What to do and see in Naples, Campania: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do

August 27, 2021 Janean Rudisill

Romantic Naples, two hours south of Rome, is the largest city in southern Italy. It has some of the world's best opera and theater houses and is often called an open-air museum, due to its many historic statues and monuments. Join families on promenade as the sun sets on the Bay of Naples. View finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale or revel in the art and architecture of Museo Cappella Sansevero, built in the late 1500s.
Restaurants in Naples

1. Catacombe di San Gennaro

Via di Capodimonte 13, 80100, Naples Italy +39 081 744 3714 [email protected] http://www.catacombedinapoli.it/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 4,755 reviews

Catacombe di San Gennaro

Around the origin of our Catacombs much has been discussed, they were simpleburial and never were quarries or underground ways; the first note of the monumentis repeated since the death of St. Agrippino our bishop in the II century, when hisbody was buried there in a noble tomb. Many miracles the saint operated by thetomb, so it became a place of reverence and neapolitan wished to be buried in thatplace.

Reviewed By sharonv923

We visited the catacombs found in the Sanita area of Naples with anticipation - never been in catacombs before. This is a social enterprise run by a foundation that uses the proceeds to fund extra services for the young people of the area which is deprived. It's fantastic to see a group use an asset so well for the benefit of the community and, while the tour is totally worth the entry fee, it's nice to know that the ticket price benefits others. The tour is engaging and well delivered. The history and stories related are accessible. Our guide was excellent - well informed and great at answering questions. The catacombs are Christian and pre-Christian, and very atmospheric. Highly recommended.

2. Galleria Borbonica

Vico del Grottone 4 Zona Piazza Plebiscito, 80132, Naples Italy +39 081 764 5808 [email protected] http://www.galleriaborbonica.com/it/home/
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5.0 based on 8,535 reviews

Galleria Borbonica

Enchanting scenery that unfolds to the eyes of visitors, a secret place full of history and magic atmosphere.An emotional journey that conducts visitors in the new section of the underground of Naples. It is situated in Vico del Grottone 4, from to 150 mt. to Plebiscito Square. Until a few years ago it wasa veterinary laboratory, now is the entrance of the Bourbon Tunnel. A staircase with 8 ramps, 33 yards deep descending into the belly of Chiaia. The second entry is in Via Domenico Morelli,40, through the crosswalk of “Quick parking”.The Tunnel was built in 1853 by Ferdinand II of Bourbon, who, concerned about the outbreak of rebellion, he asked for an escape from the Royal Palace to the barrack in Via della Pace, now Via Morelli. The work was uncompleted and, during the second World War, was used by residents of the area as a military hospital, later becoming the Hall Judicial Deposit.The war left its mark even in the subsoil. That’s way there are handwrite, folding beds, messages of wish and desolation of those who lived it and still maintains its memory. Along the tunnel thereare also the evidences, 530 meters, where visitors can discover the history of real life. Through the spacious streets, it’s easy reachable the network of tunnels and cisterns of seventeenth-century,large buildings, where worked the "pozzari", the only connoisseur of Naples underground.The show is stunning, but that's not finished. On Via Morelli appear statues dating back to fascist period and many cars and motorcycles, abandoned for years, freed from piles of rubbish, arranged and illuminated ad hoc for the route.Nothing is left to chance, even lighting, perfectly integrated with the path of the visitors.Since today everything is possible to visit. Five years ago the scenery was completely different.Rubbish, degradation, wastes of all kinds covered the reliquaries.

