The many layers of Neapoli
For many, the first thought with Naples is of course…. Pizza! Understandable, as this self-crowned international capital of pizza is, according to legend, actually the birthplace of perhaps the world’s most popular dish.
But those who arrive in lively Naples immediately sense that there is a whole lot more to it than that. Located on a bay and at the foot of the volcano Vesuvius, Naples has a richly layered history. Literally, because under the ground of present-day Naples lie many corridors and buildings of ancient Neapolis (The New City in Greek), which you can visit via an entrance under the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore, among others.
This layering between old and new recurs endlessly when you visit Naples. And that, of course, is not surprising for a city with almost three thousand years of history. Some say it even symbolises the many crispy layers in sfogliatelle, the famous Neapolitan pastry that you can find all over the city…
