We took the train into Naples city centre today. First we walked to Portici-Ercolano station, about 20 minutes away. There are regular trains into Naples, about 6 stops away.
Once in Naples we walked towards the city centre. The main streets are narrow and very busy with tourists. It's all very lived-in and scruffy, with washing hanging from most balconies.
We visited the Santa Maria Cathedral.
We carried on walking through the streets, and came to Via San Gregorio Armeno, a famous street which shows and sells many nativity scenes and other displays with figurines, modern and historical.
We then went on the Naples Subterranean Tour. This takes you 40 metres underground to a vast complex of cisterns and aqueducts from Roman times. It was also used as a bomb shelter during World War II. It was very interesting.
The second part of the tour shows you the remains of a Roman amphitheatre which is underneath apartments right in the middle of the city. Only a few backstage rooms remain, and you are literally on the other side of the wall from, or under the floorboards of, people's homes.
As you come out you're in a courtyard with washing hanging out on apartment balconies as usual.
We had lunch at a streetfood stall, cones of potato chips and fried chicken.
We did a lot more walking round the city streets, eventually making our way to the sea front.
We had a drink at a table outside a café, then wandered up to the Piazza del Plebiscito where there's a spectacular basilica with a crescent-shaped balcony. There was a lot of security around as the G7 Defence conference is happening there at the weekend.
We made our way back to the station and caught the train back to our apartment.
After a rest and a shower we went out. First we had a beer at the Boiler Lounge, then went to the Pummarolo Gourmet Pizza restaurant. We had two pizzas, a gourmet Margherita and one with meat and artichokes, they were both very good.
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