Constructed in 1279, and for centuries the Royal residence of Naples' kings into the 16th century,…read morethe gothic exterior of this massive fortress with five towers is a magnificent reminder of Napoli's medieval history and maritime prowess, with an entrance over the largest man-made moat I've seen. Arriving at 5pm on a weekday afternoon, I scrambled (ie. speed walked for half a mile) to make it before their assigned last entry time, which I thought was 5pm for a 6pm closing time, though apparently it's last entry at 5:30pm. Well...I got an extra workout. There's a small ticket window to the left inside the main doors, which takes cash or card, and can also validate your city/museum pass (I had a Naples Pass). Regular admission is €15, tickets for local residents €10, free for children under 18. However because of ongoing renovations to major sections, they were offering reduced admissions of €10 and €6 respectively. Inside what's available to view as of mid-April 2026 are several components. To me each stands alone and feels a bit disjointed to the others, though given its lengthy history and different functions over time perhaps the range of spaces truly embodies the story of the castle, one embued with varied relevance and purpose. - Palatine Chapel: an austere chapel with stone block floors, inset with ledger stones.* - Archaeological route and former Armory room: this is where the ruins can be viewed below a glass floor--of what's believed to be past of a lavish Roman villa from 1st century BCE beneath the castle. Tours need to be pre-booked in advance if you want to descend to the underground level to visit these. - Hall of the Barons: this is the kind of grand hall I'd imagine medieval royalty to preside over, with a massive octagonal star-shaped arched stone ceiling and central round skylight, though it was actually a later construction in the 15th century. The layout includes a U-shaped wooden seating arrangement where the current Napoli city council meets. - Chapel of the Souls of Purgatory: single room with entrance off the courtyard to the right of the entrance to the Palantine Chapel, the frescos are colorful though space is small. - First floor Civic Museum - Art Gallery: this is up a flight of steps (aka the second floor for those of us across the pond), a gallery of about 50 works ranging from 15-18th century religious Neapolitan art, transferred here from other historic buildings that are no longer in use. - terrace on second floor with partial view of the port: I was a little disappointed since I thought the roof of the castle would be accessible though I'm glad I didn't rush here on my first day in Naples and instead went to Monte Echia nearby where the views were much better, more panoramic. It took about 30 minutes to walk around the parts that were open, there are more extensive galleries on the upper stories that were under renovation. I felt it made sense to reduce the price since some portions were closed. For more info: https://www.comune.napoli.it/vivere-il-comune/luoghi/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino/#orari_apertura https://www.naplesinsider.com/en/e/castel-nuovo-maschio-angioino *an inscribed stone slab usually laid into the floor of a church to commemorate or mark the place of the burial of a deceased person. (as per Wikipedia)

Castel Nuovo was one giant construction site when we were here…read more Of course, it's been under construction for nearly nine hundred years. From Charles I House of Anjou, to the Kingdom of the two Sicily's (1266), to the Kingdom of Naples. It was also used by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, who lived there for a short time in 1535. But no Italian history would've complete, without the involvement of de' Medici family of Florence. Seemed Alfonso V of Aragon (1443), had established a royal court here after conquered the throne of Naples and as with most little boys, he needed his to be, er um...grander. He intended for the Castel Nuovo to compete with the one in Florence by Lorenzo de' Medici. Ultimately he ended up completely rebuilding the entire fortress. A famous architect friend once observed to me, that it's important to be able to distinguish between "good" and "better." LOL The castle is very imposing. It has five huge turret like towers, that can be seen throughout Naples. Our driver couldn't figure out how to drop us off because of all traffic on Via Nuova Marina, so we settled for the nearby Galleria Umberto mall (see review) instead. LOL. See photos.

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.

Stunning views - check. Delicious food - check…read more Art, beach, shopping - check, check, check. While reducing these attributes to a checklist is banal, it's clear why Positano is one of the most visited towns along the Amalfi Coast. - Colorful terraced buildings line the steep slopes up the picturesque mountains, from which you can gaze upon incredible views of the turquoise water and surrounding coastline--are a strong draw by themselves. - Italy's food culture is renowned and each region, city, village takes pride in its cuisine. Positano is no exception. There are a lot of options featuring local and regional produce, many with aforementioned views out their windows or balconies. Plus Europe in general is more mindful of accounting for allergies in menus so you can find something to please most. - while not endless, there are enough historical sites, art galleries, beaches, souvenir shops to keep visitors occupied for a couple of days or more if you plan to visit other communities along the coast. Looking for hiking? The winding paths and stairways around town are hike in and of themselves, there are also trails up along the mountains. And there's always the option to sit back, relax and do nothing but enjoy your vacation. Logistically you can reach this town by car, bus, or ferry, the last is most recommended and easiest for arriving in a central part of town, for reasons I described in my separate review on the Amalfi Coast. The cons? Pretty crowded in shoulder season so I can't imagine it during peak season...

Positano is one of the most visually striking towns on the Amalfi Coast, with breathtaking steep…read morecliffs, cascading pastel buildings, and spectacular views over the Mediterranean. Quite honestly, while all of the other Amalfi Coast cities look generally the same, Positano is in a league of it's own. The town is built vertically, with winding narrow (basically one person at a time) staircases and narrow pathways connecting boutique shops, cafés, and terraces at every level. You can reach the top fairly quickly. Nearly every turn offers a new photo opportunity. The beach scene is lively with both public areas and beach clubs offering lounges, food, and drinks by the water. Boat trips departing from Positano provide stunning panoramic views of the coastline.

Fantistic craft shop for those who love hand made crafts and Napoleon arts. Very friendly and…read morehelpful owner whose the artist too. He speaks decent english and told me the story of the chilli he makes and san gernaro, that brings you luck.

A main street in the Centro Storico (historic center) of Naples, Via dei Trubunali is lined with…read moreboth touristy businesses as well local restaurants, boutiques, landmarks and historic sites that existed prior to this neighborhood becoming the tourist hotspot it is today. A bit torn on this review since it I'm not usually a fan of super crowded, souvenir-store-lined streets, however there are a significant number of worthy destinations here so rounded up. Some noteworthy spots include (from west to east: LAPIS Museum - Museo dell'Acqua Napoli, Sorbillo pizzerias (more to come in separate review), Napoli Sotturnea (underground tours), Complesso Monumentale San Lorenzo Maggiore (a basilica and history museum), and Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro (contains the jeweled relics from the treasury of the Naples Cathedral). Two notable streets that intersect Via dei Tribunali are Via S. Gregorio Armeno - with Christmas nativity figurine artisan shops, and Via Duomo - where Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (aka Naples Cathedral) is located a block away. There are a good number of restaurants serving delicious local specialties including spaghetti puttanesca, pasta with Neapolitan ragu or local clams and white wine (alla vongole), Neapolitan style pizza, cuoppo frittura (cup of fried seafood, vegetables, pasta, etc). Considering the cobblestone streets and tight quarters, most of these family run restaurants are small so make reservations where you can or get there early!

Even on a rainy weekday in January, this is the place where it all happens. This is the main…read moretourist district of Naples and where you'll find all the trinkets, mementoes, street food and probably pickpockets. We returned later in the evening and it was interesting to see *everything* was closed. Despite tourists wandering around also looking for eats, I guess they don't mind. [Review 19211 overall - 362 in Italy - 181 of 2023.]