Naples, City of a Thousand Faces
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Generale_INGL 25-03-2008 13:25 Pagina 6 Naples, City of a thousand faces 6 7 In the shadow the Vesuvius tourism’s roots run A trip through the twentieth century city takes you, deep: on the imprints of great greek columns refined among the notable emerging urban and architectural i aristocrats and roman emperors built their sights, to the rationalist Mostra d’Oltremare, with its sumptuous villas and oasis all along the shoreline park, sports complex and exhibition space, to Città of the Gulf. della Scienza (Science City) near by. It is not a coincidence that at the begining of this Science is also witness to the recovery of industrial third millennium the peculiar magic of this archaeological complexes and the originality of a Campania > Artecard civilisation continues to generate new sources of scientific tradition that renews itself. All inclusive 3 or 7 day ticket amazement: the recovery of age old monuments and Unusual and surprising is the exploration of the new for immediate (no queing) traditions – folklore, gastronomy, genuine homes of contemporary art: monumental structures entrance to the main museums and archaeological cultivation – that were thought irreparably lost, like the PAN, Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, the MADRE, sites of the Region, and travel events and shows worthy of the great international Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina ono the UnicoCampania circuit, new fodder for artistic and scientific (Donnaregina Contemporary Arts Museum), and the public transport system. research. unique artistry of the metro stations that evidence The artistic treasure of Naples to visit are, in fact, the original horizons of farseeing cultural politics. City Sightseeing Trips of 50 minutes to 2 hours to many to count: the historical centre, a patrimony that permit you to hop on under the tutelage of UNESCO, the palaces, Naples, in the final sum, remains, deep in its roots, or off at will for the duration churches, catacombs and underground even with all the difficulties and contradictions of the ticket or of the trip. passageways, the Archaeological Museum, the inherent to all big metropolitan cities, an tel. 081 5517279 places of medieval and renaissance power amassed extraordinary place to live, admire, and enjoy with www.city-sightseeing.it around the Castel Nuovo and Royal Palace, the all the senses: for the depth of the art and Ente Provinciale unforgettable waterfront from Castel dell’Ovo to civilisation that has idelibly marked its history; for per il Turismo di Napoli Posillipo. the mild climate that accompanies day and night the piazza dei Martiri 58 The hilly area of Vomero offers masterfully restored shows, musical and theatrical events, exhibitions, tel. 081 4107211 www.eptnapoli.info buildings like the Capodimonte Royal Palace and fairs and religious gatherings; for the gourmand the Certosa (monastery) of San Martino, museum possibilites to search out the age old culinary Azienda Autonoma collections amongst the most important in the world. tradition, the seafood and the unique typical di Cura Soggiorno products (buffalo mozzarella, pizza, Docg wine, e Turismo di Napoli varied and refined pastries) in all their local Palazzo Reale tel. 081 2525711 translations, or for finding fine hidden little shops www.inaples.it where craftsmen still ply their wares. Museo Archeologico Nazionale piazza Museo 19 tel. 848 800288 Museo di Palazzo Reale piazza Plebiscito tel. 848 800288 Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte via Miano 1 View of the Gulf of Naples tel. 848 800288 a tailor from Acerra, a town voracious appetite. He Museo Nazionale in the Province of Naples. seems innocent, inexpert, a di San Martino The character already bit “thick”, but is in reality a largo San Martino 8 existed in the Atella region man with a million tel. 848 800288 The mask and the name comes from resources: with great charm famous travellers of Pulcinella the Italian word for chick, he manages to squeeze out MADRE pulcino. Pulcinella is the of all kinds of trouble. via Settembrini 79 There is no one that has not dreamt The typical neapolitan mask epitome of “poor”, of a The philosopher Benedetto tel. 081 5624561 seems to have been person treated badly, and is Croce defines him as “the of seeing Naples. invented in 1656 by Andrea known for always being portrait, the character or the Paul Edme de Musset, 1885 Calcese, known as Ciuccio, hungry, therefore having a ideal of the neapolitan”. Generale_INGL 25-03-2008 13:25 Pagina 8 not to be missed naples in 1 day naples in 3 days shopping outings with children Piazza del Plebiscito Royal palace and Piazza Royal Palace and Piazza Capodimonte Museum Nativity scenes and shepherds Food Market of Pignasecca Aquarium of the Anton Dohrn Edenlandia amusement park Castel Nuovo del Plebiscito del Plebiscito Castel dell’Ovo and Borgo of San Gregorio Armeno (Montesanto) Zoological Station Vesuvius National Park The historical centre Castel Nuovo Castel Nuovo Marinari Coral and Cameoware Fish Market of Porta Nolana Castel