Naples

I can hardly settle myself down to write this. I’m immersed in the throes of Ferrante Fever here in Hollywood…watching trailers incessantly, reading reviews, studying photos of  HBO’s “My Brilliant Friend”–-that premieres tonight… Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels took hold of my life a few years back, when I devoured the series in a staying-up-late fury, turning pages, promising myself I’d go to bed…maybe after the next chapter…or the next… When the HBO show was announced recently, I started listening to “My Brilliant Friend” on Audible just to refresh my memory…and now my walks have become very looong…listening riveted to the whole series again…that would be meRead More →

JULY 30, 2014: THIS TRIP IS SOLD OUT! Sign on to the mailing list on Susan Van Allen’s website to get news about Golden Weeks in Italy in 2015!   How about joining author Susan Van Allen for a Beautiful Italian Adventure this fall? 2014 will be her Third Annual Golden Week in Italy… Raves are in for the last two: “A wonderful Italian experience of a lifetime for all of us!!”–Gayle, from Chandler, Arizona, Golden Week guest 2013 This year we’ll discover Southern Italy, aka The Mezzogiorno… “Susan’s humor, knowledge, and surprises really made this vacation one of my very favorites!”–Lynda, Boston It will beRead More →

The website  Napoli Unplugged: Visit Naples, Discover Napoli and Napoli Unblugged Blog are Must Clicks if you’re headed to Naples or dreaming of Napoli.  They’re created by Bonnie Alberts and her gang of contributors. Bonnie is a freelance writer and photographer with a degree in Historic Preservation, who is passionate about her adopted home. She generously shares her take on the sights, sounds, and flavors of this beautiful city–from up to the minute schedules of events, to fabulous recipes, touring and restaurant recommendations, entertaining stories, and always beautiful photography. Shc even has a Napoli Unplugged Photo Blog, where you browse by subject and get drawn into such places as Napoli’s pizzerias… I’mRead More →

One of my favorite neighborhoods on earth is the Spanish Quarter in Naples. Narrow alleys decorated with laundry, signoras on balconies in housecoats, vespas roaring by, the smells of rich ragu…There’s an intimacy here in this working class neighborhood where so much action–love affairs, arguments, jokes, happen right out in the open, right before my eyes. I walk past altars put up for someone’s mamma, street level doors open to family kitchens, and my eyes meet a signorina as she stirs at the stove. Often tables from those kitchens are simply moved out to the street–so what I thought at first must be a great family restaurant, is actuallyRead More →

You may think that stepping out of the lively action of Naples into the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Piazza Museo 19, Open 9-7, Closed Tues), would be a buzz kill, but you must give it a try. Here the classic beauty, deep sensuality, and naughty humor of this city is celebrated. It’s great to visit before you go to Pompeii or Herculaneum, to see the treasures those ancient villas once held. To rev up for your visit, stop at Mexico (Piazza Dante 86) for a caffe. Naples is famous for its strong, excellent coffee, and here it’s served up by spirited baristas. The main ground floor roomRead More →

When I think of Napoli, a fabulous moment rushes back: The first visit, an early spring evening. My sister and I had dropped our bags at our B&B, wandered to the Duomo. The via was quiet…then gradually amorous couples emerged walking arm in arm, elderly signoras strutted past us, a glarmous gal on a vespa with long gleaming black hair whizzed by, ragazzi in t-shirts, mammas with strollers, there were shouts and waves all around, arms flying through the air. Suddenly we were in a crowd of look-a-likes of our relatives and neighbors from our Jersey shore childhood! We walked along in awe. As I’m dark haired and petite, with looks inheritedRead More →