Southern Italy Part 2 – Sights in Naples & Sorrento

Today I continue with my trip to southern Italy. If you missed the first part, you can find it here. There I reported about our arrival in Naples, the visit to Pompeii including a trip to Vesuvius and the day trip to the island of Capri. 

Today I would like to introduce you to some beautiful sights in Naples. We also took another day trip to Sorrento. Also a really charming place and a great vacation destination. 

Pizza, Pasta and Dolce Vita in Naples

In the south lies the third largest city in Italy: Naples. The city offers a lot of history, beautiful squares and impressive sights. The many small streets of Naples also invite you to explore every corner of the Italian city and get to know the Neapolitans. 

Characteristic of the city, however, are not only the numerous small streets, but also the many mopeds that creep through every little alley. 

Activities & Sights in Naples

Besides pizza and pasta, there is of course a lot to see and do here. Starting with the Piazza del Plebiscito, a famous public square right next to the Royal Palace, to the trendy neighborhood Quartieri Spagnoli. 

Piazza del Plebiscito & Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)

In the middle of Naples is the Piazza del Plebiscito, the largest public square in Naples between the pedestrian and waterfront promenade. Here you can take beautiful pictures or have a short rest on the steps in front of the domed church of San Francesco Di Paola. 

Also in Piazza del Plebiscito is the Royal Palace. It is possible to visit it from the inside, which we did, of course. 

Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the first floor. The entrance fee is quite affordable (about 6 euros). After entering the palace, the first thing you see is the huge marble staircase. This is a highlight in itself. The royal apartments, the court theater and the chapel are also definitely worth a visit. 

Castel Nuovo

After that we went on to the Castel Nuovo. This is just a few minutes walk from the Royal Palace and right on the harbor, so you have a beautiful view. 

The Castel Nuovo is one of the landmarks of Naples and offers numerous exhibitions on the history of Naples. In the castle you can also make some guided tours and visit it from the inside. 

However, we only looked at the castle from the outside and took some photos of it. By the way, it was very windy!

Galleria Umberto 

Galleria Umberto is a shopping arcade in the old town. Covered with a large, impressive glass dome, it is a monumental gallery. In the gallery there are many brand stores, great boutiques and elegant cafes. 

Through the gallery you also come to the famous shopping street Via Toledo. Here you should definitely take a look at the subway station just below the street. The station Toledo is particularly worth seeing. 

Napoli Sotterranea

Underground Naples (Napoli Sotterranea) offers a very special city tour. Almost 40 meters below the old town you can discover the special history of Naples in the ancient tuff caves. 

Underground Naples will take you back to a bygone era and let you see the city from a new perspective.

Quartieri Spagnoli

Quartieri Spagnoli is a lively neighborhood in the center of Naples. In the historic district, colorful laundry flutters on the balconies, espresso is drunk in front of the house door and mopeds ride in large numbers through the narrow streets. The small, narrow streets of the neighborhood are characteristic of the city. 

The neighborhood is located in the immediate vicinity of the shopping street Via Toledo.

A Day Trip to the Resort of Sorrento

The next day we went again on a day trip. This time to Sorrento.

Sorrento is a coastal town located directly on the Bay of Naples. The city is a popular vacation destination, because at the small bays and beaches you can enjoy a relaxing beach vacation with great views. By the way, from here it is also not far to the popular Amalfi Coast. 

Sorrento offers picturesque landscapes and beautiful views over the sea. It is definitely a place to relax. We also enjoyed very tasty pizza and pasta right by the sea. A dream. By the way, we were in “The 5 Di Leva Sisters”, a restaurant with a wonderful view. 

The Departure

Unfortunately, the next day we went home again. 

But before that, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of traditional Italian pastries. Sfogliatelle is a sweet pastry dish from Naples. It consists of a puff pastry pocket and a ricotta filling inside. 

Pretty sweet, but of course had to try. Have you ever tried sfogliatelle? 

Conclusion of the South Italy Trip 

That was really an exciting week with many great experiences and impressions. I am an absolute fan of Italy and could probably go there every summer. 

I was in southern Italy for the first time. I liked the region very much and I will definitely come back again. If only to see the Amalfi Coast and Positano, because that is definitely still on my list.