Day 1 Walking Tour of Naples

At the edge of the waterfront, Piazza del Plebiscito is a large ceremonial square which today May 1st (labor day) is filled with bright white tents, formally dressed dignitaries, military musicians, flag waving civilians and armed gendarmerie.

From here we walked to the eastern edge and toured the decorated, formal rooms of Palazzo Reale di Napoli (Royal Palace), with chandeliers, tapestries, trompe loire painted ceilings, paintings and pottery.

Next it was time for our cappuccino and two decadent treats at the Grand Cafe Gambrinus.

Refueled, we continued our walk to Naples most recognized 19th century landmark, the Galleria Umberto I.

This 1891 shopping gallery has a vast glass dome and it's floor is filed with colorful mosaics.

Then we continued past the Castel Nuovo for a few pics of this Medieval landmark

before heading by metro to the Duomo di Napoli and it's Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro. But it's not a treasure you might expect but a miracle of 'liquification' that is performed twice a year when a vial of dried saints blood liquefied to predict a good year for Naples inhabitants.

We then zig-zagged our way through 3 ancient (5th century Greek) streets filled to capacity with tourists, specialty shops, family businesses, and scrumptious delicacies and festive drink: Via del Tribunali, Via San Gregorio Armeno (Christmas alley), and Spaccanapoli street (literally meaning 'It Splits Naples').

Time for a Gelato break, at one of the oldest Gelateria in Italy, the Gelateria Scimmia Factory. Cold treat in hand we carried on back to the shoreline until we arrived at the Fountain of the Gods, a monumental Renaissance masterpiece close to Castel dell'oro (Castle of the Egg).

We then headed back to our AirB&B and quickly made a reservation at Trattoria da Peppino (Via Solitaria n 18) a wonderful, intimate family run restaurant serving excellent traditional Italian cuisine at a reasonable price, with seating for only 6 families.

What a day... barely enough time to knock off this first blog!