fbpx

Stories of Excellent Italian Hospitality

Ebook born from the idea of the Italian Airbnb community, contains the stories from hosts of 30 Italian community leaders.

Issued in December 2023 on the occasion of the visit to Italy of Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, who received it as a gift during his stay in Milan.

Among the 30 stories you can also read that of Erminio, community leader from Naples, who also tells how the Interno16HolidayHome holiday home was born.

Below is the paragraph dedicated to us:

The excitement for my first guests is still the same.
Erminio, Naples, Campania

My name is Erminio, I’m 45 years old, and I’m from Naples, and this is my story. It all began many years ago when I was just a young traveler in search of adventures. I had recently finished my studies and decided to take a trip across Europe. While I was in Budapest, Hungary, I had the opportunity to meet someone who was sharing an apartment on Airbnb. It was my first experience with this platform, and that person shared with me how wonderful it was to be able to live like a local, away from traditional hotels. This journey left a deep mark on me, and that’s why I continued to use Airbnb in all my subsequent travels. This way of traveling allowed me to connect with the true essence of a place, immerse myself in the local culture, and make new friends along the way. In 2016, my partner and I, with whom I now have two wonderful children, made an important decision. Our first child had recently been born, and we had both worked hard for many years. We decided to slow down our work pace and dedicate ourselves to our family. With our savings, we purchased an apartment in the historic center of Naples to offer it to travelers from around the world. The house had its own unique charm, but it needed significant renovations. What convinced us was our complementarity: I am passionate about cultures and languages, with curiosity and an interest in what is new and different; she is precise, creative, loves order and beauty, and respects spaces. Together, united by the love for our city, we could be a winning team, and we believed in that wholeheartedly. Our home reflects the passion we have always shared, collecting vintage items from the 1960s and 70s, and many of our guests are impressed by the unique environment we have created. I still remember the enthusiasm I felt with the first guests, a theater company that found warm support in our apartment after days of rehearsals, and their gratitude was expressed with an invitation to one of their performances. Since then, my commitment and love for this work have not changed; if anything, they have strengthened. I also remember instances of difficulty with some guests that I always tried to address, thinking of making them feel at home. Like when a family lost a backpack during an outing with all their departure documents, and we immediately mobilized to find it. Everything turned out well in the end, and it was gratifying to receive so much appreciation for our prompt action. Unfortunately, 2020 was a tough year for everyone due to the pandemic. With the tourism sector at a standstill, I started to get involved in local and regional tourism policies. I joined discussions with other citizens and tried to understand how we could address this crisis and plan for the future of tourism in Naples. In 2021, Airbnb noticed my dedicated involvement in the community and chose me to lead the host community in my city. This was an incredible opportunity as it allowed me to actively contribute to enhancing the experience of travelers visiting Naples. Shortly after, Airbnb recognized my commitment not only at the local level but also at the national and European levels. They entrusted me with representing Italian hosts in political discussions with the respective Italian and European governments. This is a significant responsibility, but also a great honor because it allows me to influence tourism policies on a much broader scale. What I love most as an Airbnb traveler is the opportunity to interact with locals, discover and live the local life, and share my experiences with others. At the core of my hosting style are inclusion and professionalism. My aim is to make sure that my guests’ stay is unforgettable, offering them a genuine Neapolitan experience. Naples is a city with a millennia-old cultural and artistic tradition, and my mission is to convey its value. I look to the future with the promise of continuous improvement and the commitment to making tourism more sustainable, both environmentally and socially. I firmly believe in respecting the law and the importance of promoting responsible tourism. Airbnb has given me the opportunity to realize my dream of sharing the beauty of Naples with the world, and I will continue to do so in the best possible way with the support of my family.

The Neapolitan pastry tradition for the Christmas holidays

The tasty Christmas delicacies from Campania are part of the centuries-old Neapolitan pastry tradition: roccocò, susamielli, divino amore, zeppole and struffoli, lead us by the hand in the liturgical period of Advent, to long evenings spent at home, to the game of tombola.

Zeppole or Ancient Scauratielli.

Typical of the Sorrento coast, they are fried donuts prepared with a dough made from flour, water, milk and aniseed, and seasoned with honey, riavulilli (for the uninitiated, they are microscopic sugared almonds of various colors that bring to mind the decorations of our Christmas) and orange peel.

Among the Neapolitan trades there was also that of the zeppolara who fried these donuts in lard or animal fat in the street and served them covered in honey.