Reviewed By 924silvioc

Excellent tour, an amazing place to visit and a snapshot of life in Naples during WWII Lots of thanks to Lorena for the excellent explanation

3. MUSA - Museo Universitario delle Scienze e delle Arti

Via Luciano Armanni 5 Complesso di Santa Patrizia, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138, Naples Italy +39 081 566 7747 [email protected] http://www.musa.unicampania.it
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5.0 based on 565 reviews

MUSA - Museo Universitario delle Scienze e delle Arti

Reviewed By Travel_Jive - Scotland, United Kingdom

First, do not go here if you do not like the sight of preserved human body parts. This museum is home to many anatomical structures which have been preserved or mummified. Personally I found it fascinating, Inspiring as an artist also, but there are quiet moments of sadness. The collection is incredible and are well displayed. There are descriptions inside the display cabinet but only in Italian but you can get a tablet from the host and this will guide you through many of the displays in English. I dont know what other languages they have. We had a bit of difficulty finding the museum and ended up going through the back door. Its only open until 2pm only so come early! You need around 1-1.5 hours here to really study the works on display. You can take the metro here and you need take Line/Linea 1 and get off at stop MUSEU - It really is a captivating museum if you are interested in anatomy, science/medicine, the human analysis, etc. The host was very helpful, pleasant and welcoming. Very polite indeed! There is no admission into this museum, its free! Definitely highly recommened!

4. Catacombe di San Gaudioso

Piazza Sanita, 14, 80100, Naples Italy +39 081 744 3714 www.catacombedinapoli.it http://www.catacombedinapoli.it/en/places/catacombs-of-san-gaudioso-naples
Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,294 reviews

Catacombe di San Gaudioso

Under the Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità, the neuralgic centres of the district, we find the second most important early Christian cemetery in the city. The Catacombs were extended following the burial of the North African bishop, deposited here between 451 and 453 AD. The Catacombs of San Gaudioso are the second largest in Naples, and includes both early Christian and 17th century elements. On one side there is the intensity of the early Christian elements, such as the tomb of St. Gaudiosusand frescoes and mosaics of the 5th and 6th centuries, and on the other, the special graves reserved for nobles, dating back to the 17th century, when the catacombs resumed the function of a burial site. The Catacombs of San Gaudioso conserve valuable frescoes and mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries that feature many symbols that were widely used in the early Christian era, such as the fish, the lamb, and grapes with branches.

Reviewed By francescocT1756XD

Marvellous place. We appreciated very much this historical site, it is interesting and the tourist guide was been great we all of us.

5. Napulitanata

Piazza Museo Nazionale 10/11 Porticato della Galleria Principe, 80135, Naples Italy +39 348 998 3871 [email protected] http://www.napulitanata.com
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5.0 based on 607 reviews

Napulitanata

Napulitanata is a concert hall dedicated to Neapolitan Music Heritage, especially to Canzone Napoletana and Tarantella. Everything comes from the need to set up a place in the heart of Naples where everyone can have full access to the great local music heritage in an experiential way, a sort of model after the Spanish Tablao or the Portuguese Case de Fados.

Reviewed By HazeldN - Montreal, Canada

This is a good show, top musicians, excellent interpretations of traditional songs, in an intimate space. Well worth seeing.

6. Piazza del Plebiscito

Piazza Del Plebiscito, Naples Italy
Excellent
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4.5 based on 2,560 reviews

Piazza del Plebiscito

This square of the people (plebiscito) is the largest in Naples and the site of two admirable monuments of the city: the Naples Royal Palace and the Church of San Francesco di Paola.

Reviewed By Dc3108 - Melbourne, Australia

This huge square free from traffic is sparse and surrounded by historic buildings that are too beautiful to ignore. The kids loved running around the huge square (not too many places you can do that in Naples) whilst we admired the majestic buildings and statues.

7. Teatro di San Carlo

Via San Carlo 98 / F, 80132, Naples Italy +39 081 797 2412 [email protected] http://www.teatrosancarlo.it/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 4,387 reviews

Teatro di San Carlo

The Teatro di San Carlo was designed by the architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale for the monarch since Charles wanted a new and larger theatre for Naples to replace the old and dilapidated Teatro San Bartolomeo of 1621. On 12 February 1816 the San Carlo was destroyed by fire. The Theatre was re-designed by the architect Antonio Niccolini and rebuilt within ten months on order of King Ferdinand IV. In 1845 there was additional refurbishment and, by 1854, the theatre's interior appearance changed to the now-traditional red and gold.Now carefully restored to its former splendour, the San Carlo is the oldest working theatre in Europe.

