Napoli

Napoli, one of my favourite cities in the world. This time I was finally able to stay there for five nights, in the past, I’d only spent a few hours in Napoli in transit. This was a much better visit and included a game at the iconic Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Napoli is my favourite football team in Europe, and being able to see them live was a highlight.

The Museo Archeologico of Napoli is a must-visit. Most of the sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes that were found preserved in the villas of Pompeii and Herculaneum are on display here. I had been to both cities on previous trips, so the visit to the museum completed the three connected sites. The famous mosaic of Alexander the Great is there, but sadly, they are doing restoration work on it for the next year. There is a specific fresco of a baker and his wife, found in their house in Pompei. It really shows that the Vesuvius eruption wasn’t just a tragic event two thousand years ago. It was an epic disaster that suddenly ended the lives of real people of all walks of life.

Naples has a reputation for crime, but from what I saw in my five days, the reputation is not reality. You are more likely to get pickpocketed in Milan or Rome. Naples seemed very safe despite the obvious urban decay. It’s also known as one of the best food cities in the world. The tomatoes (and other produce) that are grown in the Campania region are next level in taste; you can’t duplicate the region's unique growing environment.

Just a half hour away is the city of Caserta, home of the unbelievably magnificent Royal Palace of Caserta. In 1734, an 18 years old Charles of Bourbon claimed the throne in Naples, a kingdom once again independent after nearly 200 years. Charles wanted a palace and garden that rivalled Versailles. The Garden and the fountain are three kilometres long! The palace has been in recent films, including Conclave and Star Wars.

Napoli named its stadium after him, everyone has a picture of him in their home and business. Diego Maradona wasn’t just an Argentine football player who came to Napoli to play. He is a god, the patron saint of a city. You can’t walk a single block without some tribute to him. Every vendor selling Napoli jerseys has a few current players, and dozens of Maradona jerseys for sale.

Don’t let Napoli’s reputation deter you, visit, enjoy the food and see a real Italian city.