The offset option for...

EXTRA leg room, travel insurance, space in the hold for a suitcase: all of these are available to the airline passenger seeking to mitigate the anxieties of travel, for an extra fee in most cases.
What about carbon offsets? Some carriers offer them, including Virgin and Continental, which ranked first and second respectively in Greenopia’s recent rankings of “greenest airlines”. But it’s not common practice; with Continental you have to dig around the website for the option, and even for Virgin, that four-leaf ranking has much to do with the relative newness of the fleet, and its corresponding efficiency.
Carbon offsets would not be huge moneymakers for the airlines, and it’s not clear that they would be much of a draw for travellers either. “Commercial flight, to my mind, is such an enviro-no-no that it's tough to get my head around the fact that choosing one airline over the next makes a difference,” writes Jeff Nield at Treehugger. That’s a popular view among environmentally minded travellers. Two years ago, for example, Responsible Travel, an adventure tourism company, announced that it was cutting its offsetting option on the grounds that offsets give people an incentive to be cavalier about their consumption.
Still, it would seem that if consumers want carbon offsets at all, they will want them at the same time as their tickets. If you want to buy offsets via TerraPass, for example, you have to make a separate task of it, and estimate your consumption. The transaction costs would be lower if you could add the offset with the click of a button and eliminate the guesswork. And if part of the point of offsetting is to send a message—that as a consumer, you’re willing to pay to mitigate your environmental impacts—offsets from airlines are a direct way to do that.
I recently raised the question with Bob Jordan, the vice-president for strategy and planning at Southwest Airlines, and now the president of AirTran Airways following its acquisition by Southwest. The offset option would seem to be a natural fit for Southwest, which has heavily promoted its decision not to charge for bag fees, but does offer a variety of add-ons, like early check-in and pet transportation. Mr Jordan said the carrier had considered offering carbon offsets, but concluded that they were kind of gimmicky; at the European carriers, for example, offset options simply don’t get that many takers. Southwest had decided to adopt other environmental measures instead. For example, it outfitted its whole fleet with rounded winglets. These are expensive, but improve aerodynamics so as to reduce fuel consumption by 3-4%—no bad thing when airlines have been hammered lately by high fuel costs. (Southwest was one of the few to post a profit in the first quarter, albeit a wafer-thin $5m on $3.1 billion in revenue.) Another example of one of the truths about environmentalism: motives may be worthy, but you see the biggest efforts to reduce emissions when the markets make the case for it.
Incidentally, the question of ancillary revenues is an interesting one. A new study from the Amadeus IT Group finds that airlines brought in $22 billion from add-on fees last year, up nearly 40% from 2009. Southwest has done well on ancillary revenue too, even though it doesn’t charge bag fees or change fees, two of the biggest moneymakers. That may seem to be at odds with the airline’s expressed philosophy. (“We’re not about getting you a poor experience on the airplane, or nickel and diming you for everything,” said Mr Jordan.) But perhaps Southwest’s options strike passengers as genuinely optional—early check-in, for example, or WiFi on some flights. Those fees don’t annoy passengers in the way that charging them for a soda does.

Travel Guide Rome

or other places with the same name, see Rome (disambiguation).

The Colosseum

Rome is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

Rome (Italian: Roma), the 'Eternal City', is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio (Latium) region. It's the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome, as a millenium-long centre of power, culture and religion, having been the centre of one of the globe's greatest civilizations ever, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its c. 2,500 years of existence.
The Historic Center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With wonderful palaces, millenium-old churches and basilicas, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world (some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city). With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a "global city".

Districts

Central Rome

Rome can be divided into several districts. The so-called historical center (centro storico) is quite small, only around 4% of the city's area. This is mainly made up of Old Rome and Colosseo. Districts are explained below:

Rome's central districts

Modern Center Where many of the hotels are, as well as shopping and dining galore along the Via Veneto; home to the Quirinale, Trevi fountain, Barberini, Castro Pretorio, and Repubblica areas.

Old Rome The center of the Roman medieval and Renaissance periods, with beautiful plazas, cathedrals, the Pantheon, and plenty of laid-back dining; includes the Navona, Campo de' Fiori, and the Jewish Ghetto neighborhoods.

