ALLEYS OF NAPLES - 12

CAMPANIA, ITALY

You never know what you’ll find when you round the corner and gaze down a Naples alley.

You might see a cruise ship docked in the harbor with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

ALLEYS OF NAPLES - 11

CAMPANIA, ITALY

Are some Naples alleys a bit dark and narrow, even in daylight? – yes.

But that is part of the fun of mystery and exploration.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

The city has more than 100 alleys which intertwine from the old town to the outskirts. 

Throughout the centuries, these alleys have been given strangest and unusual names and each one reflects a piece of the city’s history.

Walking in the heart of Naples it will be easy to find the Alley of the Sun, the Alley of Giants, the Alley of Purgatory's Fig, the Alley of Bakers, the Alley of Peace, the Alley of Spinsters and many more.

--VisitNaples.EU

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

If you love street life and human drama, Naples’ thousands of narrow side alleys are for you.

If you are a street photographer or photojournalist, the faded, imperfect, colorful, earthy and human-scaled buildings will provide fodder for endless digital images.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

Passeggiare is the Italian word for stroll, especially an early evening one.

We are convinced that all that walking is why the average Neapolitan eats pizza, pasta and cheese in large quantities but is far less overweight than the typical American.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

Naples alleys are the most fun early in the morning – for people watching as laundry is hung, plants are watered and infants wander out to check on the world.

Or about an hour before till and hour after sunset – when the sun plays with the old buildings, banners and endless signs for bakeries, restaurants, cheese shops, chocolate shops and wine sellers.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

Many alleys – even streets and avenues – in Naples are so narrow that neighbors can talk to each other from their opposite balconies.

And talk they do, in a passionate, emphatic, boisterous way that adds to the atmosphere like an Italian street opera created just for you.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

The cool thing about alleys in Naples is that they are still for locals, not tourists.

So instead of endless T-shirt and trinket stores, you find the main street retail mix of folks selling shoes, clothes, food, household goods and more.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele and Sorbillo are famous and draw long lines.

But there are dozens of worthy pizza places in Napoli.

Just don’t ruin good pizza with too many toppings.

The best is crust, sauce, cheese and basil only (margarita) or marinera (no cheese).

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

Naples is a city of apartments, not single family houses.

Life takes place on the balconies along the narrow alleys.

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CAMPANIA, ITALY

Look up when you enter a Naples alley. 

You will see flags, signs, old street lights, great architecture, colorful people and more.

ALLEYS OF NAPLES - 1

CAMPANIA, ITALY

Despite what false internet posts and some guide books tell you, most alleys in Naples are safe for tourists.

Just be alert, like you would in any major city in the U.S.

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1 -- part 6

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

Based on Giuseppe Mengoni’s design for the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan (1863 – 1875), Galleria Umberto I (1885 – 1892) was designed by Emanuele Rocco and Francesco Paolo Boubèe as a covered passageway connecting the San Carlo Theater to Via Roma.

Its iron and glass construction is a rare example of “industrial architecture” in Naples. 

Today, Galleria Umberto I is a shopping arcade. 

Below the Galleria, is the Salone Margherita, a fixture of Naples Belle Époque.

-- Bonnie Alberts

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1 -- part 5

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

Even without the shops, the people watching opportunities and the architecture of the Galleria Umberto I make it an essential part of any visit to Naples.

--https://www.worldwidewriter.co.uk/architecture-of-galleria-umberto-naples.html

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1 -- part 4

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

The Galleria fell into disrepair for some decades but is now being extensively renovated in keeping with its status as a part of the UNESCO listing of the Historic Centre of Naples. 

Today it is a place for shopping, eating and meeting your friends. 

There is also an upmarket hotel (the Hotel Art Resort Galleria Umberto) built and furnished in the Baroque style within the Galleria itself.

--Karen Warren

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1 -- part 3

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

Built in the shape of a cross, the gallery has the feeling of a cathedral, soaring upwards to a vaulted glass ceiling and a vast glass dome at the centre. 

As you walk around, note the rich architectural detail and the mosaics on the floor, in particular the central mosaic with the signs of the zodiac.

--https://www.worldwidewriter.co.uk/

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1 -- part 2

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

The Galleria is no ordinary shopping arcade.

Unlike many modern constructions, it is of architectural interest in its own right, a magnificent confection of iron and glass. 

Modeled on the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II in Milan, it was intended as a centrepiece for the risanamento, or revitalisation, of Naples in the late 19th century.

--Karen Warren

GALLERIA UMBERTO 1

19TH CENTURY NAPLES ITALY

Naples' most famous 19th-century arcade is a breathtaking pairing of richly adorned neo-Renaissance fronts and a delicate glass ceiling capped by a lofty 56m dome. 

Complete with a sumptuous marble floor, the galleria is at its most spectacular at night, when it becomes a surreal setting for impromptu soccer games.

--Lonely Planet