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The rumbling metro, the chaotic streets, the aroma of sizzling pizza dough – Naples grabs you from the moment you arrive and doesn’t let go. This boisterous city lives life at its own frenetic pace, daring you to get swept up in the beautiful madness of it all. And that’s exactly what we did on our latest Italian adventure.
After dropping our bags at the Airbnb in Naples’ historic Spanish Quarter, we hit the streets for a free walking tour. Our local guide warned us – Naples proudly pushes back against Italy’s love of rules and order. As we wove through the jam-packed lanes of the city center, dodging Vespas and trying not to get separated, we saw exactly what he meant. This place has an infectious, slightly anarchic energy that gets under your skin in the best way.
Inside the Church of Gesù Nuovo
The tour took us to a fascinating juxtaposition of two churches. Separated by the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, the Gothic and Baroque buildings are a study in contrasts. One is starkly unadorned while the other is an exquisitely ornate, active house of worship. We couldn’t resist joining the flow of tourists shaking the hand of the iconic statue of the local doctor who cured so many Neapolitans. Even during Mass, the church hums with life and visitor foot traffic. It’s a place of faith, history, and openness all intertwined.
But you can’t visit Naples without indulging in the food – specifically, the pizza. In a private class, a chef named Danielle taught us the ins and outs of making an authentic Neapolitan pie. We learned to masterfully stretch and toss the dough, creating perfect, pillowy discs for baking in blistering hot wood-fired ovens. The pride Danielle took in his craft was contagious as we watched our margherita pizzas emerge, the crust tantalizingly charred with those coveted leopard spots. You can book your own Neapolitan Pizza Class here!
My Neapolitan Pizza!
The real revelation, though, came in the form of the appetizers – a simple bruschetta made with local San Marzano tomatoes grown in the fertile volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius, and a plate of piping hot zeppole, fried dough puffs that put doughnuts to shame. We happily devoured both while sipping cold beverages and chatting with our new pizza-making friends.
If you find yourself in Naples, be sure to indulge in a cuoppo – a paper cone overflowing with an assortment of tiny fried delicacies. Ours was filled with bite-sized rice balls, fried dough puffs, mini arancini, and other molten treats that defied description but delighted every taste bud. It’s the perfect street food for fueling you through Naples’ chaotic charm.
Naples may be rough around the edges, but that’s exactly what makes it so vibrant and unforgettable. It’s a city that lives life to the fullest, that celebrates simple pleasures like amazing food and good company. So go ahead and get swept up in the beautiful pandemonium – you may leave a little disheveled, but oh so satisfied.
Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about our Italian Adventure, check out our La Dolce Vita Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here. To see inside my camera bag, check out my Gear Page.
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