Piazza del Gesù Nuovo

Admire the mix of Italian and Greek influences as you see the highlights in Naples on this bike tour. Ride through the historic center and experience the Greek influence as you ride down the streets Via dei Tribunali and Anticaglia. Start by riding down the Naples Promenade. Enjoy views of the sea with Vesuvius looming in the background. Pass by the seafront castle of Castel dell’ Ovo. Ride past seaside cafes and shops as you go through Borgo Marinari. Go east on Via Caracciolo street until you reach the stately Piazza del Plebiscito square where you can see the Royal Palace and the church of San Francesco di Paola. Turn onto the bustling commercial street Via Toledo where you can reach the squares Piazza Carità and Piazza del Gesù. Continue to the ancient Greek heart of Naples in the Decumani district. Experience the Greek layout as you ride down narrow streets in this historic center. Peddle down Via dei Tribunali and Anticaglia to see the dozens of ancient churches and some charming squares.

Start from the ancient street of Spaccanapoli located in the heart of the historic city of Naples to reach Piazza del Municipio where the castle Maschio Angioino is located and then head to Piazza Plebiscito with its royal palace and San Carlo theater. Proceed to the promenade along the cycle path where you will stop at the ancient village of Marinaro which houses Castel dell'Ovo, the oldest castle of Naples and source of ancient legends like that of the siren Parthenope. In front of the castle, you will see Monte Echia, considered the  first settlement area of Neapolis by the Greeks. Your tour will then continue crossing the magnificent coastline by the splendid gulf setting characterized by Vesuvius, the Sorrento Peninsula and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Your next stop will be at Virgilian Natural Park from where you can easily climb the hill of Posillipo. From here, you will leave to cross the former industrial area of Bagnoli and visit the North pier (a walk of 1000 meters over the sea and a work of industrial architecture that was the old pontoon of ILVA). Finally, return to the center through the west of the city.

Meet the local guide in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, the real heart of historic Naples, and embark on a 3-hour guided tour of the city's narrow and winding streets. Admire the Church of Gesù Nuovo, the Obelisk of the Immaculate Conception, and the Basilica of Santa Chiara while learning about their history. Next, visit Pignasecca, a colorful local market buzzing with food and clothing shops. Take in the sights and smells of the market and try some typical Neopolitan street food along the way. Enter the bustling Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter), the most densely populated and characteristic part of the city. Look up the hill at its grid of alleys and stairs and take in the street art and hanging linins decorating the balconies. Finish in the monumental area of Naples and admire the elegant Caffè Gambrinus, the San Carlo Theatre, the Galleria Umberto, and the Piazza Plebiscito framed in the background by the Royal Palace.

Climb aboard the shuttle bus service on Piazza del Gesù Nuovo in the historical center of Naples, and then travel in comfort to the archaeological site of Pompeii. Get dropped off at the main entrance and save precious time with your priority entrance ticket. Travel back in time and imagine life during the days of the Roman Empire as you stroll along cobblestone streets built over 2,000 years ago. See the miraculous remains of the shops, temples and theaters that were covered in lava and ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Marvel at the mosaic tiles of the luxury villas of rich merchants who made their fortune in the prosperous city. See the remains of the House of the Faun and get an insight into how the citizens kept themselves entertained as you discover a brothel, public baths and much more. 

Discover all the stories and curiosities of Neapolitan tradition and folklore on a guided walk through the old center of Naples along historic streets and squares, including Spaccanapoi, Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, and Via San Gregorio Armeno. Enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Sansevero Chapel. The tour starts in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, one of the most famous squares in the city’s historic center. See the Gesù Nuovo Baroque church full of history and legends, then look to the middle of the square to admire the towering obelisk dedicated to the Immacolata Concezione. Along Via San Biagio, best known as Spaccanapoli, you’ll be guided to discover the most fascinating and relevant sites like the Chiesa di Santa Chiara and the square of San Domenico Maggiore. Next on the itinerary is the Cappella Sansevero (Sansevero Chapel) that hosts the statue of the Veiled Christ, one of the most admired sculptures in the world. Enter inside to see works of Rococo art by leading Italian artists of the 18th century and the anatomical machines. Back on Via San Biagio dei Librai, stop in Piazzetta Nilo where the Statue of the Nile God sits. Nearby, reach Via San Gregorio Armeno, a historic street with artisan shops, particularly known for the production of presepe (static nativity scenes). See the usual nativity characters along with figures representing famous personalities from cinema, TV, soccer, and politics. The tour continues to Piazza San Gaetano before heading to the final stop of the trip, the Napoli Dome. The Napoli Dome was dedicated to San Gennaro and Santa Maria Assunta and features Neapolitan Gothic and Baroque art. The main attraction of the interior is the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro. The church also houses a vial of the blood of San Gennaro, which is brought out three times a year, when the dried blood usually liquefies. According to legend, if the blood fails to liquefy, a disaster will befall Naples.

Step into the heart of Naples on this guided walking tour of the cozy and characteristic Spaccanapoli street. Visit iconic monuments, churches, and spot the highest spire of the city. End your experience with a pizza dinner. Depart from the meeting point in Piazza del Gesù, where you can admire the highest spire of the city, that also hides a singular curiosity. Then, visit the inside the church of Gesù Nuovo, known as the church of the doctor Giuseppe Moscati. Later, head to the Santa Chiara complex and visit inside the Church of Santa Chiara that’s in a majestic Gothic style. Follow with a walk up to San Domenico Maggiore, a square full of curiosities. Continue toward the Piazzetta Nilo and Largo Corpo di Napoli squares, where you can see the statue of the god Nile. The tour continues down the most famous street in the world known as the street of the shepherds (Via San Gregorio Armeno). Complete your experience with a stop for a dinner based on the most famous dish in the world: pizza.

Explore the historic town of Naples on a guided walking tour. Learn about Naples' 3,000-year-long history from local historian buff Michele Arpa and see the city's top sights. Begin your tour in the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo with a quick rundown of the history of Naples. Learn how Naples began as a Greek settlement before coming under the rule of the Romans, Normans, Swabians, French, Aragonese, Spaniards, and Bourbons until Italian unification in 1861. As you stroll through the ancient Greek streets, hear how each dynasty left deep traces in the appearance, culture, and customs of the Neapolitan people. See architecture from the ancient Greeks and Romans and the Middle Ages, and marvel at Renaissance and Baroque churches. See some of Naples's over 500 churches. Start with the Gesù Nuova Church, with its intricate decorations. Continue to Santa Chiara to marvel at its cloister. Next, discover the centers of political power in Naples. Marvel at the Royal Palace in the spectacular Piazza Plebiscito. See the Maschio Angioino, the castle that served as a defense against sea invaders. Climb the hill of San Martino to reach the Castel Sant'Elmo. Continue to explore the homes of Naples' well-to-do families. Visit the Sansevero Chapel to see its collection of statues, including Giuseppe Sanmartino's masterpiece, the Veiled Christ. Walk down the coastal road Via Caracciolo and get a stunning photo of the clear water. As you walk, hear about the many museums in Naples from Michele. Get an overview of the National Archaeological Museum's collection of objects from Pompeii and the Capodimonte Museum's immense painting collection. Finish your tour with a visit to the Naples Cathedral and learn about its historic relics.