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I’ve at all times had a comfortable spot in my coronary heart for Rome—and can at all times exit of my technique to defend it in opposition to its many detractors. The “Everlasting Metropolis” will eternally be a journey favourite of mine. Then again, I’ve additionally come to like an Italian metropolis that’s much more maligned than its capital: Naples, the misunderstood hub of Italy’s south, which many vacationers use as little greater than a base for excursions to the Amalfi Coast.
My comparability of Rome vs Naples isn’t to encourage you to skip one and go to the opposite, nevertheless. As an alternative, I purpose to encourage you to see each, should you can handle to find time for doing so inside your Italy itinerary.
One of many most important variations between Rome and Naples is their reputations. Whereas not everybody loves Rome, as I discussed earlier on this submit, its benefit as a vacationer vacation spot is tough to disclaim, if solely due to how ubiquitous it’s within the international dialog about journey. Naples, then again, tends to be referred to as a grimy mafia den, assuming it’s recognized in any respect—for a lot of vacationers, it’s an afterthought.
One other method this manifests itself is in what number of worldwide occasions come to Rome, however to not Naples. You may take into account Rome to be your journey’s most important course—Naples is dessert, child!
Rome
Methods to Evaluate Rome With Naples
Cityscape and points of interest
Rome has a extra iconic cityscape than Naples, with landmarks just like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain recognizable even to vacationers who know comparatively little about Italy. Certainly, whereas Italian vacationers could know Naples points of interest just like the Centro Storico and Fontanelle Cemetery properly, it takes even seasoned foreigners fairly some time to get a lay of the land.
Meals
That is one other space the place, at the very least on the floor, there isn’t any competitors between Naples and Rome. Rome, in any case, just isn’t solely the unique of classics like carbonara and tiramisù, however because the capital of Italy has meals from just about all around the nation represented. Naples, nevertheless, has one factor that Rome doesn’t: One of the best pizza in Italy, and arguably the world.
Panorama
Rome, like many well-known world capitals, is a metropolis constructed atop Seven Hills; along with this, its most important geographical characteristic is the Tiber River, which kind of bisects it. The pure skyline of Naples, then again, is dominated by Mt. Vesuvius, which is especially spectacular when seen from the north, rising not solely above the town itself, however above the Gulf of Naples.
Day Journeys
One factor which will shock you, should you’re contemplating Naples or Rome, is that Naples has far many day journeys on provide. From Rome, the one fascinating one is Tivoli Gardens (which, to be frank, is de facto not in good condition). From Naples, then again, you may go to ruins in Pompeii and Ercolano; you may see the Amalfi Coast on a day journey, or make a multi-day tour out of it, with visits to the islands of Capri and Ischia added on.
Security
Vacationers who know nothing in regards to the points of interest or delicacies on provide in Naples in all probability affiliate the town with crime, specifically organized crime. In actuality, nevertheless, la famiglia has a lot deeper ties to the island of Sicily, which is hours away from Naples. For the typical international customer, Naples and Rome are each comparatively protected. The best hazard you face is usually crossing the street with out getting hit by a bike!
Naples
How Many Days Do You Want in Rome? What About Naples?
On the floor, you would possibly assume you want extra days in Rome than you want in Naples. Rome is a superb deal extra well-known than Naples, in any case, and has extra points of interest which can be higher recognized. Then again, since there are extra day journeys and excursions on provide should you head south to Naples, my expertise has been that you’ll often find yourself spending longer within the Naples space total than you’ll the Rome one.
Whether or not you’re in Rome or Naples, I usually advocate spending a minimum of 2-3 days in any Italian metropolis. In Naples, nevertheless, due to the components I discussed above, you would possibly spend 4-5 nights and even longer. Nicely, once more, at the very least within the neighborhood. Many vacationers will break up this, with 2-3 days in Naples correct, in addition to 1-2 night time stays on the Amalfi Coast, and doubtlessly additionally on the islands of Ischia and Capri.
Different FAQ on Visiting Naples and Rome
Is it value going to Naples from Rome?
Because of high-speed trains that take simply over an hour every method, it’s completely doable to journey to Naples for a day from Rome. Nonetheless, since most vacationers who head to the Naples space are in the end certain for outlying locations like Pompeii, the Isle of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, it doesn’t find yourself making sense to return down merely for the day.
The Backside Line
I’m not evaluating Rome vs Naples with the intent that you’ll skip one in favor of the opposite. Slightly, I purpose to open your thoughts: Particularly to the concept the much-maligned metropolis of Naples truly makes a fantastic companion to close by Rome, if not an outright substitute for it throughout your journey to Italy. Naples is sort of a bit much less touristic than Rome, to say nothing of the truth that it presents extra (and higher) day journeys, and has a lot tastier pizza. To me, it’s simply as important to understanding Italy as Rome is, and certainly as a lot as Florence, Milan and Venice are.
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Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications equivalent to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Every day Hell, gives a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric facets of life as a traveler.
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