Look East Look West: Naples

Castel dell'Ovo Napoli

After a quick train trip from Rome we arrived in Naples at the main station, the Napoli Centrale - Piazza Garibaldi. It is connected to the Naples subway system but we used a taxi for the short trip to the Hotel Santa Lucia on Via Partenope.

Hotel Santa Lucia

Check in at the Santa Lucia was quick, efficient, and courteous. The agent escorted us to our Mt. Vesuvius and Bay view room that we had booked on the fifth floor and the view was incredible! The room was well laid out and beautiful - parquet floors, linen wall coverings, beautiful wood furniture and comfortable seating chairs, and an outdoor balcony with table and chairs.

Piazza dei Plebiscito

The area around the hotel was very scenic and quiet. It was safe, and it was a pleasant walk to the bustling areas of Naples and the Via Toledo. The concierge and front desk staff were always helpful with directions/dining recommendations. The beautiful atmosphere of the hotel was a welcome sight after a busy day of sightseeing in Naples and Pompeii.

Spaccanapoli

The Centro Storico is a labyrinth of history built in several layers of one period over the other and Naples prime tourist attraction. With excellent pizzerias, baroque churches, underground greco-roman ruins, famous streets like Spaccanapoli with shops selling traditional Neapolitan nativity figures, mozzarella, costumes and souvenirs and a vibrant night-life and atmosphere makes this free-of-charge living museum a must see among the must sees of Naples.

Quartieri Spagnoli

Spaccanapoli is an interesting street. It is the straight and narrow main street that traverses the old, historic center of the city of Naples. The name is a popular usage and means, literally, "Naples splitter". The name is derived from the fact that it is very long and from above it seems to divide that part of the city. Historically, Spaccanapoli is one of the three decumani, or east-west streets, of the grid of the original Greco-Roman city of Neapolis.