Okay, so a fun little fact about me is, because my parents were in the military, I happened to be born in Naples, Italy. Although, unlike my sister who got to live there for three years of her childhood, I was whisked back to Central England within a month of being born. As such, I’ve always wanted to go and explore where I was born. So, when some cheap flights came up, my dad and I decided to go and eat our way round the home of pizza.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that this was a food and drink dream from start to finish.
Separate from doing the traditional tourist hotspots from Pompeii, the Egg Castle and the GORGEOUS island of Capri, we did a whole lot of eating and drinking. I definitely would not like to do a before and after picture of this trip, but it was amazing.
Whether you’re a book/film fan or not, if you’ve visited Naples you’ve definitely heard of L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele. Popularised by Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love, but one of many pizzerias in Naples that claim to be the first, it’s a religious, doughy, delicious experience. It’s a tiny two room little place down a side street, with a huge open pizza oven that only does two types of pizza: Marinara and Margherita. It’s surprisingly cheap, unpretentious, and goes perfectly with bottles of Peroni.
Be warned though, it’s hugely popular, especially when the tours are around and it works on a ticketed system at the tour. Definitely not a place where you can spend a whole evening – you have to give other people the opportunity to taste this magnificence – but ensure that you give yourself a solid 30 minutes to wait around outside with the other patrons. If you’re in a rush, they do takeout which takes less time, but the atmosphere in the actual restaurant is infectious.
Of course, we couldn’t go to Campania and not taste wine – it would be sacrilege. So, before we flew out, I researched local vineyards to find out the best in regional wine and booked a tour on Viator. Although many people opt for either Tuscan or Sicilian when selecting Italian wines, Campanian varietals are a lesser-known choice. Because of the volcanic soil from Mount Vesuvius, it’s primed for agriculture (hence the amazing olives, lemons and tomatoes in the region).
This is how we came to be pretty tipsy, and very full, halfway up a volcano at midday on a weekday. Cantina Del Vesuvio is a great vineyard and winery that does a whole host of food and drink packages, including an amazing lunch deal that includes a pick-up from the local train station.
The final piece of our gastronomic odyssey was the incredible island of Capri. Probably the most popular (and fanciest) of all the nearby islands, it’s pretty busy all year round, but definitely worth the visit. The main town is split into two sections: the port section and the old town. They’re linked by a funicular if you don’t fancy hiking up the old stone steps between the two areas.
Capri has long been a location for the rich and famous and the shops in the old town reflect it. Think Gucci, Dolce, watches that cost a small mortgage, that kind of thing. But there are plenty of amazing restaurants in both areas that have beautifully fresh seafood and people-watching potential. Not to mention the tangiest lemon desserts that I’ve ever tasted.
So, if you want a place with gorgeously fresh ingredients, beautiful wine and beer, sidestreets you can get lost for days in, and a stunning landscape to top it all off – you should definitely get on the next flight to Naples.
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