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When trying to decide what to do in Naples cruise port, the age old conundrum arises - DIY or shore excursion? We often DIY our time in cruise ports because we like to explore on foot, leisurely, and try to get a glimpse of "local life".
Of course I put local life in quotes because authenticity can be eroded in any port city with so many tourists. Still, you can always find it to some extent if you're interested in it and willing to put forth the effort to walk a little farther or take a peek down that grungy, unpolished alley. :)
And let's face it, shore excursions can be expensive. We live a very simple life and we are just happy and grateful to be able to be on the cruise, period, even if we can't do all the "bucket list" excursions in every port. Another day I will share some of the Naples Cruise Port Best Excursions for those who have the means (or patiently and intentionally saved up) to splash out! diy walking tour around naples
For now, let's take a stroll around Naples!
Heading to the right after crossing the street from the Naples Cruise Port, I really enjoyed this botanical display outside the Luxury Hotel Romeo Napoli. It felt like a free visit to Phipps' Botanical Garden Desert room. :) 
Hotel Romeo Napoli Cacti Landscaping
piazza giovani bovio King victor manuel II Monument
We worked our way inland toward Metro stop Università at Piazza Giovanni Bovio. At the center of this Piazza is a monument which I had no idea what it represented (which will be a running theme lol) but figured I should snap a picture and look into it later.
Monument to King Victor Manuel II in a Naples Piazza
As it turns out, this monument is of King Victor Manuel II.
"It is a sculptural ensemble formed by the equestrian statue of the king, of eighty tons, the work of Alfonso Balzico on a drawing by Emilio Franceschi, by the mermaid Parténope, mythological founder of the city of Naples, carved by Salvatore Cepparulo, and by an eagle spreading its wings." - Wikipedia Camera di commercio napoliThe building in the background also felt noteworthy ;p, the Camera di Commercio Napoli (Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato e Agricoltura di Napoli in full). Please enjoy an obligatory photo of the lion statue with some sort of cherub (?) out front. Apologies I can provide no context. This is why people pay for tours lol 
Litter and graffiti at the foot of the cherub and lion statue - Camera di Commerce Building in Napoli
The stroll continued to our first Italian fountain - hooray! But we were sort of in a hurry once we found out the pizza place was about to close, so I snapped another obligatory pic as we rushed on for a few more blocks. fountain of neptune - number one fountain in naples
It turns out this is the Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) which Tripadvisor identifies as the number one fountain in Naples - good thing I got this low quality photo right?!
Remember the monument to the Italian king earlier in this post? Apparently it used to be located in this square and the fountain of Neptune used to be located in the Piazza Borsa (Piazza Giovanni Bovio) where the King statue is now. I had no idea they moved these things around.. 
Fountain of Neptune - Number One Fountain In Naples, Italy
What is interesting about the Naples Fountain of Neptune is that it was sculpted between 1600-1601! (source)
It also made me happy to see some kids kicking around a ball in the plaza as it feels like a glimpse of local life - a lazy Sunday for Neapolitans. Also because seeing kids playing outside has become somewhat of a rarity these days, unfortunately.. But let's not think about that, because we're on our way to get pizza, remember?! streets of naples
A Girl Walks Down A Street In Naples
The streets of Naples feel busy, whether there are many pedestrians or not. The wires, the balconies, the plants, the laundry, the signs, the scooters, the garbage bins, and the dark cobble stones which my Italian uncle told me are made from the lava of Vesuvius! It's a lot to take in.
A man drives a motorcycle down a narrow street in Naples with a cruise ship in view
Can you see a cruise ship peeking through this narrow street in Naples? And see that blue shadow in the background - that's Mount Vesuvius and it is considered an active volcano "overdue" to erupt according to volcanologists and geologists.
Also notice the motorcyclist in the black helmet driving down this narrow street full of pedestrians. You really need to keep your wits about you! All that walking and trying to avoid being hit by a vespa and we were ready forPizza in Naples! Pizza & passione di Lino Gas Naples
The doors are wide open at Pizza & Passione di Lino Gas in Naples
Jump to the --> Pizza & Passione Naples Pizzeria Review <-- for all the delicious food pics and cost of pizza in Italy details!
After eating a delicious Margherita Pizza and Pizza Fritta, it was time to walk it off.
Napoli Metro Station
We came to Napoli Metro Station and took a peek inside. It was later Sunday afternoon and there was someone in the office if you did need help. I always think it's interesting to take a look in a metro station. Sometimes there is interesting art to be found. Do you know of any subway stations with cool hidden details that are largely unknown?
Line 1 Route Maps for Naples Metro Napoli Station are shown below.
You can reach a metro station (not this one) in brief walk from the Naples Cruise Port which is very convenient. The closest metro station to Naples Cruise Port is Colombo-Porto.
How much do Metro Tickets cost in Naples, Italy? Tickets cost just over a euro so this would be a great and affordable way to get around Naples if you are an independent traveler who likes to explore on your own! authenticity in naples
Residents' laundry hangs outside to dry along the public street near Napoli Metro Station
Across the street from Napoli Metro Stations were signs of every day life - laundry in the street above and a stepladder in the picture below presumably reserving a parking space reminiscent of the way a chair set in the street can hold a parking space in some Pittsburgh neighborhoods. iykyk lol.
A stepladder reserves a parking space in Napoli
If you're wondering what shoes to wear in Naples and how women are dressing in Italy - this is something you will see a lot of. Whether a classic floral or a bright abstract patterned dress, nearly everyone is rocking comfortable tennis shoes. You're doing so much walking on varied surfaces that you want footwear that is comfortable, supportive, and stable.
fashion in naples
Italian women in dresses rock tennis shoes as their chosen footwear
We made some lovely new friends on the main street - Via Toledo. This street is full of shopping and a draw for Italian tourists, cruise ship passengers, and just about anyone visiting Naples city center.
Travel Tip: Be sure to have internet access and a translate app downloaded so you don't miss out on great conversations in foreign languages ;) 
Friendly faces greet hundreds if not thousands every day on Via Toledo in Naples, Italy
deeper than decorative
And to end our day walking around Naples, here's another random statue. This one set in front of a University, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, to be precise. Founded in 1224, UniNA is actually one of the oldest public universities in the world!
With its femininity, it seems that this statue may be a sphinx from greek mythology. During the Renaissance, European decorative art saw a revival of the sphinx. There is a lot of historical symbolism and even religious significance around sphinxes in various cultures. 
What appears to be a Greek Sphynx Statue at the steps of UniNA
But alas, we've come to the end of our walking tour around Naples.
Naples is a great port as you can take amazing all-day excursions to historical sights or do a DIY food tour, walking tour, or just observe Neapolitan architecture and try to decipher some of the history of the design elements and monuments all around. vesuvius in view
Sun Princess Cruise Ship Docked in Naples with Mount Vesuvius In View
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