site along the coast.

Among the ruins at this site is a well-preserved ancient theatre, the adjacent multi-level Villa Vedius Pollio, an odeon, and the remains of several other ancient Roman structures.

Isola la Gaiola

Nearby the Pausilypon Archaeological Site (but accessed from the other side of the hill) is the Gaiola Underwater Park, which is centered around a tiny island just off the coast. From Gaiola Beach you can view the dilapidated villa of the allegedly cursed Isola la Gaiola, which is actually two miniature islands connected via a tiny footbridge.

While visitors aren’t allowed on the island, the Isola la Gaiola is a very picturesque sight. Underwater in the area around the island are the remains of ancient Roman ruins, which you can see by taking a snorkeling or boat tour from the beach.

Just west of Naples and Posillipo in the suburb of Pozzuoli are the remains of the stunning Flavian Amphitheater of Pozzuoli. Interestingly, this structure was designed by the same architects as the famous Roman Colosseum, and this amphitheater is the third largest in Italy. Exploring the chambers if this ancient amphitheater is quite an enjoyable experience.

Off the coast of the northern Bay of Naples are the islands of Ischia and Procida. Ischia is the larger of the two and located further off the coast, connected to the mainland via ferry services from the ports of Naples and Pozzuoli.

Ischia is a popular tourist attraction due to its incredible Aragonese Castle, which sits atop a tiny volcanic islet just off the coast of Ischia. Currently a medieval fortified castle complex sits atop the islet, however other castles have been built on this strategic islet for nearly 2,500 years.

The Aragonese Castle is connected to Ischia via a long causeway, from which you can enjoy majestic views of the castle while approaching it. This castle complex is an excellent place to spend several hours wandering around and exploring, as it hosts many different structures and churches from different time periods, as well as restaurants and a hotel.

The castle also offers tours, and around the castle you’ll find various exhibitions, beautiful gardens, artifacts, and much more. Throughout the castle you can also enjoy amazing views of Ischia and the coastline from various terraces and the bar near the top of the island.

Reaching the Aragonese Castle

To reach the Aragonese Castle, you’ll need to take a bus from Ischia’s ferry terminal. The island of Ischia is well developed with many hotels, restaurants, and beaches. Be sure to walk up to the viewpoint along Via Cartaromana for breathtaking views overlooking the Aragonese Castle set amongst the ocean.

From the Central Train Station in Naples you can reach the sprawling UNESCO world heritage site of the Royal Palace of Caserta in about 45 minutes. This grandiose 18th century palace combines baroque and Neoclassical architectural styles and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world.

The Palace of Caserta was based on the royal palaces of Versailles, Madrid, and Berlin, and was never actually finished, due to the King of Naples becoming the King of Spain. You can view the magnificent and elaborately decorated interiors of the Palace of Caserta with a guided tour. Highlights within the palace include the majestic Throne Room, the opulent Mars Room, the Astrea Room, the Grand Staircase, and the State Apartments.

Palace Gardens

Behind the Royal Palace of Caserta is a massive woodland park and gardens, with its stunning series of fountains and ponds stretching far up into the hills beyond the palace. These fountains are elegantly decorated with sculptures, and from behind the fountains you’ll find the most photogenic views of the palace.

At the other end of the fountains and ponds from the palace is the grandiose Fountain of Diana and Actaeon, a waterfall, and several monuments. Nearby you can explore the palace’s beautiful lush English Garden.