Vatican The Papal City State and its endless treasure troves of sights, relics, and museums, as well as the surrounding Italian neighborhood.

Colosseo The heart of ancient Rome, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Forum of Augustus, the Forum and Markets of Trajan, the Capitoline and its museums.

North Center Situated in the north part of Rome, home to the Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, and the elegant neighborhoods of Parioli and Salario.

Trastevere The land to the south of the Vatican, on the west bank of the Tiber River, full of narrow cobbled streets and lonely plazas that served as the inspiration for artists such as Giorgio de Chirico. Now arguably the center of Rome's artistic life.

Aventino-Testaccio Off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods of Rome with plenty of surprises waiting for interested travelers, as well as some truly great food.

Esquilino-San Giovanni South of Termini, with an indoor market, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and the Cathedral of Rome Saint John in Lateran.

Nomentano Municipio III, the neighborhoods "behind" the train station. Vibrant night life in San Lorenzo.

Outskirts

North the vast suburban neighborhoods to the north of the center (Municipi 4, 15-20)

South home of the Appian Way park, several catacombs, fascist monumental architecture at EUR and extensive suburbs. (Municipi 5-13)

Ostia Rome's beach resort and the impressive ruins of Ancient Rome's harbour.

Understand

The Pantheon

Situated on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today it remains the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices. Rome has 2.7 million inhabitants while the metropolitan area is home to around 4.5 million.
Architecturally and culturally, Rome has some contrasts - you have areas with pompously huge majestic palaces, avenues and basilicas, which are then surrounded by tiny alleyways, little churches and old houses. The centre of Rome is mainly ancient, and modern buildings are usually concetrated in the suburbs, unlike Milan (where new and old architecture is combined both in the centre and the outskirts). You may also find yourself walking from a grand palace and tree-lined elegant boulevard, into a small and cramped Medieval-like street.
The abbreviation "S.P.Q.R" is ubiquitous in Rome, short for the old democratic motto "Senatus Populusque Romanus" (Latin), i.e. "The Senate and People of Rome".
For two weeks in August, many of Rome's inhabitants shut up shop (literally) and go on their own vacations; many stores, restaurants and other amenities will be closed during this time. The temperature in the city centre at this time of year is not particularly pleasant. If you do travel to Rome at this time, be prepared to see Chiuso per ferie (Closed for holidays) signs on many establishments. Even in these weeks the city is very beautiful and if you are looking for a less overcrowded vacation in Rome, this is not a bad time. You will always be able to find somewhere to eat.

History

Roman Forum

The artsy Piazza Navona.

The Vittorio Emanuele monument, considered a symbol of modern post-Risorgimento Rome.

The Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy.

Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, which have seen its transformation from a small Latin village to the center of a vast empire, through the founding of Catholicism, and into the capital of today's Italy. Rome's history is long and complex. What follows is merely a quick summary.
Rome is traditionally thought to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus, who were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before being found by a shepherd who raised them as his own sons. Rome was founded as a small village sometime in the 8th century BC surrounding the Palatine Hill, including the area where the Roman Forum is found. Due to the village's position at a ford on the Tiber River, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade.
The settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of the Roman Republic at around 500 BC, and then the center of the Roman Empire from 27 BC on. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western World, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth.
Beginning with the reign of Constantine I, the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and religious importance, establishing Rome as the center of the Catholic Church. During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the capital of the newly formed Papal States. Throughout the Middle Ages, Rome was a major pilgrimage site and the focus of struggles between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy.

The Santa Maria in Trastevere church, a symbol of early medieval Rome.

With the Italian Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, were constructed by the Papacy so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the period. In the 19th century, Rome again became the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Italy, which wished to see a reunification of Italy. The Papal States remained in control of Rome under French protection, but with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, French troops were forced to abandon Rome, leaving it clear for the Kingdom of Italy to capture. Rome became the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since.
Rome today is a contemporary metropolis that reflects the many periods of its long history - Ancient times, Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Modern Era. With the rise of Italian Fascism following World War I, Rome's population grew. This trend was stopped by World War II, which dealt relatively minor damage to Rome. With the dismantlement of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic following WWII, Rome again began to grow in population and became a modern city. The city stands today as the capital of Italy and one of the world's major tourist destinations.

