Naples, a step in the past, one in the middle east and another one in the kitchen

Naples, Italy’s third-largest city, thrives on contradictions. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world, Naples is both chaotic and cultured, opulent and gritty, exuberant and understated, with architectural gems to discover around every corner. Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, Naples has witnessed over 2500 years of history unfold from its magnificent perch along the Mediterranean Sea, with Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance.  We can thank Naples for inventing pizza, but culinary delights abound, and caffè culture is found in its many charming coffee bars. Many tourists skip Naples as they make their way to the Amalfi Coast or Pompeii archeological park, but this intriguing city, with its captivating architecture, rich history, and mouth-watering culinary traditions, is not to be missed. It’s a city that has a lot in common with the middle eastern style of life, slow, chaotic but, in its on way, quite logical behind all that chaos. Unfortunally not revealed to the strangers. Naples is also the Italian capital of street food. Here, every single corner, is a feast for the eyes as well as for the mouth. Pizze, fried “cuoppi” with a taste of everything, sfogliatelle and babà. Time to taste all, no doubt about it. The following pictures are a mix of street, classical reportage and architecture but are almost all taken in the very centre of the old historical city, around the two Decumani. Hope you’ll like both, pictures and the city