We had two doors leading out to our private deck/patio: One was from the living room, while the other, the one to the left, led to the bedroom. We had our own two loungers, as well as a table with an umbrella. It was lovely! After getting settled in, we headed out to explore a…
Author: rchabala
I am 56 years old. I live in New York City and for the last 11 years, have been traveling to Italy at least twice every year. I love everything Italian. From the art and museums to the people, to the incredible food, my heart skips a beat when I think of Italy, and the many places and things that I've been lucky enough to experience. Now, I want to share my excitement and passion with the world. I will take you to both major Italian cities, and small mountain villages. I will talk about things to do in these places, and places to explore which are off of the beaten path. I will also talk about the restaurants that I've dined in, and the places that I lay my head down in, while staying in each of these locations.
Ischia Porto – Day 1 – Part 1 – Goodbye, Naples, and Hello, Ischia!
Our last evening in Naples was a nice one! We walked back over to the small group of restaurants and bars that surround the base of Castel dell’Ovo, and had our aperitivo, drink and snacks before dinner. The next morning, after breakfast, we gathered our luggage, and headed to the port area, to catch a…
Naples – Day 4 – Part 5 – Fried Food and Sun
Once we had finished our visit of the interior of the Palazzo Reale, we headed outside, to see the courtyards and gardens! In one of the courtyards, you can see sculptures of horses by Mimmo Paladino, which look as if they are struggling to free themselves from the earth. Just off Via Cesario Console, in…
Naples – Day 4 – Part 4 – A Palace, a Nativity, and A Caravaggio
There are over thirty rooms that make up the visitor’s path in the Palazzo Reale, and so, I recommend giving yourself at least an hour and a half to enjoy it. In one room, there was a fascinating machine that resembled a sort of Ferris wheel for books! The Cappella Reale, or the Royal Chapel,…
Naples – Day 4 – Part 3 – Rooms of the Royal Palace
We continued our visit of the magnificent rooms of the Palazzo Reale. The Throne Room was designed by Antonio de Simone. It was here that the royals would receive their guests. The throne that we see today dates from 1850. Next, you enter into the Hall of the Ambassadors. Off the Hall of the Ambassadors,…
Naples – Day 4 – Part 2 – The Palazzo Reale
The Palazzo Reale, or the Royal Palace of Naples, was the home of the House of Bourbon, from 1735 to 1861. It dates from the 17th century, and was designed by the architect, Domenico Fontana. It was built as a residence for the Viceroy, Fernando Ruiz de Castro, of Spain. In 1888, by order of…
Naples – Day 4 – Part 1 – MeMus
We decided to begin our first day in Naples with a visit to the Palazzo Reale. The entrance to the palace is on Piazza del Plebiscito. Entering the courtyard, you will see signs for the ticket office. Go inside, buy tickets, and then, proceed up the stairs! The entrance to the museum is to the…
Naples – Day 3 – Part 3 – Three Obelisks
In the photo above, a plaque marks the house where A.K. Razumovsky, the first Russian ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples, lived and worked. He lived there from 1779 through 1784. The Obelisco dell’Immacolata can be found in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo. It was designed by Giuseppe Genoino, and dates from the mid-1700s. It is…
Naples – Day 3 – Part 2 – Sightseeing and the Gran Caffè Gambrinus
On your way out of the Basilica Reale Pontificia San Francesco da Paola, please, do not forget to visit the small room near the entranceway, which houses a tiny museum. The Archivio Fotografico Parisio is an archive of photographic material produced over the course of 80 years, by Partenope Films, and the Troncone brothers: Roberto,…
Naples – Day 3 – Part 1 – Two Beautiful Churches
Our third day in Naples was another beautiful one. The sun was shining, and the air, fresh and clean. As we passed the Basilica di Santa Lucia a Mare, we noticed that the doors were open, and there were no crowds in front, unlike our last attempted visit. So, in we went! Much of the…
Naples – Day 2 – Part 4 – The Beautiful Chaos of Naples
As we walked, we came upon an abstract sculpture of a horse. The work is titled “Il Cavaliere di Toledo,” and is by the South African artist, William Kentridge. Around the corner, we found a vendor selling handmade pottery. A plaque, at the beginning of Via Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra, features a passage from the…
Naples – Day 2 – Part 3 – Exploring and Octopus to Die For!
At Via dei Mille, #40, you will find the Palazzo Leonetti. The palazzo dates from 1908, and was designed in the Art Nouveau style by the architect, Giulio Ulisse Arata, and the engineer, Gioacchino Luigi Mellucci. The original plan called for the palazzo to function as a hotel, but that was never realized, and the…