Why Naples is my favorite city in Italy

 

Italy is filled with endless beautiful cities. So picking one is almost impossible; and there’s no right answer. Venice and their beautiful canals are one of my favorite visits; while Torino is in my opinion the most underrated city in Italy. But if I have to pick one, Naples takes the crown.

“Guagliooooooooooooooo”, as the locals will yell. Simply meaning, bro/guy, but in the Napeolatano dialect. You will 100% be hearing that yelled in the streets of Napoli.

As an Italian American, I enjoy visiting and just socializing with people. Within a few seconds, I receive a compliment on how well I speak, they ask where I’m from; I’ll say Florida. They’ll usually say what the fuck are you doing here and we’ll exchange a laugh. But the Napoloteano dialect is my favorite to listen to. Since my mom’s origins are near Naples, luckily that is the dialect she’ll speak in and I’m fortunate enough to understand it. Growing up I thought Neapolitan was standard Italian. So starting with that, the people in Napoli are one of my favorite things about it. If you ask a Neopalitano , Naples is the best city in the world, and there’s no comparison. I can’t blame them.

Let’s talk about the food scene in Naples. Naples has the best pizza in the world in my opinion. Heavily influencing it being my favorite city in Italy. One of my personal favorites is “pizza portagoflio” aka a “wallet pizza” in English. They take a standard pizza and fold it in half, then half again, so it’s essentially in a 1/4 fold. I remember when I was little I had gotten this pizza for one Euro. My most recent trip to Italy, it ran me 3.50; inflation even hitting Italy. My next personal favorite would be “Sfogiatelle” which is a traditional Neapolitan pastry; shell-shaped with delicate flaky layers of dough, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a ricotta filling. Varities include the “Sfogliatella Riccia” which is the classic, ridged version; and the “Sfogliatella from la” which is a smoother, short crust version.

Next, we have “Mozzarella di Bufala Campana”, which is fresh buffalo mozzarella from that region. My favorite cheese in the world. I remember once I was with my Zio, and we were riding on the outskirts of Napoli, and he asked if I was hungry, of course I said yes. We stopped and got some mozzarellas to eat right on the spot. A giant mozzarella ball, in a plastic bag filled with water. This ball was bigger than a baseball, filled my whole hand; and we each ate our own, like an apple. I’ll never forgot that mozzarella that day.

While these are my top 3, Naples has a ton of local dishes you must try when visiting Naples. I would save as much room as possible to try as many things as possible. There is the Babà al Rum, which is a sponge cake soaked in rum, often shaped like a mushroom or dome. The “Pastiera Napoletana” is a traditional Neapolitan Easter dessert, famous for its rich symbolism and unique flavor. It’s a wheat and ricotta tart originating in Naples centuries ago. One of my absolute favorites it the “Cuoppo Napoletano” which is a paper cone filled it’s fried street food such as a seafood, zucchini flowers, mozzarella bites. I remember getting one of these at midnight in Naples once, and the streets were still lively with people.

While these food scene alone is enough to win me over as my favorite Italian city, I really enjoy Napoli itself. Some people might find it sketchy as some neighborhoods are really run down. However that’s what makes Napoli, Napoli. But make no mistake, keep your head on a swivel when walking through Naples, as the world isn’t always kind. I remember my mom telling me a story about her aunt who was walking through Naples, and a man on a scooter drove up to her, and ripped her earring out of her ear, leaving her earlob split. Gruesome.

The “Quartieri Spagnoli” is a neighborhood in Naples, home to the iconic Diego Maradona mural, and a must see neighborhood when visiting Naples. Maradona is like a God to the locals, literally. You’ll see “D10S” everywhere, representing Dios(God), and the 10 representing Maradona’s soccer number. You’ll see endless paintings of him with a halo over his head. I have an uncle who has a Maradona display in his office, and he makes the sign of the cross to him whenever he passes by. Crazy.

Within the city streets you’ll see clothes hanging from lines to dry because they don’t own dryers. Nonno’s sitting in the street playing cards, smoking cigarettes. You’ll smell nonna’s cooking and be able to see it because their front door will be wide open as you walk by. You’ll see 12 year olds ripping the streets on motor scooters and Vespas; some will already be smoking cigarettes. You’ll see kids playing soccer in the streets, and the wanna be mobsters on corners.

You’ll walk along the “Lungomare di Napoli” which is Naples’ famous seaside promenade, stretching about 3 km. Offering panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius, and Castel dell’Ovo. It’s a lively, scenic atmosphere filled with restaurants, ice cream parlors, cafes. Filled with locals, and tourists, my family from Naples will always volunteer for a visit to Naples and a stroll on Lungomare when I’m in town.

So when someone asks me what’s my favorite city in Italy, Naples will always be my answer. They say “Vedi Napoli e poi muori” which translates to, see Naples and then die, emphasizing that once you see Naples your life is complete that’s how high of regards the Napealotianos hold their city.

Two of my favorite television series are “Gomorrah” and “Mare Fuori” which both take place in Naples. “Gomorrah” exposes the inner workings of the Neapolitan Camorra mafia, focusing on power, violence and survival. While “Mare Fuori” is set in a Naples juvenile detention center, exploring the lives, struggles, and hopes of young inmates caught between crime, friendship, and redemption.

Article by JohnnyViaggi