dell’Ovo Castel dell’Ovo National Archaeological Museum Monastery and Museum Waterfront and Mergellina Porcelain of Capodimonte (via Marina) Città della Scienza National Archaeological Museum “Spaccanapoli” and of San Martino Posillipo Antignano Market (Vomero) Lavic rock, copper, wrought (Science Centre) Capodimonte Museum the historical centre National Archaeological Museum MADRE Museo d’Arte iron and wicker objects Archaeological Museum Museum of San Martino Castel dell’Ovo and the waterfront “Spaccanapoli” and the Contemporanea Donna Regina (educational tours MADRE historical centre for children) 8 9 The origins of the city are lost in time and charming legends. The most tenable hypothese puts events th the beginnings of the city in the 9 century BC, January-December July-August when the greeks colonised the Gulf on their way up _Naples Antiques Fair _Ulysses Glance and to the high Thyrrenean mineral deposits. Villa comunale Migrating Music In 326 it was declared a Roman colony. (Third weekend of each Concerts, tango, films month) After the fall of the Roman Empire, Naples became July-September the capital of an important Duchy, that namaged to Spring _Midnight in the Parks stave off the invading Longobards. In 1137 the _Galassia Gutenberg Events in Naples parks Duchy fell into the hands of the Normans, who (book fair) favoured cultural integration. September May _Piedigrotta - The Festival of The Port of Naples became the most important in the _May is for Monuments Naples world. After the death of Frederick II of Svevia, Carlo _Italia Vine _Pizzafest D’Angiò made his triumphal entrance to Naples in Traditional Italian native vines 1266. Power passed into the hands of Alfonso _Park to Park October _Chamber Music Festival d’Aragona in 1442, after a long war that brought the Running in Naples and New York _Artecinema city to its knees. In a short time, however, the Festival of films on situation changed: important civil engineering (the June contemporary art construction of sewage conducts and streets) and _Napoli Film Festival Teatro Politeama restoration works were undertaken (at Castel Nuovo _Marechiaro Jazz Festival _International Show Jumping October-May the Triumph Arch was built). Other works (like the Competition _Associazione Scarlatti opening of via Toledo, the construction of the Piazza del Plebiscito Concert season Spanish Quarters – formerly barracks – and the Naples restoration of the Chiaia Riviera) were completed June-July during the following two centuries during the _Neapolis Rock Festival December _Napoli Jazz Festival _Market-Exhibition of Nativity Spanish rule (1503-1707), up to the arrival of the _Provinciamo Scenes Bourbons (1734), who reigned the Kingdom of Travelling performance review San Gregorio Armeno Naples until 1860 when Italy was finally united. _Myriad-Coloured Naples July Winter notes in Naples Our journey of discovery of the city begins in the _AgriCulture. Skills and Tastes of Campania December 31st historic core which preserves ancient greek-roman _Naples Blues Festival _Live Concert and Fireworks imprints, to continue with the places of power of the _Pomigliano Jazz Festival Piazza Plebiscito medieval-renaissance period concentrated around Pomigliano d'Arco the Castel Nuovo and Royal Palace. We will then _Afrakà Rock Festival follow along the waterfront from the Castel Afragola dell’Ovo to Posillipo, to end up on the green hills Cloister of the San Gregorio of Capodimonte and Vomero. Armeno Church art and archaeology nature and parks for young people specialities spas and fitness Sant’Elmo Castle Royal Palace Cloister of Santa Chiara Arenile di Bagnoli (summer) Babà Beauty centres of the major Castel Nuovo Pompeii and Herculaneum Cloister of San Gregorio Borgo Marinari Coffee hotels Historical centre and Royal Palace of Portici Armeno Piazza Bellini and historical Buffalo Mozzarella Dop Underground Naples Vesuvian Villas of the Miglio Gardens of the Royal Palace centre Margherita Pizza Dop Monastery and Museum d’Oro (Golden mile) Botanical gardens Piazza dei Martiri Neapolitan Salami of San Martino Capodimonte Park and surrounding area Sfogliatella shortcrust National Archaeological Virgilian Park Piazza Vanvitelli and crinkly pastry Museum Villa Comunale and surrounding area Spaghetti with clams Capodimonte Museum Villa Floridiana Apricots and cherry tomatoes MADRE Vesuvius National Park from the Vesuvius Duca di Martina Museum Wines of Vesuvius Generale_INGL 25-03-2008 13:25 Pagina 10 The historical centre: from Spaccanapoli to Piazza Mercato 10 11 The “womb” of Naples is the greco-roman historical Spaccanapoli centre: a chessboard divided by three main roads, the decumans, intersected at right angles by roads called “cardinals”. It is here that the pulse of the City is best felt: the alleys, the artisan workshops, the innumerable artistic marvels that surprise you in the least expected places, the voices of the “napolitani”. It is also the cultural centre of the City, with the University on via Mezzocannone, the literary cafès of Bellini Square, the bookshops of Port’Alba, and the Italian Institute for Historical Studies on via Benedetto Croce.