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It’s sometimes the fate of a single city to epitomise an era: Berlin in the 1920s, perhaps, or London in the 1960s. So which one would represent our own period of ecological anxiety, true crime and fake news? I’d wager it’s one you might not suspect: Naples. In terms of cultural clout, the place is booming. The city’s famous bay, flanked by Mount V...

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We don’t need to tell you that Italian cuisine is so much more than just pizza and pasta. Each region in Italy, from Lombardy in the north to Sicily in the south, offers its own unique culinary treasures that are steeped in centuries-old traditions, offering a true treat to the palates of food lovers worldwide. With this in mind, here’s our roundup...

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Did you know that Italy has a royal palace that rivals Versailles in size and splendor? Located about 40 minutes north of Naples, the Reggia di Caserta was built in the 18th century by King Charles III (known as Charles of Bourbon), who looked to the famous French palace for inspiration. Designed by Luigi Vanvitelli, the Reggia di Caserta has 1,200...

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Have you ever wondered if there is a proper way to interpret the Neapolitan song genre? If we did an interview, everyone would have a different idea because there isn't an answer. As Pino Daniele's song said: - "Napul'è mille culure" (Napoli is a thousand colors) and therefore, this will also be the way of interpreting its heritage of songs, brough...

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Have you ever wondered what lies within a museum? Naturally, this is the question we all ask ourselves before any visit: what will I see? What are my expectations? Will there be something beautiful or interesting? Perhaps we’ve already skimmed through a book or brochure and have some idea of what to expect, maybe even a planned route. However, the...

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Why are the Italian proverbs of Naples so famous and widespread? Beautiful Naples has a history, a culture, a sense of irony and a tradition unique in the world and proverbs are the tool that keeps them alive and that has made them, over time, popular even outside the city. Let’s give it a try, how many of you can pronounce and translate A dark hea...

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Many tourists focus on the most famous destinations of Naples and its surroundings, but there is a less known and less visible side of Nisida that deserves to be known: we are talking about Porto Paone. Nisida is home to the juvenile prison and can only be visited at certain times during organized visits.  What does the name Nisida mean?  The name...

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In the 17th century, King Louis XIV unleashed a serious case of “Versailles envy” when fellow monarchs heard about the unprecedented luxury of the newly-built French Palace. Italy’s Royal Palace at Caserta was inspired by the model of Versailles. Historically, rulers built magnificent palaces not only for their personal indulgence but because it wa...

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Originating in the working-class areas of Naples in the early 20th Century, a caffè sospeso, aka 'suspended coffee', 'pending coffee', or 'pay it forward coffee' is a cup of coffee paid for in advance as an anonymous act of charity. The practice began as a goodwill gesture where more fortunate patrons at Neapolitan cafés and coffee bars would pay f...

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It’s astounding how many everyday English words have their roots in Italian: think confetti, stilettos, casino, volcano, influenza, and quarantine, just to name a handful. However, there are also many words making their way into everyday language that find their origins in specific Italian cities. Items were often titled after their places of origi...

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