With its thousand-year history, rich in art, culture and traditions, Naples is undoubtedly one of the destinations absolutely worth seeing and visiting. Museums, historic palaces, castles, and wonderful churches are just some of the things you will find when visiting this city. Many of these places require an entrance fee, but there are plenty, however, that can be visited for free!
Here are some of the best places to explore without spending a euro!
- Spaccanapoli and the Historic Center
- Plebiscite Square
- Waterfront and Castel dell’Ovo
- Virgilian Park
- Botanical garden
- First Sunday of the month free admission to all museums
1.Spaccanapoli and the Historic Center
Let’s start with the beating heart of Naples, its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A labyrinth of narrow streets, Baroque churches, historic palaces and lively markets bear witness to Naples’ centuries-old architecture.
Getting lost in the narrow streets of the historic center is a unique experience, where you can discover the authentic Neapolitan soul of the city.
Among the most famous streets in Naples is without a doubt, the world-famous Spaccanapoli, which runs through the historic center dividing the city into two parts. It corresponds to the lower decumanus from Roman times and the plateia from Greek times. Along this street, you can admire many churches, historic palaces and artisan stores, breathing the authentic and vibrant atmosphere of traditional Naples.
Such as the popular Gesù Nuovo Church, the famous street of nativity scenes San Gregorio Armeno, the square of San Domenico Maggiore Church. Without spending anything, you can breathe in the unique atmosphere of Naples, admiring the alleys and squares.
2. Plebiscite Square
Another place to visit for free is the Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the largest and most iconic squares in Italy.
This vast square is surrounded by historical monuments, such as the Royal Palace (entrance fee) and the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, which you can visit for free.
The basilica is one of the landmarks of Naples. It was built by King Ferdinand I of Bourbon, tracing the forms of the Roman Pantheon.
According to some historical sources, the Bourbon king wanted to erect this church as a votive offering to St. Francis of Paola, to whom he was very devoted, on the condition, however, that the dome should not exceed in height and majesty the Royal Palace, which stands directly opposite the basilica in the same square.
This was probably a choice made to emphasize the position of supremacy of the Bourbon royal house over ecclesiastical powers.
Basilica has a huge exterior portico in a semi-elliptical shape that leads to the interior of the atrium.
The interior has a chapel on the left side and one on the right side, both covered by a dome and with an exedra bottom where the choir is placed. Chapel on the left side is dedicated to the souls in Purgatory and holds a painting by Luca Giordano.
The right chapel is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament . Past the atrium is the central body of the church, which is round in shape; around the entire perimeter of the church rise thirty-four columns of Mondragone marble. Columns and pillars support the drum, inside of which are tribunes, used by royalty to attend religious services.
3.Waterfront and Castel dell’Ovo
Another place you can visit for free is the Naples Promenade, a promenade that offers spectacular views of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Arriving at the Castel dell’Ovo, one of the oldest castles in Naples, you can walk around the castle and enjoy the view of the sea. Admission to the castle is free, but even without entering, the view is priceless.
One of the most fanciful Neapolitan legends would trace the castle’s name back to the egg that Virgil allegedly hid inside a cage in the castle’s dungeon. The place where the egg was kept, was closed by heavy locks and kept secret because from “that egg hung the fortune of Castel Marino.”
From that moment on, the fate of the castle, along with that of the entire city of Naples, was linked to that of the egg. But the chronicles report that, at the time of Queen Giovanna I, the castle suffered extensive damage due to the collapse of the archway that joins the two rocks on which it is built, and the Queen was forced to solemnly declare that she had provided for the replacement of the egg to prevent panic from spreading through the city for fear of new and more serious disasters.
4. Virgilian Park
If you want an incredible panoramic view of the city, sea, and nearby islands, Virgiliano Park is ideal.
It is located in the Posillipo district of Naples and is also known as Rimembranza Park. This public park offers paths surrounded by greenery, sculptures, benches where you can relax, and belvederes that offer breathtaking views of the Bay of Naples, Capri, Ischia, and Procida. The park is completely free and ideal for a walk or picnic.
5. Botanical garden
If you are a lover of botany, this place is perfect. Here you can enjoy one of Italy’s most important botanical gardens free of charge, a historic, unspoiled place that features herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs from all over the world.
Visiting the Botanical Garden of Naples is a cultural, scientific and sensory experience. It is a true living museum, part of the University of Naples Federico II.
It has a collection of about 25 thousand specimens grown on an area of about 12 hectares, divided into various areas.
Inside the Garden there are also significant architectural structures, such as the Entrance Staircase, the Monumental Greenhouse and the Castle.
The appearance of the Botanical Garden changes according to the seasons, the blooms and the natural light: visiting it at various times of the year means appreciating the cycle of nature and being confronted with different landscapes.
It is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is allowed until 30 minutes before closing time.
6. First Sunday of the month free admission to all museums
If, on the other hand, you don’t want to miss out on Naples at all, you can take advantage of the first Sunday of every month, when all museums and archaeological parks are open for free.