Zeppole

Struffoli

Delicious sweet balls fried and dipped in honey. In Naples it is not Christmas without struffoli, that explosion of taste that makes you feel like a child again every time you eat them, golden and colorful with riavulilli and candied fruit.

The origin of struffoli is Greek: the name derives from strongulos, i.e. spherical, rounded or hollow-shaped pasta; this preparation is also consolidated in the Neapolitan confectionery tradition, the confections by the Nuns of the convents of the Croce of Lucca and those of S. Maria dello Splendore were splendid.

A little curiosity, in Greek cuisine, there is a similar sweet, the Loukoumades, mixed with flour, eggs, sugar, nutmeg and seasoned with honey flavored with lemon and cinnamon.

Struffoli

Mustacciuoli

The mustacciuoli have a rhomboidal shape, are about 10-12 cm large and are covered with a chocolate glaze, while inside they are characterized by a soft paste with a taste of honey and candied fruit.

These desserts are particularly loved by Neapolitan children for their softness and for the taste that combines honey and chocolate.

Mustacciuoli

Roccocò

Donut-shaped sweets, in which the scent of citrus fruits sends our thoughts back to the Mediterranean, its coasts and its flower gardens.

Impenetrable sweet, hard, suitable for those with solid teeth, its name comes from the French rocaille for the baroque and rounded shell shape.

It is a particularly hard biscuit so it can be softened by dipping it in vermouth, sparkling wine, white wine or marsala.

Roccocò

Divino Amore

History has it that, in the 13th century, the cloistered nuns of the Divino Amore convent, located near San Biagio dei Librai, prepared these sweet pastries to pay homage to Beatrice of Provence, mother of King Charles II of Anjou. Today the convent no longer exists, but the tradition of preparing Divino Amore has never stopped.

The Neapolitans love to taste these sweet oval pastries covered with a pink sugar glaze and filled with almonds, mixed candied fruit, eggs and apricot jam.

Divino Amore

Susamiello

It is one of those desserts that the Neapolitans always want to see on their festively laid table during the Christmas period. But don’t call it just a biscuit. It is, in fact, a dessert in all respects. Compared to the Roccocò of which they are distant relatives, the Susamielli are a little softer and have the characteristic “S” shape. They owe their name to the covering with sesame seeds and among the ingredients used to prepare them, the minced walnuts, honey, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg stand out for their aroma.

Susamiello

What is your favorite Neapolitan Christmas dessert, and above all, why?

Best places for gluten free in Napoli

On the hunt for gluten free in Napoli? Allow us to present you with our personal gluten free treasure map.

Leopoldo Cafebar Senza GlutinePiazza Cavour, 78/79

A gluten free patisserie that presents a vast and mouth watering selection of sweet treats that not only look amazing but taste wonderful, and it’s hard to believe they’re gluten free.
You can find all the most typical pastries of the Neapolitan tradition exclusively gluten-free.

Antica Pizzeria Vesi NapoliVia dei Tribunali, 388

Gluten-free pizzeria, with high quality products and with an always surprising taste. Excellent knowledge on intolerance, supplied with gluten-free products. All varieties of pizza can be eaten gluten-free, as well as beer.

Oven Il Forno VegetarianoVicoletto S. Pietro a Maiella, 10

Small and cozy place in the center with quite big offer. Food is delicious and cheap. 100% gluten-free in the historic center. Perfect for a lunch break with a focaccia, a parmigiana or croutons.

O GrinVia Mezzocannone, 83

Big heart, great intentions, amazing results! Between one pizza and another, drop by this big tiny place. Next to the University, you’ll feel like a Neapolitan, while enjoying cozy day to day Italian meals (GF and/or vegan, of course!). The place itself is really small so it’s better suited for take away or for a casual lunch.

Ristorante Vitto PitagoricoPiazza Museo, 15

Not 100% gluten-free but you only have to ask to find out. Prices are very reasonable taking in to account the taste and presentation. Portion sizes are good and with how good the food tastes you’ll be left wondering how they get it to taste so good. Very friendly and helpful staff. Restaurant opposite the Archeological National Museum.

Mammina Via Santa Brigida, 65

Mammina offers many gluten-free and lactose-free proposals: from pizza to seafood dishes, such as mussels, salads with octopus, and much more. Do not miss Frittura mista!

