City Of Naples Historical Walking Tour

City Of Naples Historical Walking Tour Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Explore the political and social development of this ancient waterfront city.

This is not a traditional walking tour company. The people who lead these walks are specialists -- art historians, classicists, archaeologists, architects -- who possess a deep knowledge of the city. They lead the walks like professors lead seminar classes, with in-depth conversations about themes and topics related to Naples, using the city itself as a text book. Participants should be prepared for their itineraries to take a variety of different courses, depending on the guide, the tour group members, the season and conditions in the city on any given day. There are no scripts and no guidebook lists of facts.

This company is devoted to sustainable tourism, and a certain part of all their itineraries deals with ways that our participants can help preserve the cultural heritage of the cities where they operate.

This four-hour stroll takes us along the Naples' waterfront, exploring the political and social history of the city from its Greek origins as Neapolis (the new city) to modern times. It is led by either an art or social historian, and, while exploring rich scholarly themes, attempts to paint a realistic picture of life in Naples today, in all of its chaotic beauty.

The walk begins with an exploration of Castel Nuovo, the political fulcrum of the city during antiquity, when there was an important commercial port in the area (some Roman ships have recently been discovered nearby), up through the high medieval period when Petrarch and Boccaccio were guests here. We will also observe the other Neapolitan castle, Castle dell'Ovo (literally, the egg castle), which also has a history stretching back to Roman times and has had many reincarnations, most notably as a prison under the Normans.

With a view of the bay of Naples as a backdrop, we will push on to the Palazzo Reale, designed by Domenico Fontana, which served as the royal palace during the reign of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century. Boasting an overwrought imperial-style of interior decoration, the royal apartments attest to the wealth and power of the city during Bourbon rule.

Our itinerary can vary at this point, continuing along the waterfront to enjoy some of the great scenery, or turning in to the dense Spanish district and its artist treasures, such as the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli or the Palazzo Serra di Cassano.

The emphasis of this walk is on understanding the political and social development of Naples, and therefore serves as an excellent primer for further explorations in the city. From lowly harbor to elaborate palace, this coastal area is a true marker of the complex Neapolitan identity.

- This is a shared, small group (2-6 people) walking tour. Unless there are 6 people in your group, you may be touring with other travelers. If you would prefer a private tour, call ShoreTrips at 888-355-0220 or 414-964-2100.
- Walks are held rain or shine with some variations to accommodate the weather.
- For several reasons, this tour may run a bit longer than planned, and we recommend that you not schedule another activity immediately after this one. This can occur because Italy, in certain seasons, sees large numbers of visitors. In addition, because this tour is tailored to the interests of those taking it, as well as the scholar guide, the itinerary is not always exactly the same.
- Please keep in mind that this price is exclusive of entrance fees. Your itinerary is not like that of a typical sightseeing tour, and often your guide will veer off course and take in some other site, as determined by the course the discussion is taking. Because of this, it is difficult to determine ahead of time the costs that might be incurred while on the tour. By definition, it's impossible to predict this ahead of time.

- A minimum of 2 people required for this tour.
- Maximum of 6 people.
- This tour is not available on 1/1, 5/1, 8/15, and 12/25.
- Minimum age is 12 years old.
- Admission fees totaling €9 per person will be charged on site for Castel Nuovo, Castel dell'Ovo and Palazzo Reale.
for the three
- You will be visiting several churches during this visit. Shoulders should be covered and shorts and skirts should not come to more than one inch above the knee. If you are taking this walk in the summer months, you may consider bringing a light shawl to cover your shoulders while entering churches.
- Dress comfortably for the weather.
- ShoreTrips and our partners do our best to insure that every stop described is available for your visit. There are some times when a site or building is closed at the last moment with little or no warning. We assume that those in charge make their decisions based on external information and for the visitors' safety and we apologize when this causes inconvenience and disappointment.

Days offered: Tuesday, Friday

Departures:

• 09:00 AM, duration: 3 hours Duration of tour is approximate.