I wanted to flag this New York Times article about Naples for the Tour Italy Now community. It’s got so much going for it, I’m not quite sure where to begin. One, it’s by Seth Kugel, a young but seasoned travel writer who, in his words, likes to mix up the “must-see’s” with the “see-what-happen’s.” That’s always been my favorite way to travel, finding the balance between scheduled sightseeing and spontaneous discovery. (I will note that Tour Italy Now’s itineraries, which I’ve studied longingly, are great about mixing up the two approaches in its many Italy escorted tours!)
Another thing I liked was that this article is, well, real, it’s not simply a celebration of the latest, coolest hotel or restaurant or a checklist of obvious landmarks. There’s a place for that in travel journalism but how authentic is that superlative chasing, the newest, the coolest and all the rest? Not as authentic as I like.
Another reason I especially enjoyed this piece was that the writer is a first-time visitor to Italy. There’s an intense sense of passion and discovery in this article, which of course one can get from someone who’s been to Italy many, many times. I love that the writer ditched the guidebook advice, even thought I am personally a guidebook junkie, and headed to the island of Procida, with its black beaches, instead of Capri. (I would have tried to have done both, time and weather permitting!) Finally, another thing I appreciated was that the writer found a pizzeria that wasn’t packed with tourists, Pizzeria Starita, where he was the only foreigner that evening. That’s always the sign of a creative traveler!
Anyway, reading this got me hankering for Naples narrow streets and delectable treats. Sigh!
Yours in sharing Italy,
Barbara Fellini
