In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Bruno;111561]I guess I was looking for a little more "factual"...there is a lot on that thread to weed through to figure what to see, how to get to the sites, etc.[/quote]
Personally, speaking only for myself, in my opinion, I am really enjoying the Naples thread, both the ‘factual’ and ‘poetic’.
I think that the great value of the forum is that we can hear about other peoples personal experiences but if you just want an impersonal ‘factual’ guide why not just Google one.
Here is a link (although as to its factual content I can not comment!):bigergrin:
[url=http://wikitravel.org/en/Naples]Naples travel guide - Wikitravel[/url]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Bruno;111561]I guess I was looking for a little more "factual"...there is a lot on that thread to weed through to figure what to see, how to get to the sites, etc.[/quote]
JC, I've been meaning to talk to you about the weeds. It does make the place look rather messy.
Want my trowel?:bigergrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
JC, I'd also find it useful (just in case I ever venture south of the border) if you produced for us a number of mini tour options. You know the sort of thing, Start point XX, duration yy hours, taking in sights a,b, and c etc. Use your local knowledge to recommended speciality lunch stops. e.g [URL="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1W1GFRD_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=naples+italy+burger+king&fb=1&split=1&view=text&latlng=12279014660889599569"]naples italy burger king - Google Maps[/URL]
No need to do more than say 3 or 4 guides, maximum 7 - an overview is probably all that's needed for each. You could always outsource some of the leg work to keen googlers if you know any, and if you took some time off from writing all that soppy personal stuff you could have it cracked in time for Songs of Praise.
So what do you say?:smile:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
take the tourist bus and get a general view of Naples and then take the tourist but again and get off to see the museum or whatever you are interested in. They leave regularly from a piazza near the port.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
the tour buses are great we took two different routes and got to see alot in a short space of time would diff recommed them
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=greeny;113051]the tour buses are great we took two different routes and got to see alot in a short space of time would diff recommed them[/quote]
Greeny - What buses did you take and where did you board them? Are these "on and off" service buses?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Bruno;113145]Greeny - What buses did you take and where did you board them? Are these "on and off" service buses?[/quote]
i did the city center tour and the bay of naples they are hop on hop off buses (you know the ones you get must major cities in europe) and are great for knowing exactly where the sights and museums are. i think i got on them near the castel nuovo in the piazza municipio but don't quote me on it.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Un assaggio di Napoli
I was able to find some information on other websites to assist me in planning a short day-trip to Napoli and we felt it was a success. We arrived at the Stazione Centrale by train and took the R2 bus from Piazza Garibaldi over to Piazza Municipio to start our day.
We visited Castel Nuovo and wandered by Teatro San Carlo and Palazzo Reale. We spent some time in Piazza del Plebiscito and Chiesa San Francesco. We always enjoy wandering the side streets and began that in the Quartieri Spagnuoli after visiting Gallerie Umberto. We also took the Funicolare Centrale to the Vomero area to get a good view over the city and bay.
We then headed up Via Toledo and worked our way into the Spaccanapoli area around Via dei Tribunali. This provided another area to wander the narrow side streets Napoli is famous for and to watch the kids playing in the streets, craftsmen making presepe and the array of various shops. We also visited several of the churches in this area (San Sansevero was closed, Il Duomo, San Paolo, San Domenico, San Larenzo – the excavations below the church are interesting) and ended up at Porta Capuana, close to the Stazione Centrale.
:yes:No visit would have been complete without some spaghetti alla vongole in a small osteria, with a pizza margherita later for una merenda, and un caffé’ and una baba’ in between. The best part of the experience was wandering the Spagnuoli and Spaccanapoli areas while dodging the motorini. This was only a taste of Napoli and we know we will want to go back for more.
There is a “hop on – hop off” bus that has four routes, but it skirted most of the areas we wandered so was not a good option for us. You can find more information [URL="http://www.napoli.city-sightseeing.it/"]City Sightseeing.[/URL]
If you want to visit some of the museums the[URL="http://www.campaniaartecard.it/IT/Home.cfm"] Artecard[/URL] is a good option.
The bus lines and trams use the same tickets and a ticket for 90 minutes is 1.10euro.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
If you take the R2 from the station square make sure you have your bags and pocket closed. The R2 (and the R4) are the best lines to observe the Neapolitan pickpockets at work! Get off at the theatre, piazza Plebiscito and start walking up via Toledo (taking in Galleria Umberto) Once you get to Via B Croce, hang a left and see the Jesuit church - which according to the Neapolitans has pyramidal rustication to channel magical powers. once you get to the square by the university grab a coffee and YOU MUST go to the Capello SanSevero which if any other city would be the most hyped piece of art in the city. In Naples its just another chapel, but with one of the most breathtaking pieces of marble sculpture of a dead Christ you will ever see, not to mention the apostles fishing nets - this was a genius with the hammer and chisel.... andthen potter on and see the street of presepe - San Gregorio. When you get to the top turn left and walk back along via tribunale to Piazza Dante where its but a hop skip and avoiding the dog dirt to the museo nazionale . (Or turn right to the chapel with the Caravaggio Seven Works of Mercy - if its open) If you have the time go to the museum of the Capodimonte (from outside the museum up the hill - cant remember the bus number but its too far to walk) and see the Caravaggio Flagellation. Eat pizza, drink granite but not from street vendors who will fleece you and use dirty water. Soak up the atmosphere and get home safely. Take coats with inside pockets and zips. Dont wear a watch. - Ive lost 15! IF you were there 2 days Id say wear a watch because the following morning you can go and buy it back near the station - but you're only there for a day....
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ram - I was disappointed that San Severo was closed, we did not expect that on a Tuesday. Another reason to go back!
I found the R2 to be no more intimidating than most of the buses in Roma and it was a good way to get from Pza Garibaldi to Pza Municipio. The roads are a bit of the mess along this route with the work for the new metro line.
I guess I was looking for a little more "factual"...there is a lot on that thread to weed through to figure what to see, how to get to the sites, etc.