Naples is a beautiful city in the southern part of Italy, sitting bank on the Bay of Naples. Located close to the still very much active volcano Mount Vesuvius, Naples is an important historical, cultural, and architectural destination to visit in Italy.
While you may not find Naples featuring prominently on tourist destination lists, but the third-largest Italian city is actually one of the most beautiful destinations on the stunning Amalfi Coast. The best way to explore Naples is to rent a car so that you easily hop from one attraction to another.
There are many car hire companies in Naples, and you can compare car hire plans from all the leading companies on various websites today. Centrally located car hire companies like Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Dollar, Sixt, InterRent, Alamo, Global, Flizzr, Budget, Hertz, Surprice, Goldcar, Avis, National, Thrifty. You can also ask your hotel to do a car rental comparison for you and have a cheap car rental waiting for you once you reach.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should be visiting Naples today.
1. The most beautiful castles in Europe
Being one of the oldest cities in Europe, Naples is full of history. You must begin by visiting the majestic castles of Naples that were built for the royal families. The Castel Nuovo and its beautiful marble arch is a must-see, while legend has it that Castel dell’Ovo has a magical egg buried in its foundations. Located on a hilltop, Castel Sant’Elmo and its famous vistas is another must-visit site. To visit the various castles, your rental car will come in handy as you can quickly travel from one location to another.
2. Go underground to discover peace and quiet
The streets of Naples are busy, chaotic, and noisy. However, there is a quieter and peaceful side to Naples that you can find 40 kilometres under the ground. The city of Naples is built on volcanic tufa limestone, and the extraction of this rock has over the years created a series of winding tunnels and caverns that you can visit today. Known as Napoli Sotterranea, this is truly a unique glimpse into the city’s past.
3. Beautiful museums and artistic masterpieces
Naples is every art lovers’ dream. You should begin your trip from the Museo di Capodimonte, their first stop. This beautiful building was a royal palace at one time, and today it is one of the biggest art galleries in Italy. It has many masterpieces, including Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and even Andy Warhol.
4. The coffee of Naples
Naples has a reputation for having some of the best coffee in Italy. You can visit one of the many coffee shops in the city to try out their exceptional coffee – the famous syrupy, rich, and caffeine-laden espresso. While having coffee, don’t forget to try out Naples’ famous sfogliatella, consisting of thin, crispy pastry layers filled with rich ricotta. This traditional recipe originates from the Santa Rosa Monastery located in nearby Salerno.
5. To see the unique Presepi
In Naples, people have a hobby of making unique Presepi or nativity scenes. And this tradition has been going on since the 13th century. It’s not only made for Christmas, but these remain on display round the year at shops throughout the city. The most popular spot to catch sight of this unique scene is at Via San Gregorio Armeno or the Christmas Alley. This popular spot is completely dedicated to preserving this artisan craft and art form.
