Naples

The hotel scene in Naples alludes suitably to the intense and exiting nature of the city, culminating in a blend of different styles and tastes. The five-star Grand Hotel Vesuvio (Via Partenope 45) has 160 rooms and resides at the high end of the scale, boasting a superb seafront location. La Ciliegina Lifestyle Hotel (Via Paolo Emilio Imbriani 30) is smaller yet similarly tasteful, offering an excellent rooftop view of the city. The Best Western Hotel Paradiso (Via Catullo 11) is also notable for its fantastic vistas in a more simple, 74-room setting, while the three-star Golden Hotel (Via Dei Fiorentini 51) is found close to the port.

There are a wide variety of shopping opportunities to be found in Naples, as you would expect from one of Italy’s largest cities. The lengthy Via Toledo is a well-known stretch in the city centre, offering a swathe of upmarket boutiques and well-known chains. Meanwhile famed outlets such as Marinella (Riviera di Chiaia 287) and Fratelli Tramontano (Via Chiaia 143-144) are found elsewhere, notable for their silk ties and handmade leather goods respectively. Head to Via San Gregorio Armeno to pick up classic Neapolitan souvenirs.

Pizza lovers will be in their element in the home of the pizza, with a superb option for sampling the local delight being Da Michele Pizzeria (Via Cesare Sersale 1-3), which has offered authentic fare since 1870. There are only two varieties found here, so for a larger menu try Osteria da Carmela (Via Conte di Ruovo 11-12) for a traditional slice, or Palazzo Petrucci Ristorante (Piazza San Domenico Maggiore 4) for a more creative experience that also boasts a top-notch wine list.

Settimani della Cultura

April

Expect exhibitions and workshops aplenty as museums, monuments, libraries and other cultural attractions are opened up to the public for free. This nationwide initiative is hugely popular in Naples, and runs for nine days every spring.

Napoli Teatro Festival

June

With everything from orchestral music to interpretive dance on offer, a lively concoction of varying musical and theatrical events draws international and local performers to a number of venues around the city.

Giffoni Film Festival

July/August

Considered Italy’s second most important such event after Venice, the Giffoni Film Festival takes place in a village just outside Naples. In the region of 100,000 people visit the festival each year, which boasts a strong international reputation.

Festa di Piedigrotta

September

Large concerts, colourful parades and a week-long singing competition are all included in this annual celebration that lends its main focus to the fest day of the Madonna of Piedigrotta.

Natale e Napoli

December

Naples is a stunning place to be over Christmas, with the city putting on a series of communal events that include markets, concerts, plays and exhibitions. Most of the churches in the city put on elaborate nativity scenes to mark the festive period.