Reviewed By 759elib - Sydney, Australia

Grand, grand opera house, one of the oldest in the world. Hard to believe it was built in a few months in 1737. Its architecture is perfect with the foyer, balcony outstanding in enhancing the facade.. the royal box is bijou. Sitting here for a concert is a dream come true.

8. Spaccanapoli

Via Benedetto Croce, Naples Italy
Excellent
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4.5 based on 4,372 reviews

Spaccanapoli

This part of Naples is full of crowded, colorful alleys full of shops, plastic rosaries, fresh seafood and famous artisan workshops specializing in the city's famous nativity scenes. The street officially starts at Piazza Gesù Nuovo

Reviewed By Patapata0007

Unforgettable walk in an amazing street of this fantastic city. You plonged in the real Naples were tipical behaviours and eno-gastronimic culture are on the spot. Lots of very peculiar shops of arts and dozens of little churces.

9. Via San Gregorio Armeno

Via San Gregorio Armeno, 83018, Naples Italy +39 081 551 7107 http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/made-in-italy/san-gregorio-armeno-the-christmas-nativity-tradition.html
Excellent
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4.5 based on 9,066 reviews

Via San Gregorio Armeno

The tradition of representing the Holy Family as true art lives on in this narrow street, which is crowded on both sides with hundreds of artisan workshops with colorful displays of Nativity scenes.

Reviewed By Stardoe

I'd heard about this street and went especially to see it. It did not disappoint, but I was very suprised at how narrow it is and how crowded. Most of the time we were like sardines. The shops are full of wonderful nativitities and all the separate ornaments that allow people to build their own. Nativities with moving parts are very popular and there was a huge variety ranging from about 25 euros well into the hundreds. The seperate ornaments start at about 4 euros for the really tiny ones. If you plan to build your own nativity, take plenty of cash as the variey of ornaments is massive and you won't be able to stop at just the main ones. The street is quite long so if you want to have a really good look in all or most of the shops, you need at least an hour or more, especially if it's really crowded.

10. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

Piazza Museo Nazionale 19, 80135, Naples Italy 039 081 4422149 https://www.museoarcheologiconapoli.it/en/
Excellent
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4.5 based on 8,929 reviews

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

This museum has all of the interesting finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, both doomed cities after the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.

Reviewed By Q7840EUdanl - Bunbury, Australia

Back in Naples, the last port of call on our cruise, and a visit to this museum was our priority. We arrived before opening and lined up behind the groups of schoolchildren and their teachers. We somehow managed to skip through while the teachers distributed tickets and lectured their charges. The building has a rich history, it was erected as a royal cavalry barracks at the end of the 16th century and served as the seat of the University of Naples from 1616 to 1777. The first galleries were established in the period 1806-1815 and in 1816 it became the Real Museo Borbonico and then in 1860, after the reunification of Italy, it was renamed the National Museum. It became a dedicated Archaeological Museum in 1957 when all paintings housed were transferred to the Museum of Capodimonte. Although not all rooms are utilised, there are excellent displays including the Epigraphic and Egyptian collections, Farnese Gems and Sculptures and Sculptures from Campania. Other galleries showcase coins and medals, mosaics and other treasures. The Pompeii artefacts and paintings recovered from the ruins are outstanding and there are items from ancient Naples and Herculaneum. If you like sculptures you can gorge the senses on the marvelous displays. Ancient Emperors, Atlas with the world on his shoulders, Farnese sculptures, Dionysus and Eros, Apollo with lyre, Pan and Daphne, Artemis of Ephesus, Hercules at rest, the Farnese Bull, and so many more. The Egyptian section has many examples of shabtis and canopic jars, statuettes, examples of sarcophagi, and a piece of papyrus dating to the period 650-350BC. I wondered at the mind of the ancient sculptor responsible for the creation of Pan and the she-goat. We had to make the reluctant decision to depart after four hours appreciating the relics of history.

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