Zero Zero GranoVia Carlo de Cesare, 40

Cozy, delicious restaurant, with selected high quality products exclusively gluten-free, from frying, to first courses up to seafood second courses. And the baba is the icing on the cake. Staff very kind and helpful.

Cavoli NostriVia Palepoli, 32

This vegeterian restaurant offer GF recipes and a wide range of bio wines. The menu is strictly seasonal, so it is updated four times a year as well as the nature production cycle. It’s always possible to enjoy new experiments but also vegetarian or vegan or gluten free revisions of some typical dishes of the Italian tradition. Near the panoramic seafront of Napoli.

Where to park?

Our apartment is located in Vico Giganti, an alley in ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) and it is not possible to arrive by car or to park, as well as throughout the historic center of Napoli.

The nearest private car park Parking De Santo Gardes is just 200mt away in Via San Giuseppe dei Ruffi, 8. That one is in a limited traffic zone, but they will give you a temporary permission just to reach the garage.
Tel.: +39 081 454314

A little bit further, 850mt away, but not in a Limited Traffic Zone, there is Autorimessa Schisa Parcheggio in Via Foria, 107.
Tel.: +39 081 440062

For both, fees will be around €25-45 per day (small – full size car – van).

The cheaper alternative is to park your car in Parcheggio Brin in Via Benedetto Brin for €8 per day or at Quickparking Stazione Centrale in Piazza Nazionale for €9-14 per day. From these parking lots then reach the apartment by taxi.

We can suggest also Napoli Centrale – Parcheggio in P.za Giuseppe Garibaldi, 137 for €2.50 / each hour or fraction, daily rate: € 22. From these parking lot then reach the apartment by metro.

Naples International Airport has six car parks that can accommodate 1,400 vehicles. They can be found as you approach the airport on the main entry road. Options for long term and short term parking are available.

To visit Napoli, the car is not recommended.

From our apartment all the sites of interest, restaurants, cafè, pizzerias are easily reachable on foot or by metro, the nearest metro stations are 800mt away.

Also a taxi rank is just 100mt away.

You could consider driving the car only for the day when you want to take a trip out of town (Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Caserta, etc.)

The Best Wine Bars in Naples

History, stunning sea-scapes, amazing cuisine and pizzas, laid-back Italian life; Naples is famous for many things, and you can add wine to the list. The city is home to numerous wine bars and enoteca, popular with locals, tourists and a mixed crowd. We pick the top wine bars to visit when in Naples.

Blind Pig – Hideout Drinkery

An unconventional retro style bar in Naples’ hidden alley and you know how much we love retro style!
Enjoy the excellent music selection and craft beers, wines, cocktails and spirits. The whole staff is friendly and this really cool spot is just perfect to relax and to drink like a Napoletano. It is also possible to eat delicious dishes to go with your drinks. The Blind Pig is waiting for you!

Vico 2° della Quercia, 8, Naples, Italy +39 081 6337278

Enoteca Belledonne

A popular bar with both locals and tourists, Enoteca Belledonne is a definite must try when visiting Naples. Situated in Chiaia, this bar offers a range of both food and drink specializing in both local and international wines. Dishes include bruschetta, spaghetti, meatballs. Surrounded by many small boutiques and restaurants, this is located in one of Naples posh areas and is worth a visit if you get the chance.

Vico Belledonne a Chiaia, 18, Naples, Italy +39 081 403162

Spazio Nea

Nea is one of Naples’ most unique bars. An art gallery by day, Nea is dedicated to contemporary works and features paintings and sculptures by international artists dating from the second half of the twentieth century. However, this space is also home to a wine bar that serves delicious wine indoors and outdoors. With numerous magazines and catalogues placed on the tables visitors can relax and enjoy some peace and quiet after a hectic day. The artistic setting makes this a fabulous place to unwind after a busy day.

Via S. Maria di Costantinopoli, 53, Naples, Italy, +39 081 451358

Wine Boat Wine Bar

At the entrance of the room of Wine Boat you will find a boat-shaped counter, climb to the 2nd floor where you will find the air-conditioned room with tables for wine tasting. A wine lover and a Sunday drinker will welcome you to Quartieri Spagnoli of Naples for a trip through Campania. Crew will make you discover wonderful wines like Falanghina, Fiano, Greco of Tufo, Aglianico, Taurasi, …

Vico D’Afflitto, 39/40, Naples, Italy, +39 3381355254

Libreria Berisio

This midcentury bookshop doubles as buzzing cocktail and wine bar, its wine-red interiors drawing a predominantly young, international crowd. Sip a well-crafted negroni while browsing floor-to-ceiling bookshelves…or the cute peeps in the crowd. Oh Berisio…so charming place!

