Naples Italy

     This is my second time to Naples, Italy.  The first time I went to Positano, Sorrento and Pompei, so I wanted to try something different. I booked a "Naples Street Food and Sightseeing Tour" through Viator. 

The link below is for the Viator tour.

Naples Street Food and Sightseeing Tour through Viator

It was already 77 degrees when we started out in the morning at 8:30 a.m. It would of been about a 20-25 minute walk, but an adviser on the ship recommended the taxi for about  €15 because be warned of pick pocketing and being robbed. He didn't want to scare us, but wanted us to be cautious. However, when we got off the ship and went to the information to get to Piazza Dante, she said, "Why don't you take the metro? It's only 2 stops and € 1.20."  Well that sounded good, and being the adventurous type we decided, why not? 

The castle is right outside the pier, and we walked past it to the metro station.

Castel Nuovo often called Maschio Angioino (Italian: "Angevin Keep"), is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall (Palazzo San Giacomo). 

We walked about a block, and someone helped us with the ticket machine, because they were not in English. He directed us which way to go, and off we went. The subway was very clean and very empty. Maybe because it was a Saturday morning. The train came in about 2 minutes and we hopped on. It took only about 5 minutes to get to our stop. We ended up in Piazza Dante, but our tour wasn't for a couple hours. We wandered around some cobblestone small streets for awhile before coming back to the square. 

With time to burn, and it being hot and muggy, we stopped for a melon granita. Anything with ice is heaven on a hot day! Then we went over to the statue to meet our guide Sara. There were 12 people in our group and off we went. She gave us a brief history lesson while the armed guards were standing close by. It's not unusual to see lot of police (mostly near churches) and armed guards around. Off to the central old part of town where all the shops and action is. 

We went to a little shop of Antonio's for an appetizer of buffalo mozzarella and eggplant. 

It was unlike any cheese I had before and it was amazing. I can still smell and taste the distinct flavor and texture. You can buy water for €1 from him, which we did because it was now in the 80's. Wish I would of brought a hydro flask.

 Then off to a small pizza place where we had "Pizza Pizza". 

Now you may be wondering what "Pizza Pizza" is. It's kind of like fried pizza with mozzarella in it that was folded over.

 

Then she came out with margherita pizza and we each had a slice of that.

Naples is known as the birth of the the pizza and they say it's almost impossible to get a bad pizza there.

 Onto the Limoncello store where they made limoncello in the back, and we got a quick tour of the limoncello process. Up at the front we had the regular limoncello shot and the "la crema", which is a milkier looking, smoother tasting limoncello. We bought both as souvenirs for ourselves to drink at home and reminisce. 

Piunicho. Rub his nose for good luck. 

By now we are stuffed! But we aren't done yet! She walks us through the streets for more history, and we rub Piunicho nose for good luck before we go to a tiny shop for gelato. We ask for no cone because it's too much. 

We go sit at a table in the shade as she says there is one more stop of bread dessert.

 She asks us if we want it now or takeaway. I can tell you that every single person said takeaway. 

It was a Great 2 hour tour, and we had such a great guide. 

When we left she gave us directions the the Metro, as now we were in a different spot totally from where we started. 

We went walking to find it, but actually didn't find it and ended up at the pier. Os instead of €30 for a taxi both ways, we spent €2.20 total. A great day as I would of never stopped at all those amazing places and tried those different foods. A great experience and I definitely recommend it to anyone.