Naples Private Tour Hidden Gems
Naples Hidden Gems: Solfatara
Located 3 km far from Pozzuoli, in the metropolitan City of Naples, the Solfatara is one of the most famous 40 craters of the Phlegraean Fields, the large volcanic area of Naples. Already known by ancient romans, who identified there the entry of the reign of the god Vulcan, it officially opened to public since 900s. It used to be a destination of the Grand Tour since 700s and excursions due to well-known volcanic phenomena and for hot sulphur springs healing. For this reason, since the beginning of the 20th century it began a thermal area with a lovely tree-lined path. During the visit at the Volcano you can observe two stunning phenomena that will amaze you: gas condensation and the roaring of the soil.
Naples Hidden Gems: Underwater city of Baia
Considered the Las Vegas of its time, Baia was the hedonism mecca for Romans nobles and elite, including Caesar, Cicero and Nero, who visited the city also for its natural spas and built vacation villas there. Unfortunately, with centuries the water level rose due to volcanic action and the splendid city was ransacked. By the 1500 the remains of the city were abandoned and with decades drowned under the waters of the bay. Today this ruins can be visited in one of the most beautiful world’s underwater parks that includes crumbled temples and an amazingly preserved statuary of the city visible through glass-bottomed boats, or even scuba dives which allow people to actually swim amongst the copious ruins, the most famous and well preserved of whom is the statue of Hermes.
Naples Hidden Gems: Palazzo dello Spagnolo
The Palazzo dello Spagnolo is a Rococo palace in Rione Sanità, in the very heart of Naples. Hidden in the alleys of the neighborhood, it was build in 1738 for the marquis of Poppano Nicola Moscati and is a real masterpiece of Ferdinando Sanfelice. It presents an extraordinary monumental double flight staircase called “hawk’s wings”. The unique building became popular both for the original architectural solution and because it was conceived as a centre of the social life of the time and meeting point of the building inhabitants. At the end of the century it was bought by the so called “lo spagnolo”, hence the name of the palace. During the centuries the structure has been separated, and on the second and third floor has been designed a museum dedicated to the great Totò, “the Prince of laughter”, one of the most emblematic Italian comedian, film and theatre actor from Naples.
Talking of Naples peculiar beauties, read our article about Naples Art Stations and book a tour of the Parthenope city!