Via Port’Alba, 28-29, Naples, Italy, +39 081 5499090

Caseari Cautero

It is true, in this case we are not in a real wine shop, but in a gastronomy, but it is practically impossible not to mention the point of sale of Salvatore Cautero among the best for its careful and careful selection of wines. It is the only Neapolitan gastronomy with a showcase dedicated to wines and champagne so rich. Therefore, in addition to exhibiting high quality products of gastronomy, Salvatore will also be able to show you the perfect wine.

Piazzetta Pontecorvo, Naples, Italy, +39 081 19179449

L’Enoteca Del Grottino

This is truly a magical place for wine lovers, remains hidden from the eyes of tourists and for this reason it is up to us Neapolitans to make it known.
The wines of the enoteca del Grottino are many, all of which are prized and mostly of Campania origin. Highly recommend tasting them accompanied by traditional dishes.
The prices are slightly high, but given the excellent quality and the value of the wines it is more than understandable.

Piazzetta San Giuseppe Dei Ruffi, 17, Naples, Italy, +39 081 449101


Day Trips from Napoli: Herculaneum

The town of Herculaneum suffered the same fate as Pompeii. The town was buried under Mount Vesuvius’s volcanic ashes and mud in 79 AD.

Hit before Pompeii, many inhabitants didn’t have time to escape and were engulfed in layers of debris, ashes and mud, dying instantly to be preserved for centuries.

What to see

At the foot of Mount Vesuvius, the city was the volcano’s first victim, and therefore the first wall of lava, ashes, debris and gases covered Herculaneum completely a little after midnight on 25 August. The previous day, it had been plunged in a cloud of debris leaving it without sunlight.

A UNESCO world heritage site, Herculaneum is better preserved than Pompeii. The city’s houses, baths, taverns, temples and figures are undamaged; therefore, visitors will get a real sense of the splendour of this Roman city.

Wealthier than its neighbouring Pompeii, the town is full of beautiful buildings. The different floors of most of the buildings are still intact and it is possible to see the magnificent frescoes and mosaics covering the walls of palaces, public buildings and mansions.

On the far side of the city are the most luxurious villas overlooking the sea, notably the Villa dei Papiri, which was the luxurious retreat of Julius Caesar’s father-in-law.

In Herculaneum, archaeologists have also found the first Roman preserved skeletons from the first century, since prior to this period Romans would cremate the dead. The skeletons are on display in one of the city’s houses.

Beautifully conserved

The town of Herculaneum has been magically conserved all these years. Objects like beds, and doors managed to remain under the layers of ash and mud without decaying.

Although it isn’t as well-known or as large as Pompeii, Herculaneum’s ruins are extremely impressive and gripping. Definitely worth visiting!

Today, the town of Ercolano lies extremely close to the ruins of Herculaneum, creating an interesting contrast.

Getting to Herculaneum

The most common ways of getting to Herculaneum from Napoli are:

  • Train: Visitors need to take a local train to get to Herculaneum. The Circumvesuviana line goes from Napoli (Piazza Garibaldi station) to Herculaneum (Ercolano Scavi station). It takes 20 mins to get there and the prices 2.20€.
  • Car rental: Although this is a good option for families or groups of friends, you must keep in mind the price of petrol, parking and tolls. We would recommend this option only for those thinking of renting a car for additional days to visit other attractions nearby.

Schedule

1 November – 31 March: Every day from 8:30am – 5pm
1 April – 31 October: Every day 8:30am – 7:30pm

Price

Adults: 13€
EU Citizens (18 – 25): 2€
EU Citizens (less than 18) and (over 65): free entrance

More info on official web site http://ercolano.beniculturali.it/

The 6 most beautiful churches in Naples.

The tour of the churches of Naples would be endless! We have chosen 6, certainly among the most beautiful. Are you ready? Go!

Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo
The church is the final resting place of much-loved local saint Giuseppe Moscati (1880–1927), a doctor who served the city’s poor. Adjacent to the right transept, the Sale di San Giuseppe Moscati (Rooms of St Joseph Moscati) include a recreation of the great man’s study, complete with the armchair in which he died. Scan the walls for ex-voti, gifts offered by the faithful for miracles purportedly received. The church itself received a miracle of sorts on 4 August 1943, when a bomb dropped on the site failed to explode. Its shell is aptly displayed beside the ex-voti. The church flanks the northern side of beautiful Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, a favourite late-night hang-out for students and lefties. At its centre soars Giuseppe Genuino’s lavish Guglia dell’Immacolata, an obelisk built between 1747 and 1750. On 8 December, the Feast of the Immacolata, a firefighter scrambles up to the top to place a wreath on the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Monastero di Santa Chiara
Vast, Gothic and cleverly deceptive, the mighty Basilica di Santa Chiara stands at the heart of this tranquil monastery complex. The church was severely damaged in WWII: what you see today is a 20th-century recreation of Gagliardo Primario’s 14th-century original. Adjoining it are the basilica’s cloisters, adorned with brightly coloured 17th-century majolica tiles and frescoes.

Chiesa di San Giovanni a Carbonara
Sumptuous sculpture and Technicolor frescoes makes this Gothic church worth a detour. Andrea de Firenze, Tuscan sculptors and northern-Italian artists collaborated on the Gothic-Renaissance mausoleum of King Ladislas, soaring 18m behind the main altar. Behind it, the circular Cappella Caracciolo del Sole uplifts with its vivid 15th-century frescoes and Leonardo da Besozzo’s tomb for Giovanni Caracciolo, the ambitious lover of King Ladislas’ sister Queen Joan II of Naples.

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore
The basilica at this richly layered religious complex is deemed one of Naples’ finest medieval buildings. Aside from Ferdinando Sanfelice’s facade, the Cappella al Rosario and the Cappellone di Sant’Antonio, its baroque makeover was stripped away last century to reveal its austere, Gothic elegance. Beneath the basilica is a sprawl of extraordinary Graeco-Roman ruins, accessible on a one-hour guided tour. To better understand the ruins, start your explorations in the Museo dell’Opera di San Lorenzo Maggiore, which includes a model of the area as it appeared in ancient times. The ruins themselves will see you walking past ancient bakeries, wineries, laundries and barrel-vaulted rooms that once formed part of the city’s two-storey macellum (market). Above them, the basilica itself was commenced in 1270 by French architects, who built the apse. Local architects took over the following century, recycling ancient columns in the nave. Catherine of Austria, who died in 1323, is buried here in a beautiful mosaiced tomb. Legend has it that this was where Boccaccio first fell for Mary of Anjou, the inspiration for his character Fiammetta, while the poet Petrarch called the adjoining convent home in 1345.

Chiesa di Sant’Anna dei Lombardi
This magnificent church is testament to the close links that once existed between the Neapolitan Aragonese and the Florentine Medici dynasty. One particular highlight is Guido Mazzoni’s spectacular Pietà. Dating from 1492, the terracotta ensemble is made up of eight life-size terracotta figures surrounding the lifeless body of Christ. Originally the figures were painted, but even without colour they still make quite an impression. Also impressive is baroque painter Francesco Solimena’s arresting depiction of St Christopher. The sacristy is a work of art in itself. The walls are graced with gloriously inlaid wood panels by Giovanni da Verona, while the ceiling bursts with 16th-century frescoes by Giorgio Vasari depicting the Allegories and Symbols of Faith.

Duomo di Napoli
Whether you go for Giovanni Lanfranco’s fresco in the Cappella di San Gennaro (Chapel of St Janarius), the 4th-century mosaics in the baptistry, or the thrice-annual miracle of San Gennaro, do not miss Naples’ cathedral. Kick-started by Charles I of Anjou in 1272 and consecrated in 1315, it was largely destroyed in a 1456 earthquake. It has had copious nips and tucks over the subsequent centuries.
Among these is the gleaming neo-Gothic facade, only completed in 1905. Step inside and you’ll immediately notice the central nave’s gilded coffered ceiling, studded with late-mannerist art. The high sections of the nave and the transept are the work of baroque overachiever Luca Giordano.
Off the right side of the nave, the Cappella di San Gennaro (also known as the Chapel of the Treasury) was designed by Theatine priest and architect Francesco Grimaldi, and completed in 1646. The most sought-after artists of the period worked on the chapel, creating one of Naples’ greatest baroque legacies. Highlights here include Jusepe de Ribera’s gripping canvas St Gennaro Escaping the Furnace Unscathed and Giovanni Lanfranco’s dizzying dome fresco. Hidden away in a strongbox behind the altar is a 14th-century silver bust in which sit the skull of San Gennaro and the two phials that hold his miraculously liquefying blood.
The next chapel eastwards contains an urn with the saint’s bones and a cupboard full of femurs, tibias and fibulas. Below the high altar is the Cappella Carafa, a Renaissance chapel built to house yet more of the saint’s remains.
Off the left aisle lies the 4th-century Basilica di Santa Restituta, the subject of an almost complete makeover after the earthquake of 1688. From it you can access the Battistero di San Giovanni in Fonte. Western Europe’s oldest baptistry, it’s encrusted with fragments of glittering 4th-century mosaics.
The Duomo’s subterranean archaeological zone, which includes fascinating remains of Greek and Roman buildings and roads, remains closed indefinitely.

