Another visit to the amazing city of Naples.
Naples, Italy, is one of those cities where not everyone should visit. It’s loud, dirty, confusing and intense, but I love it. This was my fourth visit to the city. I’ve written about Naples before. So, I’m going to focus on the places I haven’t covered before. Here are the highlights from my most recent visit!
Jana Irving Starting with a brand new place for me, the Complesso Monumentale Sant’Anna dei Lombardi. This is Vasari’s Sacristy, painted by Giorgio Vasari, a famed Italian Renaissance painter and architect. I visited his house later in the trip.
Jana Irving The church has several spectacular side chapels as well.
Jana Irving I next headed to one of my favorite museums in Naples, the cloister of Santa Chiara. Not only the walls of the cloister are fantastically frescoed….
Jana Irving There are also a ton of hand painted majolica tiles.
Jana Irving The garden in the center of the cloister is also full of them as well.
Jana Irving Porta Capuana, a Renaissance era gate on the northwest corner of the historic center. I hadn’t really explored this area before.
Jana Irving Next door to the gate is Santa Caterina a Formiello.
Jana Irving San Giovanni a Carbonara, a 15th century church with a weird entrance.
Jana Irving This monastery complex is known for its elaborate tombs. Right in the apse of the church is the 15th century funerary monument of King Ladislao I of Naples.
Jana Irving The back chapel, the Cappella Caracciolo del Sole, has another tombs surrounded by frescoed walls.
Jana Irving The ridiculous chapels continue with the 16th century Cappella Caracciolo di Vico.
Jana Irving The Somma Chapel.
Jana Irving Santa Maria Donnaregina, a gorgeous church turned Diocesan museum.
Jana Irving There was a whole planned route through the church and museum. I may have been distracted by the chapels.
Jana Irving Behind the first church is the Santa Maria Donnaregina Vecchia (old church).
Jana Irving The old church had a raised choir, with the walls covered with frescoes.
Jana Irving A typical street in the old city of Naples.
Jana Irving San Gregorio Armeno. The first time I walked into this church in 2011, I was yelled at by a nun. Today, they not only encourage visitors to visit, the sell tickets to their cloister. I’m still miffed about it.
Jana Irving It is a gorgeous church though.
Jana Irving That’s quite a doorway.
Jana Irving San Domenico Maggiore.
Jana Irving Certosa e Museo di San Martino, a monastery and museum on a hill overlooking the old city.
Jana Irving Such a gorgeous church.
Jana Irving I’m getting some strong Tuscan vibes here.
Jana Irving The best view of Vesuvius is up here. It’s hiding behind that cloud.
Jana Irving The whole complex is wonderful.
Jana Irving See, gorgeous.
Jana Irving There is also a gigantic cloister.
Jana Irving Museo Civico Gaetano Filangieri, a cool small museum featuring a rich guy’s random collection.
Jana Irving Gaetano Filangieri and Benjamin Franklin were correspondents.
Jana Irving Belvedere Villa Floridiana.
Jana Irving Palazzo Reale di Napoli (Royal Palace of Naples).
Jana Irving Cutest sentry box ever.
Jana Irving This palace is just plain gorgeous.
Jana Irving It’s something else.
Jana Irving It even has its own theater.
Jana Irving Everything is so shiny.
Jana Irving Gorgeous.
Jana Irving And it’s own church sized chapel.
Jana Irving Vesuvius forever looming over the Bay of Naples.
Jana Irving Castel dell’Ovo. There’s not much on the island other than seafood restaurants.
Jana Irving The Monastery of San Martino and the Castel Sant’Elmo from below.
Jana Irving My favorite round-about in Naples.
Naples is a fantastic city to visit if you are used to cities. It reminds me on New York City a lot. It’s grimy and gorgeous at the same time. It also has the best street food in Italy. Will I return? Of, course.
Check out my next update where I explore Pompeii!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure.
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Check out all my posts on the fantastic and insane city of Naples.