Background reading

At last count there were close to 1700 novels set in Rome in days gone by. Most easily available in bookshops are those by Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor Both are good storytellers and excellent at portraying life in Ancient Rome. Particularly interesting if you are visiting Rome may be Saylor’s “Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome”, which traces the first thousand years or so of Rome’s history by following the fictional fortunes of two families. Each chapter begins with a map showing the state of Rome’s development at the time of the chapter.
The classic work on Ancient Rome remains Edward Gibbon’s “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. This was written in 1782 but is still being reprinted. A marvelous book that covers Rome’s fortunes from Romulus and Remus to the 1970s is “Rome: The Biography of a City” by Christopher Hibbert (Penguin). An excellent guide book, too, although perhaps a bit too heavy to carry around.
English-language bookshops in Rome are:

• The Lion Bookshop, Via dei Greci, 36, close to Piazza di Spagna. Lots of books and a small cafe.
• Anglo-American Bookstore, Via delle Vite, 102, also close to Piazza di Spagna. A large store, with specialist sections. Strong on non-fiction.
• The Almost Corner Bookshop, Via del Moro 45, Trastevere. Small but very well-stocked store on the other side of the river.

Some Italian bookstores also have English-language sections. Try the large selection of English books (but also French, Spanish and more) at Feltrinelli International in Via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando - or the smaller in Largo Argentina.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia: A Brief Guide

I've been to Angkor Wat twice now. The first time was as a backpacker a couple of years ago, and then more recently in October 2005, when I returned to see Cambodia's awe-inspiring ancient temples with my parents.

Deluxe Angkor Hotels - Book Online
• Last Minute Angkor Hotel Offers
• Hotel de la Paix
• Amansara
• Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa
• Le Meridien Angkor
• Sokha Angkor Hotel & Spa
• FCC Angkor - my personal favourite
• Browse 70+ Angkor Wat hotels from $30 a night
Budget Angkor Hotels and Guesthouses
• From $25 US a night
• TripAdvisor Angkor Hotel Reviews
• Book Flights To Angkor Wat

Both times I found Angkor a little overwhelming - there is simply so much to see and, more importantly, to absorb and think about when you go sightseeing amongst the temples that it can make your brain distinctly full. It's not just taking in the intricate, organic architecture of Angkor Wat itself, the largest religious building in the world, or the 200+ huge stone faces which smile enigimatically from the towers of the Bayon, or the collapsing temple of Ta Prohm whose dark stonework is suffused and suffocated by huge strangler fig trees which split the masonry, as nature encroaches to reclaim its own. Beyond the incredibly powerful visual spectacle of Angkor's temples, there's the whole question of trying to understand something about their history and how they came to be - and why they were abandoned.
As I was the designated tour guide the second time I went, I had to make up the itinerary of what we were going to see out of Angkor's 40 plus temples. Here, then, is what I think are the "must see" temples in Angkor - if your interest in Angkor is fired by seeing these, then you can spend more time looking at the other temples - if not, then you'll know you've seen the most spectacular of Angkor's ancient ruins.
I opted to go for a day and a half itinerary which took in a mix of Angkor's most interesting ruins. On the first day we visited Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm, and on the second day we spent the morning visiting Kbal Spean and Bantei Srei. You can buy a one day or a three day pass for Angkor, which are US$20 and $40 respectively. It's better to get the three day pass so you've got the option of spending more time amongst the temples if you get bitten by the bug. I hired a driver with minivan for six of us from our hotel for $30 US a day - if you're backpacking you can get guides cheaper - every guesthouse will be able to help you.
It's basically a waste of time to try and see all of the temples here - there are scores of them. More importantly, most of us aren't archaelogists or historians - we simply can't take in the significance of many of these temples because we have no prior knowledge about them. It's much better to go on a "less is more" principle - plan to see a few temples and explore them in depth and read up on them a little or get a guide who can tell you about them. Lonely Planet Cambodia has an excellent section dedicated to Angkor. That way you can enjoy them beyond being a merely visual spectacle. Angkor has many recurring motifs in the architecture and decoration of its temples, despite them being built over 4 centuries, so many of the temples are similar to one another. This means you don't need to tear around seeing all of them. There are numerous Cambodian kids who speak excellent English hanging around each of the main temple sites who will gladly sell you a bootleg copy of Dawn Rooney's Angkor or Michael Freeman's Ancient Angkor to help you understand what you're looking at. [See my other article on bootleg books in Cambodia and Vietnam].
Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm are the biggies of Angkor's sights - they are the most spectacular and the most famous. Angkor Wat itself is truly vast, with its wide paved causeway running on for hundreds of metres and through several courtyards up to the iconic three massive, vertigo-inducing towers at its centre. There are still shrines to the Buddha in active use within Angkor Wat, with larger than life stone statues swathed in bright orange cloth and incense burning at their feet. This place is still very much alive rather than being a mere museum piece.
The Bayon is perhaps even more memorable because of 200 huge, smiling, slightly sinister stone faces that look down from the temple's towers at the visitors arriving nearly 1000 years after they were first built. It is the face of Jayavarman VII, the god-king who built more of the Angkor temples than any other king before him (although not, interestingly, Angkor Wat itself). His face also looks down at you from the imposing entrance gateway into Angkor Thom, the walled city within which the Bayon lies. Look on any piece of tourist literature about Cambodia, and you will see the stone face of Jayavarman VII and his enigmatic smile looking back at you. Historians speculate that Jayavaraman was the most ambitious and the most vicious of Angkor's kings, enforcing slave labour and emptying the kingdom's treasury to build ever bigger monuments to his greatness

