Oosterdam European Adventure, Naples, Italy...

We had a break today as our tour only started at 11:30 am. I decided to go out on my own to get in some walking and see a few sites around the port area before the tour. It rained a bit but cleared up nicely. We met our guide Alessandra at the Ship Pier near the big triangular monument called Totem della Pace. We took a cab to the San Gennaro Gate to begin our walking tour.   Naples is one of the most ancient cities in Europe. The rectangular grid layout of the ancient Greek foundation has indeed continued to provide the basic form for the present-day urban fabric of Naples. The historic center of Naples is the heartbeat of the city and a place where tourists flock and today was no exception. A big interest in this walking tour was a visit to the Naples Forcella neighborhood to see the most famous mural of the city, the face of San Gennaro on Via Duomo. Just below, the San Gennaro mural was a mural of the city’s other hero Maradona, the revered soccer player also has many murals throughout the city. Continuing to Plaza Duomo we visited the Cathedral of Naples. A Gothic cathedral built in the 13th century in the northeast sector of the historic center is dedicated to Naple’s patron saint San Gennaro or Saint Januarius. A vial of the saint's blood is brought out three times a year - on the first Saturday in May, September 19 and December 16 - and if it liquefies, all is well. If it doesn't... fears are held for the safety of Naples. Luckily, it nearly always liquefies. The cathedral is beautiful and contains some excellent artworks. Next, we followed Via Tribunali to Via Spaccanapoli the east-west pedestrian spine of the historic center of Naples. Originally the heart of the Greek and Roman city, the Spaccanapoli district is a string of narrow, winding streets and is mainly a pedestrian zone. Strolling along Via San Gregorio Armeno we saw many artisan workshops that produce the city’s traditional “presepe” (nativity scenes). We stopped in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore. The highlight of this square is the 18th-century San Domenico obelisk that honors its namesake saint for stamping out the plague epidemic of 1656. The area has arcades dating back more than 1,000 years. Spaccanapoli gives visitors an introduction to the sights and attractions of the vibrant southern capital city. The neighborhood is a crowded mix of historic churches, lively piazzas, open-air cafés and one-of-a-kind shops. After making our way along the Spaccanapoli, we arrived at Plaza Dante with Dante’s statue and numerous street vendors. Making a quick stop at the Pignasecca Market renowned for its abundance of cheese, pastry, and fresh fish stalls. Fresh produce, just-caught seafood. Our last stop on Via Toledo, the busiest shopping street in Naples was for some Gelato before heading back to the pier. Crossing the Plaza Municipal, we could see the majestic Castle Nuovo standing watch over the Port of Naples. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and our guide…even though I have been to Naples many times in the past, we discovered a number of new areas and sites today.