A walk through Naples, Italy - Part 1

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Every city has its own look and feel. When I had the chance to visit Naples for a day, it gave me the opportunity to get a taste of its flavor. 




The group I was with started by exploring the historic center of the city, walking from the Garibaldi train station to the Piazza Gesú Nuovo. This trek follows one basic path, but the street changes its name every few blocks, when it encounters a small piazza.




The area has a long history as a center of commerce, and it is still home to many stores. While many of the businesses cater to the many tourists that visit this neighborhood, there are also many that have been here for decades, if not longer. 
















Of course, this center of Neapolitan life has also been home to many churches. One that caught my eye was the Capella di San Michele Arcangelo a Pistes. Its dark open doorway had curtain across it, but it hinted at master work inside, a huge diorama of the life of Jesus.






Another was the Chiesa dei Santos Filippo e Giacomo. This large church was commissioned in 1591 by the Silk Guild, with the financial support of Alfonso Aragon, the King of Naples.





Our last stop in the centro storico was at the Chiesa del Gesú Nuovo (Church of the Baby Jesus). This church was consecrated in 1601 behind the facade of what had been the Sanseverino Palace. The palace had been built in 1470 by Roberto Sanseverino, the Prince of Salerno. The building was taken from the family by the King of Spain in 1584 and given to Jesuits, who converted it into a church.






One thing that is impossible to miss when walking through Naples is the devotion to the late Diego Maradona. Maradona was the captain of the Napoli Football Club from 1984-99, leading the team to its first two championships in Italy top league, and its only UEFA title. Maradona has always had a mythic status here, and after his death in 2020 it has taken on an almost religious fervor.








Nuts and Bolts


Naples is 230 km (140 mi) south of Rome. The high-speed train takes about 1.5 hours and costs €46 each way.

Location: Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

Comments

  1. AMDJune 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM

    Love it. I won't be visiting any time soon, so this is a great long-distance visit.

    ReplyDelete

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