By Stasinopoulou Christina (A Class)

Generally for Naples

     Naples is Italy’s third-largest city, is one of its oldest, most artistic and most appetizing places. Naples” centro storico (historic centre) is a Unesco World Heritage Site; its archaeological treasures are among the world’s most important. Naples” urban sprawl can feel anarchic, tattered and unloved. But looking beyond the grime, graffiti and occasional gruffness, you’ll uncover a city of breathtaking sculptures and panoramas, of unexpected elegance, of spontaneous conversations and profound humanity. It’s one of Italy’s most unlikely masterpieces.

Worthwhile Experiences

Teatro Di San Carlo

     The Real Teatro di San Carlo (Royal Theatre of Saint Charles), its original name under the Bourbon monarchy but known today as simply the Teatro di San Carlo, is an Opera house in Naples, Italy. It is located adjacent to the central Piazza del Plebiscito, and connected to the Royal Palace. It is the oldest continuously active venue for public opera in the world, opening in 1737, even before both the Milan’s La Scala and Venice’s La Fenice theatres.

     The opera season runs from late January to May, with the ballet season taking place from April to early June. The house once had a seating capacity of 3,285, but has now been reduced to 1386 seats. Given its size, structure and antiquity, it was the model for the following theatres in Europe.

Pompeii

     Pompeii has been a tourist destination for over 250 years. Today it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. It has been located near Naples, so it is easily accessible.

     Pompeii and many villas in the surrounding area, was mostly destroyed and buried under 4 to 6 m of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.The eruption destroyed the city, killing its inhabitants and burying it under tons of ash.

     The site was lost for about 1,500 years until its initial rediscovery in 1599 and broader rediscovery almost 150 years later by Spanish engineer Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre in 1748.The objects that lay beneath the city have been preserved for more than a millennium because of the long lack of air and moisture. These artefacts provide an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city during the Pax Romana. During the excavation, plaster was used to fill in the voids in the ash layers that once held human bodies.This allowed archaeologists to see the exact position the person was in when he or she died.

Activities

A half-day trip to Sorrento

     Sorrento is a town overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy.Ferries and hydrofoils connect the town to Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. Sorrento’s sea cliffs and luxury hotels have attracted celebrities including Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.

     Also, Limoncello, a digestif made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar, is produced in Sorrento. Other agricultural production includes citrus fruit, wine, nuts and olives.

     The old section of Sorrento is a wonderful place to get lost in its narrow streets and alleyways. Here you’ll discover colorful shops and quaint trattorias and the true essence of Sorrento.The old town centre is home to numerous historical buildings including the Basilica of Sant’Antonino and the complex of San Francesco, which includes the church, cloister, and a convent.

 Day Trip to Capri

     Capri is an island located in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples in the Campania region of Italy. The main town Capri that is located on the island shares the name. It has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic.The town of Capri is the island’s main population centre.

     Inevitably, the two main centres, Capri Town and its uphill rival Anacapri, are almost entirely given over to tourism, with the high prices that follow. But explore beyond the designer boutiques and cafes and you’ll find that Capri retains an unspoilt charm, with grand villas, overgrown vegetable plots, sun-bleached, peeling stucco and banks of brilliantly coloured bougainvillea.