Explore the historic centre of the famously vibrant city of Naples with an expert private guide on this two-hour walking tour, including all the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage designated site. Learn about the Neapolitan culture, food, religion, architecture, and its famous history as a major port town and naval base from the days of the Ancient Roman Empire to the present day.
On your private tour, you will:
- Explore the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, one of the most charming squares in Naples surrounded by beautiful Neapolitan architecture;
- Walk along Spaccanapoli, a historic street that "splits" Naples in two; it is filled with cafes, small restaurants, and local taverns and oozes Neapolitan charm and charisma;
- See the Church of Santa Chiara, a beautiful early Gothic Church on Via Spaccanapoli dating back to 1313-1340;
- Take a stroll around the majestic Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, one of the most important plazas in Naples lined with palaces, bars and cafes an infamous Plague pole;
- See the stunning medieval basilica of San Domenico built under Charles II - known as Charles the Lame - an Angevin King in the 13th century;
- Discover the Church of Sant'Angelo a Nilo, named after the Egyptian Nile and built in the 14th century;
- Pass by the legendary Sansevero Chapel, a Baroque masterpiece and one of Naples' most fascinating cultural and historical sites;
- See the stunning marble Statue of the Nile God, located at Piazzetta Nilo;
- Walk along Via San Gregorio Armeno, a picturesque alley famous for its artisanal shops selling handcrafted nativity scenes;
- Walk through Piazza San Gaetano, the most ancient square of the city - used as the Agora by the Ancient Greeks, the Forum during the Roman era, and the central place of governance during the medieval and Renaissance eras;
- Explore Via dei Tribunali, a charming narrow cobbled street, and admire the fading grandeur of the palaces of the old Neapolitan nobility that line it;
- End your tour with a fascinating visit inside the majestic Cathedral of Naples and admire the frescoes by Lanfranco and altarpieces by Jusepe Ribera in the Chapel of the Treasury.
Famous for its pizza, sunny weather, friendly exuberance and charm, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It was founded in the first millennium BC by the Greeks who called it Neápolis (meaning - ironically - New City!) It became a major port town and holiday destination during the Roman Empire, until of course the mighty eruption of Vesuvius in 72 A.D, and was its kingdom up until the unification of Italy.
There’s no doubt that Naples has one of the most impressive historical city centres in Europe, as well as the largest at over 4200 acres. After much restoration after bomb damage from World War 2, it is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your walking tour starts at the Piazza del Gesu, one of the city’s central squares that for centuries has been a hive of local activity. On all sides of the square, your guide will point out the different architectural styles that tell a large part of the city’s long and winding story: the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans, the medieval gothic period of the Angevin Kings, the Renaissance, and Baroque - its all a wonderful melting pot in Naples!
Passing several churches, as you move east through the city, you’ll see ordinary Neapolitans go about their daily business - buying, selling, chatting, propping themselves up against an espresso bar. Besides the exquisite interiors of the churches, the overall effect of the sheer density of magnificent buildings is simply breathtaking.
You'll walk along some picturesque cobbled alleys and streets - some of the most ancient working streets in Europe including Via Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali, soaking up the atmosphere and history.
The tour ends at the truly magnificent Cathedral of Naples. With almost 1000 years of history and an outward grandeur to match, you will explore the interior and admire the embellishments made by some of the most famous artists in Italian history, including de Ribera and Lanfranco, in the stunningly beautiful Chapel of the Treasury.