RAW NAPLES
Simona's apartment is in the heart of the 'real' Naples; Quartieri Spagnoli (The Spanish Quarter) located in the Old Town.
Bustling, colourful, crumbling, energetic, loud and crowded - that is the Quartieri Spagnoli; it is the most densely populated part of the city.
The street network was laid out in the 1600s when the Spanish ruled the Kingdom of Naples. It was the district where the troops were housed.
It is a jam-packed area of human life where horns blare, people shout, traffic buzzes, music blasts, and laundry is hung in alleyways. It is like an old 1940's film set.
(Tip - buy ear plugs! There's pharmacy in Toledo Square that sells them).
The streets are so narrow that sunlight doesn't always penetrate to the pavement level. Most of the alleyways measure only 3 metres wide!
There are shopping streets that feel like a bazaar in Morocco - just stroll Via Pignasecca or Emmanuele de Deo.t. The alleys almost all end at staircases that climb the Vomero hill and every street has a secret passageway.
(Tip - Be extra careful when you cross the street. And I mean… extra careful! ).
It is probably the most characteristic and chaotic part of Naples, one worth seeing.
(tip - keep an eye on your purse and belongings, and don't go wandering around late at night if you're not familiar with the surroundings).
There are traditional shops and restaurants squeezed in everywhere and tiny fish shops that cook their own produce for you
(Tip - try Isapori Della Pescheria Azzurra for the freshest fish).
This area still keeps alive the traditions.