Street Views in Naples, Italy

Naples is without a doubt, a gritty city. From a bird’s eye view, the wide roads and colorful buildings look well kept, rolling down from the hill towards the water. A beautiful view of Mount Vesuvius echoes in the distance. One might mistake it for a southern Italian paradise. Unlike the picturesque Capri, Amalfi Coast, or even Sorrento, Naples is a rough around the edges, lived in city. The locals may speak little to no English. You’ll bend your ear to make sense of the few words you may have studied before landing here. This place isn’t catered to tourists. Nor should it be.

Naples streets are littered with garbage. There’s something about how the mafia has its grips on this service. Despite its imperfections, Naples boasts the best pizza — a hard dough that bubbles on the edges and allows for a chewy middle where the toppings lie — and the best food all around. Perhaps it’s my luck sometimes in finding mediocre spots in other parts of Italy, but you will dream about the food long after you’ve left. A gritty city, but one worth revisiting, even if only for the food.

These views were from the hotel I stayed in close to Castle Nuovo.