Napoli Attractions, Italy

Ascent of Vesuvius
For the ascent of Vesuvius, leave the Naples-Salerno motorway at the Ercolano exit and take the Strada del Vesuvio, which winds its way uphill between lava flows. In 7km/4.5mi it comes to the Albergo Eremo, where a short side road goes off to the Observatory, founded in 1845, with a museum.
In another 3km/2mi the road forks. To the left is a road running up the north side of Vesuvius to the Colle Margherita (3km/2mi), from which it is a 20 min climb on foot to the rim of the crater. The road continues straight ahead and in 1.5km/1mi comes to the lower station of a chair-lift (753m/2,485ft) which goes up to the upper station (1,158m/3,821ft); at present the chair-lift is not in operation. At the top there is a fascinating one-hour walk around the crater and magnificent views.
Another road (toll payable) runs from Torre Annunziata, a village to the southwest of the volcano. The route first leads northeast for 2km/1.25mi to Boscotrecase, then 10km/6mi northwest, past the Nuova Casa Bianca restaurant and up the southeast slopes of Vesuvius with numerous bends. Some time ago the area around the crater was designated a protected area.

Castel Nuovo
Behind the Palazzo Reale to the northeast, on the south side of the Piazza del Municipio, is the five-towered Castel Nuovo, also known as the Maschio Angioino, once the residence of kings and viceroys of Naples. Originally built by Charles I of Anjou in 1279-82, it was enlarged by Alfonso I of Aragon and has recently been restored. The entrance is formed by a splendid Early Renaissance triumphal arch, with rich sculptured decoration, erected between 1453 and 1467 in honor of the entry of Alfonso I of Aragon. In the courtyard is the Gothic church of Santa Barbara (or Cappella Palatina), and to the left of this the large Baron's Hall.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale
The ground floor of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples is devoted mainly to the collection of sculpture in marble. Items of particular importance are the figures of Harmodius and Aristogeiton, a marble copy of a bronze group by Critius and Nesiotes (477 B.C.) which stood in the Agora in Athens; the so-called Hera Farnese, the head of a statue of Artemis in the earlier severe style; Orpheus and Eurydice with Hermes, a copy of a famous relief from the time of Phidias; and Pallas Athene, a copy of an original from the time of Phidias.
In the Galleria del Toro Farnese are the Farnese Hercules, a colossal statue 3.17m/3.5ft high (after a fourth century original) found in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and the Farnese Bull, the largest marble group which has come down to us from antiquity, a copy of a Rhodian work by Apollonius and Tauriscus (third-second century B.C.)

Camaldoli
The best view of Naples and its beautiful surroundings is to be had from the Camaldulensian monastery of Camaldoli, northwest of the city on the highest point in the Phlegraean Fields (458m/1,511ft). The monastery was founded in 1585. The prospect from the terrace on a clear day is one of the finest in Italy.

Catacombs of San Gennaro
The Corso Amedeo di Savoia in Naples ends at a roundabout, the Tondo di Capodimonte, on the west side of which is the entrance to the second century Catacombs of San Gennaro. Like the Roman catacombs, these consist of a maze of passages and tomb chambers, but are more ambitious architecturally and have finer paintings than their Roman counterparts. The church of San Gennaro extra Moenia dates from the fifth century (restored).

Harbor
To the east of the palace and the Castel Nuovo in Naples extends the harbor, divided into separate docks and basins by a series of piers and breakwaters, which is always a bustle of activity. Extending east from the Piazza del Municipio is the Molo Angioino, on which is the Marine Station. To the west of this is the Eliporto (Heliport), from which there are regular helicopter services to Capri, Ischia, Capodichino Airport (7km/4.5mi north), etc. Farther south, from the quay on the Calata di Beverello, boats sail to Ponza, Capri and Ischia.
The harbor of Naples is the primary place to visit, with it's beautiful scenery and numerous cafes and ice cream parlors. The Margherita pizza, the original pizza, is a 'must eat' when visiting.

Sant'Elmo
Is the name of both a hill and a fortress in Naples, located near the Certosa di San Martino. Together, the structures overlook Naples and are the most visible landmarks in the city. The name "Sant'Elmo" is from an old 10th-century church, Sant'Erasmo, that name being shortened to "Ermo" and, finally, "Elmo".
The fortress was started in 1329 under Robert of Anjou and completed in 1343, the year of his death. Pedro Alvarez de Toledo, the Spanish viceroy, had the fortress rebuilt between 1537 and 1546. The fortress is a star-shaped castle with six ramparts. During the revolution of 1647, so-called “Masaniello’s Revolt”, the Spanish viceroy took refuge in the fortress to escape the revolutionaries. Sant’Elmo was also the symbol of the short period of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799.
The fortress has been restored to public use since 1980 and houses the "Bruno Molajoli" Art History museum.

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