Travels in the 2nd half

Mt. Vesuvius   Last week, we took a walk through the centro storico of Naples. But the city has other wonderful treasure to explore. After walking all morning, we stopped for lunch. Our class instructor chose L’Angolo degli Amici for their excellent pizza. They make their pie with a crust stuffed with ricotta cheese. This stops it from burning in the oven, and it is delicious. As we walked toward the waterfront, we stopped at the Galleria Umberto I. This public shopping mall was built in 1890 as a space that combined shops, cafes, business offices and apartments, all covered by a vaulted glass ceiling. At the waterfront is the Castle Nouvo. The castle was originally built in 1293 and served as the home of the King of Naples until 1734, when a new palace was built in town.  Of course, one of the best things to do when walking in a city is to spend time observing the people encountered on the way. We had a wonderful day in Naples. I only wish we had more time to explore. Nuts a...

    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. T...