Dug as a secret royal escape route, the tunnel became a wartime bomb shelter and dumping ground for vintage cars. Toys left behind in underground Naples during WWII (Photo: Show In My Eyes via Flickr), Brave the National Archaeological Museum’s “Secret Cabinet”. Scratch beyond the surface of Naples’ chaotic, cobbled and gritty streets – you’ll find museums of curiosities buried down backstreets, stretches of serenity along its coastline and a labyrinth of ancient aqueducts beneath your feet. Nestled on the Bay of Naples, it is a popular stopping off point for Mediterranean cruises and a launching pad for trips to Pompeii. Originally opened in 1956 in Naples’ historic centre, Libreria Berisio extended their offering to cocktails and wine in 2014. No purchase necessary. Expect considerable queues outside and fast service from rambunctious, wildly gesticulating waiters inside. Take a two-hour guided tour and travel back in time to unearth Naples’ ancient labyrinth of Greek aqueducts, pagan burial chambers, the remains of Nero’s lost theatre and World War II air raid shelters. Source: flickr Mount Vesuvius. Featuring everything from erotic frescoes to penis-shaped wind chimes, the collection, which was unearthed during excavation of Pompeii and Herculaneum, has remained encased in a Gabinetto Segreto (or ‘secret cabinet’) since 1849 to keep it away from the innocent, corruptible eyes of women, children and the general public at large. 3. Add Catacombs of San Gennaro to a New List. Naples is one of the jewels in Italy’s crown. Later both moved back to Naples where Salvatore fulfilled his dream of opening a pizza restaurant. 8 unique things to do in Naples, Italy See thousands of skeletons at Fontanelle Cemetery Caves. It was finally opened to the public in 2000 and can be observed by all. You can even watch the artisans at work as they hand-craft their delicate creations. Bourbon Street, open from Thursday to Sunday, brings a touch of New Orleans to Naples – expect impressive live jazz performances, friendly staff and an extensive drinks menu. On his surprisingly sturdy water bikes you'll head out into the bay, feeling miles away from the chaotic urban traffic. Luigi’s knowledgeable tour will give you historical context and a rare glimpse into this often unseen part of Naples. Unusual Things to do in Naples 1. That’s why we’ve partnered with local experts to help you plan and book tailor-made trips that are packed with personality and stimulating adventure - at all levels of comfort. Many of these can be found near the airport, while the main train station is a popular spot for more affordable options. If you are a traveler at heart you would know that journies are … The tradition was popularised in Naples during World War II and has found a revival in recent years during hard economic times, even spreading across the rest of Italy. During Carnival, Neapolitans fill up on these fluffy potato doughnuts. Mandatory - can not be deselected. Prepare to come across hidden grottos, secret beaches and the attractive shoreline enjoyed by Naples’ elite. If you’re looking for a cheap room in Naples, check out our editor’s selection, which you can read here. Whether you’ll enjoy this nostalgic trip back to childhood or find the hospital’s canopy of dangling body parts with glitching eyelids as unnerving as Chucky in Child’s Play, there’s only one way to find out... Tinziana checking on her patients at the doll hospital © Siobhan Lawless. Dining at Pomod’ore Pizzeria is like being welcomed into Mary and Salvatore’s home. Inevitably, Christmas sees the street engorged by a heaving mass of people, but throughout the year visitors come to marvel at the myriad miniature figurines on display. While Pompeii is the larger and better known archaeological site, Herculaneum was remarkably preserved, with some original wood surviving the almost 2 millennia since the 79AD eruption of Vesuvius, which brought an abrupt halt to both cities. But for those who consider it an indulgence there is a time-honoured tradition that will add a sense of altruism to your addiction. This compact ‘clinic’ has been a ward for broken dolls for over a century and continues to receive them from across the globe. The once forbidden "secret cabinet" of erotic art from excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Frescoes, paintings, houses and even skeletons were frozen in time, covered by pyroclastic flows during the eruption, creating one of the most unfortunate but also exquisitely preserved geological tragedies in recorded history. Military vehicles in the basements of Naples Italy © FPWing/Shutterstock. The pharmacy is divided into a laboratory and presentation room containing ornate majolica vases, old ointments, syrups and powder – retracing Naples’ history of art and alchemy. Folding and deep-frying pies is a beloved Neapolitan tradition. Not for the prudish, Naples’ National Archaeological Museum is home to an erotically-charged collection of Roman artefacts that recall a time when concepts of sexuality were weighed down with taboos and puritanical social mores. Vesuvius, to the higgledy-piggledy twists and turns of Naples Old Town, there is a healthy selection of experiences that are unique to the city of Naples. Good news for Neapolitans, however you slice it. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Part of the tour takes place by candlelight and through extremely narrow passages – so if you get claustrophobic it might be best to sit this one out. Here you can feast on a first-class pizza, with a signature Neapolitan thin, chewy, herb-infused base with a gluttonously thick crust for as little as four euros, while beating all the hysteria. Libreria Beriiso attracts trendy locals - and visitors in the know © Siobhan Lawless. Art historian and Naples native Atontella’s tour simultaneously explores this, while bringing Lila and Elena’s adventures to life. Naples, Italy. Figurines on display at a shop on Via San Gregorio Armeno<(Photo: Gérard JAWORSKI via Flickr), Commute through stations converted into art installations. From street food to lavish feasts, piping-hot coffee to smooth aperitivos, folk songs to opera, hilltop farms to urban wilds, immerse yourself in the greatest culinary and cultural experiences of Naples, meeting lively local Neapolitani for whom this is the only way to live. The historic centre of Napoli is an officially designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the entire city is a veritable gold mine of significant art and architecture, some of which dates back 4,000 years. See Emperor Nero’s dressing room below the theatre, the WWII-era cars that were stashed down there when the tunnels became an air raid shelter, and the more conventional former uses like as sewers and aqueducts that have created a veritable subterranean city waiting to be explored. Distributed along the lines 1 and 6 are more than 180 pieces of art by roughly 90 artists, who each bring their own individualistic styles, and the result is both beautiful and in harmony with its environment, adding a whole new dimension to the normally humdrum experience of riding a city metro. Where is your favorite place to eat and see something unusual in Rome? Pompeii – Via Villa dei Misteri; daily 9am-7.30pm, Herculaneum (Ercolano) – Corso Resina; daily 8.30am-6pm, A street in Pompeii (Photo: Andrea Schaffer via Flickr), See thousands of skeletons at Fontanelle Cemetery Caves. It’s located in Via Benedetto Croce, which is the easternmost leg of …