Naples

About Naples

A city of cool contrasts, there are many faces to Naples. But the city is still most famous as the birthplace of Pizza Margherita – rumoured to have been first created for the Queen’s visit in 1889 (the tomato, basil and mozzarella represent the colours of the Italian flag). You’ll find Neapolitan pizzerias at every turn, but pizza is also a popular street food, where tradition dictates you fold a slice in half to eat it, so it doesn’t lose all its toppings! Try the Pizza Fritta too, which is a deep-fried version.

But there’s much more to Naples than pizza. This uber-cool city is bursting with world-class museums and innovative art galleries and installations, and it’s buzzing with energy – as well as Vespas zipping down the streets. In June and July the annual theatre festival sees performances everywhere from the San Carlo Theater to piazzas and archaeological sites. And September makes a great month for celeb-spotting when the Napoli Film Festival takes place.

For an utterly Instagram-worthy view, take a short bus ride from the Mergellina neighbourhood and stop at Palazzo Donn'Anna – from the balcony at the Moccia a Posillipo coffee bar you’ll get breathtaking views of Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, with a sea that seems to stretch on for an eternity.