Explore Naples' monumental heart with a passionate local guide. Discover the city's fascinating history by admiring its most iconic monuments, from Galleria Umberto I to Piazza del Plebiscito, as well as the lively Quartieri Spagnoli whose walls are decorated with murals depicting the key figures who have made the history of the city.
You'll easily reach the major attractions on foot from Via Toledo, one of Naples' most important streets which was commissioned in the 16th century by Spanish Viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo in order to connect the different places of power in the city. The main entrance to Galleria Umberto I overlooks the street: you'll be struck by the iron and glass architecture of this 19th-century shopping arcade, home to the first café chantant in Italy.
At the end of Via Toledo stands Piazza del Plebiscito, the monumental square where the famous Caffè Gambrinus is located, a meeting place for artists and intellectuals which still preserves its original 19th-century furnishings. Admire the facade of the Royal Palace of Naples and the San Carlo Theater, the first opera house in Italy and Europe, strongly desired by King Charles III of Bourbon as an emblem of his power. Not far away is another symbol of the city, the Castel Nuovo, better known as Maschio Angioino.
It was Don Pedro again who had the streets adjacent to Via Toledo rebuilt in order to accommodate his troops stationed in Naples: the so-called Spanish Quarters. Delve deeper into the history and culture of the city by exploring the colorful alleys and admiring the street art on the walls of this vibrant district. Here you'll also have the opportunity to visit the home of Santa Maria Francesca, one of Naples' patron saints, who's especially venerated by women who wish to have a child.
Guided tour
