Earlier in the month, a friend and I decided to board the train from Sorrento to Naples and spend a weekend there. I knew classmates who headed to Rome or even as far as Paris, but I wanted to remain in the area—at least for my first trip.
A Weekend in Napoli: What I did
While on the train, I researched more of Napoli’s history. First founded around 600 BCE as Neopolis (or “New City”), Napoli originated as a Greek settlement and later became a part of the Roman Empire. It was an essential aspect of the Magna Graecia, which refers to areas on the coast of Southern Italy which were colonized by ancient Greek city-states.
In 1504, the Spanish won Naples and ruled it under feudalism for two more centuries. This led to the formation of Napoli’s Spanish Quarters (“Quartieri Spagnoli,” “Spanish Barracks”) that were created to house Spanish soldiers who were meant to quell revolts.
The best of Napoli's local cusine
When I entered Napoli, what struck me most was how varied, mixed, and famous all of the food, museums, and art were. Like Sorrento, Napoli has a history chock full of influential artists. Painters like Caravaggio, Gentileschi, and Bernini all hail from—or lived in—Napoli.
Local cuisine included both the very sweet and the very savory!
On the sweeter side, there was the Sfogliatelle: an iconic Neopolitan dessert known for thin, layered dough baked golden and served warm. Mine was full of a rich, nutty custard that paired well with a cappuccino.
For fans of more savory fare, I would recommend Pizza a Portafoglio (“wallet pizza”) for the taste and cost. Often a little smaller than a typical pie, Pizza a Portafoglio is folded into four and then served hot and fresh in a paper wrap. While pizza itself is one of Napoli’s most well-known inventions, this street food innovation is both delicious and convenient.
Historical Sites – The Napoli Sotterranea
On our last day in Napoli, we went to the Napoli Sotterranea (“Napoli Underground”). Located in Piazza San Gaetano, our tour was led to and from sites tied to various eras.
First built by Greeks to mine tuff blocks, the Napoli Sotterranea became an aqueduct in Ancient Rome and was later used as an air-raid shelter in WWII.
Some of the Napoli Sotterranea was so narrow I had to crawl to reach the other side. I could not believe how much the Napoli Sotterranea had seen—it was odd to realize I was one of millions who had walked down those tunnels, and even more so to understand that most who had seen it were alive far before me.