Naples Travel Tip: The Campania ArteCard

Like a lot of cities and travel destinations, it’s possible to purchase a discount card in Naples that enables you to have free/discounted access to various historical and cultural sites around the city. Sometimes these things are worth it, sometimes they are not.

In Naples however, I would strongly advise picking up a Campania >artecard swiftly after arriving in the city.

You can buy your pass online, on the >artecard app, at an >artecard point and at the ticket office of various tourist sites (at the Archaeological Museum, at Pompeii, etc)

There are variations of the Campania Artecard available and the most suitable will depend on your personal interests and your intended Naples itinerary.

The cards allow free access to some sites, free use of public transportation, and reduced entry at additional sites. Prices start from €12 for those under 25, and €21 for those over 25. Either way, it will save you a fair bit.

Over 100 Ferrari from all over the world in Campania

More than 100 Ferrari from all over the world will meet in Campania for the eighth edition of the Ferrari Cavalcade.
The event offers Ferrari customers unique driving experiences, along fascinating routes that allow you to fully appreciate the performance of the contemporary cars of the Cavallino.

Over 200 collectors and enthusiasts crews from more than 20 countries around the world, with a large representation of Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and with numerous participants from the Far East, New Zealand and Australia. Numbers that reflect the boundless attraction of the Maranello brand.

This international parterre awaits a journey full of surprises and a variety of landscapes that only the Campania region can offer. At the wheel of their Ferrari, participants will be able to explore the wonderful views of the Amalfi coast and the Campania hinterland, from the Parco del Partenio to the slopes of Vesuvius.

The tour will begin on Tuesday 18th June with a visit to the city of Benevento, where the Ferrari can be admired in Corso Garibaldi from 1 pm. The following day from 1.30 pm the cars will be available on the Salerno seafront, before going along the bends from Amalfi to Sorrento, where they are expected in Corso Italia from 7.00 pm. On June 20th, the Royal Palace of Caserta will be the setting for the Cavalcade, in front of which the models of the Cavallino Rampante will line up around 10:30 am, and the center of Naples, with a stop in Piazza del Plebiscito from 2.30 pm. The fourth last day of the tour, Friday 21st, will be dedicated to one of the jewels of the Gulf, with a parade of cars from Capri to Anacapri at 7:00 pm.

An exceptional program and a great show not only for Ferrari owners but for all citizens and tourists, which binds the most famous car manufacturer in the world to these places symbol of Italian beauty.
“We want to bring the Ferrari brand closer to the beauty of Campania – said Alessandro Cellamare, head of Ferrari events – It will be an opportunity for our customers to see territories they would not have visited. It is not just a Ferrari event, but of the territory. A convoy that moves every day in Campania and that, on average, will cover 800 kilometers every day “.

Cross Piazza del Plebiscito with your eyes closed.

The purpose of this game is managing to go between the equestrian statues in the center of the square, sculpted by Antonio Canova and depicting Charles III of Bourbon and Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies.

Rules of the game: close your eyes or wear a blindfold. Procedure: starting from the gate of Palazzo Reale, walk straight for about 170 meters. Do not be surprised if, on opening your eyes, you realize not only that you have not managed to cross the space between the two statues, but that you are somewhere else entirely.

According to legend, it is all Queen Margherita’s fault: she is said to have granted a pardon to the prisoners of the Kingdom who passed this test, however, a curse launched by the Queen herself prevented the competitors from being successful.
As a matter of fact, the particular conformation of the square, with its surface of not perfectly linear cobblestones, hinders walking in a straight line, making this a very difficult thing to do in Naples with kids, especially during the night.