DESTINACIJA / DESTINATION
The view from Gambrinus takes in the city’s largest square, Piazza del Plebiscito. It is home to Europe’s oldest opera house: the San Carlo Theatre, which was built 40 years before Milan’s La Scala and was commissioned by King Charles III. Head down the pedestrianised Via Toledo to arrive at the historic centre of the city, encompassing an area of 1,700 hectares. Representing the largest historic cen- tre of any European city, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995. Of course, there are also street art murals of Diego Maradona, the “patron saint” of Naples, and artistic graffiti of the flags of FC Napoli... Even if you’re not a fan of football, you’ll find out while in this city that the football club from Na- ples, better known as the Gli Azzurri, won the Italian championship title after a 30-year wait when Maradona played for the club. He was much more than a foot- ball hero in this city. Explore the famous UNESCO-protect- ed historic centre, with its ancient Ro- man ruins, baroque churches and un- derground tunnels. Feel the rhythm of the city and the aromas of genuine Ne- apolitan pizza that was born right here. Don’t miss out on queuing for a piz- za in front of the famous Sorbillo or Da Michele pizzerias, where the world’s first pizza was created. When Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples during Lent of 1889 with her husband King Umberto I, she asked the city’s most famous chef to prepare a special- ity for her. He invented a pizza in the colours of the Italian flag – topped with white mozzarella cheese, red toma- toes and green basil – and named it the Margherita. What a visionary! Zastanite na Pjaci del Plebisito i obavezno uživajte u pogledu s brda Vomero Make a stop at Piazza del Plebiscito, then make sure to enjoy the views from Vomero Hill
apolitan director Paolo Sorrentino’s film The Hand of God, which have helped launch Naples into the orbit of “must see” tourist destinations. Perhaps the best spot to start your tour is the Gran Caffé Gambrinus, which dates back to 1860 and has a bar where you can drink the best espresso while enjoying unparalleled Neapolitan delicacies: Sfogli- atella, a layered pastry with orange fla- vouring that’s filled with ricotta cheese; and rum babà cakes that are reminiscent of rum-flavoured tulumba. This iconic cof- fee house is located on the small Piaz- za Trieste e Trentno, where kings used to be crowned. The Gran Caffé Gambrinus has always been a hub for intellectuals and artists, and it also preserves the cups used by its celebrity guests to drink its famous Neapolitan coffee, including, of course, the icon of the city that was Die- go Maradona.
OPERA, FOOTBALL, PIZZA Naples is the soul of southern Italy Chaotic, warm and irresistibly alive, this isn’t a city that you discover with your eyes, but with your heart I n line with its “complex” char- acter, as described in numerous works of Italian literature, Naples sits at the foot of Mount Vesu- vius, beside the Tyrrhenian Sea’s glistening coast. Its narrow, picturesque streets tell a story of bygone times, while simultaneously motivating you to plan your future. The well-known saying “See Naples and die” became famous around the world thanks to great German poet Goethe, who mentions it in his book Ital- ian Journey. Until recent times, tourists merely passed through this wondrous city on their quest to find their own slice of glamorous dolce vita along the neighbouring Amal- fi Coast and on the nearby Island of Ca- pri. However, world travellers have been intrigued by Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels and the television series based on them, My Brilliant Friend, as well as Ne-
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