6 Tips Saving Gas for Summer Road Trips

With gasoline at almost four dollars a gallon across the U.S., many travelers are rethinking their summer road trip plans. But with our six tips for gas savings, you don't have to settle for a staycation after all. Less money spent at the pump means more for the rest of your travel budget.
1. Look for travel deals with gas cards or gas rebates.
Both lodging options and destinations are offering gas-oriented incentives this summer like the impressive $75 gift cards from Intercontinental Hotels Vacation Pay program. You can also search for deals on tourism sites like ExploreAsheville.com and bed and breakfasts though the B&Bs Kick Gas promotion on Better Way to Stay. To ensure the deal will work for you, be sure to read the fine print and understand whether you are getting a rebate, a pre-paid card, or a resort credit. (For other great summer travel savings, see our travel deals page.)
2. Use the web and apps to find the cheapest gas.
Gas prices are greatly influenced by state gas taxes. A Web site operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, www.fueleconomy.gov, gives national and regional average prices. More helpful are sites like Gas Buddy and Gas Price Watch, which use tips from consumers to rank the lowest and highest gas prices in a particular area. Note, though, that the information on these sites can be outdated, so it’s best to use them as a general guideline. GasBuddy also has a free smart phone app to find the best prices while on the go; GasBag is a similar app.
3. Look for clusters of gas stations when refueling.
If you're driving down the interstate looking for a place to refill your gas tank, avoid the exits that have just one or two stations. You'll save money at exits with three or more stations, as competition helps drive down prices.
4. Stock up—on gas—at warehouse shopping clubs.
Along with your road trip supplies, consider fueling up at Costco and Sam's Club. By far the most expensive places to buy snacks and toiletries when traveling are the convenience stores attached to roadside gas stations. These shopping clubs also usually have the cheapest gas prices around, and many are just off major interstates or along other well-traveled roads; before you hit the road, research the locations of some on your route.
5. Stretch your mpg.
The way you drive greatly affects your car's gas mileage. Making sudden stops and starts, driving with the air-conditioning on or with all the windows down, using underinflated tires, and idling unnecessarily—such as while you eat at a fast-food restaurant or talk on your cell phone—waste gas and pollute the environment.
6. Fuel your rental car a few miles from the airport.
Gas stations nearest airports and car-rental agencies charge the highest rates. You can save several dollars on a full tank of gas by filling up well away from the airport. But make sure you're not so far away that you'll have less than a full tank of gas when you return your vehicle.

Vacation Prepare Checklist for Children: From Babies to Teens

Pre-trip packing lists are especially helpful if you're preparing for a family vacation. We've got two basic packing lists—one for babies, the other for older kids—to get you started. Adjust as needed for length of trip, planned activities, and expected weather.
What is on your packing checklist for kids? Add your must-haves in the comments below.

