Built to house troops during the Spanish occupation, the historic Quartiere Spagnoli buzzes with life, with colorful laundry flapping from the balconies, residents sipping espresso on their doorsteps, and motorbikes zipping by at all hours of the day and night. Because of its rather impenetrable maze of lanes, it’s best to tour this characteristic area as part of a guided walking tour of the historic center. Naples is famous for its cuisine, and many sightseeing tours combine a neighborhood walk with pizza tastings and samples of other local street food.
The Quartiere Spagnoli is located west of Via Toledo in the historic center of Naples, an easy walk from both the city’s port and main train station. Naples is a major transportation and cruise ship hub, with rains from major Italian cities and ferries from Sorrento and Salerno.
Naples can be uncomfortably hot in summer, so try to visit in spring or fall. In summer, schedule your tour for the early morning before the temperatures soar.
The historic center of Naples encompasses more than 10 neighborhoods covering the hillsides around the Bay of Naples to the water’s edge. A tour of this area is a journey back in time, beginning with the Roman roads of the Spaccanapoli, including the medieval Castel Nuovo and elegant 19th-century Piazza Plebiscito.