Little Ones

• 2 outfits and pajamas per day
  
• Outerwear, socks, undershirts
  
• Swimsuit, swim diapers, diaper cover
  
• Diapers, rash cream, changing pad
  
• Baby wipes, baby powder
  
• Toilet-seat adapter or potty seat
  
• Car seat
  
• Baby carrier
  
• Collapsible stroller
  
• Baby formula
  
• Can opener, if needed
  
• Bottles or holders, liners, nipples, rings, caps
  
• Bottle brush
  
• Breast pump
  
• Baby cereal
  
• Bibs
  
• Terrycloth hand towels
  
• Collapsible hook-on high chair
  
• Blankets
  
• Sleepwear
  
• Pacifiers
  
• Nightlight
  
• Portable crib
  
• Safety gizmos

Older Kids, Tweens, and Teens

• 1 outfit per day
  
• 2 extra tops
  
• An extra pair of pants
  
• 1 dress outfit
  
• Sweatshirt, sweater
  
• Windbreaker, outerwear
  
• Shoes, extra laces
  
• Socks, undies
  
• 2 swimsuits, swim goggles
  
• Snacks
  
• Familiar foods
  
• Drinks
  
• Toys, books, games, iPod or MP3 player, DVDs and players
  
• A tote for all the toys, books, games, iPod or MP3 players, DVDs and players

6 Simple Tips How to Pack for Kids

Whether your family is heading out for a long flight or a quick road trip, reduce your pre-trip stress with our simple family travel packing tips. From making a list to creative carry-ons, you'll help prevent adult and kid meltdowns away from home (it's amazing how the smallest of stuffed animals can test everyone's sanity).
1. Give everyone his or her own bag.
Individual suitcases (preferably different colors—red for one, blue for another) help you locate items in a hurry. This will make life easy at the airport, as even little kids are not only capable of toting around a mini-Pullman—they often enjoy it.
2. Assemble one toiletry kit for all the kids.
Today’s rules regarding carry-on liquids mean more shampoos in checked baggage—and more potential for messy spills. Checking one bag with all spillable items (as well as beauty items such as hair dryers and makeup) saves you from a potential trip to the Laundromat upon arrival. It also eases unpacking, allowing you to deposit the entire case right in the bathroom.
3. Make packing lists for each child.
List each item as it’s packed, and stow the complete itemization in the suitcase. The arrangement will help you repack at the end of the trip and give you the peace of mind of knowing everything that came is going back home.
4. Pack a family carry-on.
One bag of essentials saves heartache if a bag is temporarily lost. Include one outfit for everyone, as well as prescriptions and other must-haves. A communal bag also simplifies car travel, giving quick access to overnight necessities for midway stops instead of unpacking the whole car.
5. Consider creative carry-ons.
Soft coolers make great carry-on luggage. Roomy and crushable, they’re perfect for nonbreakable items (such as those extra outfits) and help you cut your food bill by becoming picnic baskets for takeout meals.
6. Think plastic.
Plastic bags protect delicate items from spills inside your suitcase. They’ll also be invaluable at trip’s end for dirty laundry and any wet clothes coming home.

8 Tips Simple for Extended Trips

By Susan MacCallum-Whitcomb
Some family vacations are weeklong sprints; others—involving more days and more far-flung stops—feel like The Amazing Race. And while the basic tips for foreign travel with kids still apply, the latter does require extra prep work. Whether the aim is to make the most of a school break, maximize a career break, or simply enjoy extreme bonding time, you’ll want your adventure go as smoothly as possible. So here are some lessons that I learned from my own round-the-world family marathon.
1. Avoid "been there, done that" syndrome by covering diverse destinations. Alternate urban with rural locales and iconic ones with new discoveries. Picking spots with similar climates is a bonus, though, because it lets you pare back on packing.
2. Ease kids in—and out—of culture shock by positioning the most exotic (read: challenging) areas mid trip. To ensure they aren’t too extreme visit the Department of State travel site. It has info on safety issues, entry requirements, and more.
3. Since costs add up fast when flying as a family, you should overcome any budget airline bias and explore all options. Attitude Travel has the low-down on low-fare carriers that allow you to affordably connect the dots on your itinerary.
4. For some kids, repeated take-offs aren’t just tedious: they’re painful. If ear discomfort is an issue for anyone in your brood, buy specially-designed plugs called Ear Planes. Children’s sizes are available at pharmacies for around $6.
5. Where you stay is as important as where you go. I frequently choose vacation rentals over conventional hotels. Savings aside, rental digs offer families privacy, space, and the freedom to move at your own pace. HomeAway is my go-to site.
6. In less developed places, where you benefit from having staff for support, I prefer intimate boutique hotels or eco-lodges. My best deal? At Eco Hotels of the World I found the magical Rivertime Resort in Laos for $38 a night!
7. To help offset any lost school time, intersperse independent outings with excursions guided by local experts. I love the ones offered worldwide by Urban Adventures. Free tours led by the volunteers from Global Greeters come highly recommended too.
8. Finally, you should always pack a first aid kit. However, on long trips more than Pepto Bismol and Band-Aids may be needed. For parental peace of mind, check IAMAT: it includes details on vaccinations plus an international doctor database.

10 to do in Naples, Italy

Naples has an interesting history, a history that continues to this day.  It is a city that lately has spent more time in the news for high unemployment and issues with the Camorra crime organization. Despite all this, it is a city rich in tradition and still a beautiful tourist attraction on the Italian coast.

Naples  by BellaBim

Podcast on Things to Do in Naples

Subscribe to the Europe a la Carte Podcast in itunes or audioboo

Listen!

Visit the Archaeological Museum

Check out the Naples National Archaeological Museum for one of the greatest collections of Greek and Roman artifacts. The museum is, of course, also home to an amazing collection of artifacts from the city of Pompeii.

Admire the Architecture of Gallerie Umberto I

Take pictures of the interior of the Galleria Umberto I. The Galleria is a public shopping center in Naples, but it is not for the shopping you need to head to the Galleria.  It’s the architecture, especially the glass dome. Whether or not you buy a single thing, head to the Galleria and crane your head upwards.

Photo by kalamita.

Go Underground

Go spelunking. Kind of.  Naples has a sort of mirror subterranean city. Guided tours are available and last about 60 minutes and cover several kilometers of tunnels, caves, and terrain, all the while discussing the history of the city.

Photo by Averain.

Trek to the Summit of Mount Vesuvius

No trip to Naples would be complete without visiting Mt. Vesuvius. About ten kilometers from Naples, the volcano is of course best known for the eruption in 79 AD in which the entire city of Pompeii was destroyed.  While Mt. Vesuvius is still an active volcano today, it has been designated a national park and visitors are welcome to hike to the summit.  The views of Naples from Mt. Vesuvius are hard to beat.

Photo by Rick McCharles.

Walk Around the Historic Centre

Visit the center of Naples which has been designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO.  The center of the city offers nearly 2500 years of history and culture making it well worthy of the designation by UNESCO.

Photo by antmoose.

See Opera at the Real Teatro di San Carlo

For another World Heritage site, check out the Real Teatro di San Carlo. The theater opened in 1757 and is still active today.  Try to catch an opera performance or a ballet if you get the chance. Be warned though, tickets are not cheap.

Visit Naples Cathedral

Visit the Duomo di Napoli, an important cathedral for Catholics in the area.  Completed in the 14th century, the cathedral is now the seat of the Archbishop of Naples.  Inside you’ll find a variety of impressive art work, from frescoes to altarpieces.

Photo by Averain.

Visit the Royal Palace

Wander through the 17th century Royal Palace of Naples (it’s another World Heritage site. You may be seeing a pattern here. The city has a lot to offer.). The Palace gives a glimpse into the royal past of the region.

Photo by Averain..

Visit the Castel Nuovo

Explore the Castel Nuovo, a medieval castle in Naples that has seen plenty of changes over the centuries.  The fortress cuts an imposing figure in the cityscape and offers some beautiful views of the bay.  Some might find the tour of the castle itself a bit underwhelming (it helps to have an interest in the medieval history of the region), but the exterior and views of Naples should satisfy most critics in your group.

Photo by Chiara Marra.

Eat Pizza in Its Birthplace

And finally, eat pizza. Lots of it. Search the city and find your favorite.  Pizza is said to have originated in Naples, so explore and enjoy!