If you are planning a trip to Naples, make sure it falls over a Sunday! Sunday is the best day in Naples in my opinion...many people on a Sunday go for a 'Sunday stroll' in Via Partenope and down to Mergellina. This area is the long stretch of seafront which is all pedestrianised - that is lined with hotels and bars. On a Sunday you will find families, couples, and friends talking, walking their dogs, bike riding, roller blading, fishing, picnicking, buying fish from the local fisherman, or simply just relaxing by the sea snoozing or reading the Sunday papers. Some people dress up in their 'Sunday best' for the 'Sunday stroll' (usually the older generation), and many choose to eat their sunday lunch at one of the many restaurants by the sea, or by the castle 'Castel dell'Ovo'. Strolling along, on one side you can see across the sea to Mount Vesuvious and the islands of Capri and Ischia. On your other side you can see the beautiful city of Naples, and upto Vomero with San Martino and Castel San Elmo at the top.

 rollerblader

  traffic

  dog walking

  Sunday best

  snoozing

  young love

  discussing the Sunday papers

  friends discussing matters

  catnap on the rocks

  enjoying the sun

  chilling out

  seagulls

  boys fishing

  fishing

  fishing boats

  fishing boat

  fishermen

 shellfish

  buying fish

  very fresh octopus

  fish market

  one of many stalls selling snacks

  friends picnic

  lunch on a boat (Vesuvious in background)

  view from Mergellina of Vesuvious and the Castel d'Ovo

Sunday lunch

There are many restaurants along the beautiful Via Partenope by the sea, with outside tables, and most of them are busy in both winter and summer. Many offer menus rich in fresh seafood, even in the winter. It's a perfect way to finish of a lazy afternoon of strolling!

Two of our favourites restaurants, directly opposite the sea, with views across to Vesuvious, Capri, Ischia and the Castel dell'Ovo, are Regina Margherita (see above) and I Re di Napoli. We visited I Re di Napoli in the winter, sat outside (it was sunny and about 16 degrees) and enjoyed a lunch (see photos below) of fresh fried fish, a seafood risotto and spaghetti with tomato sauce. To finish with, we had a mouthwatering cake with wild strawberries and cream, some limoncello liquer, and some meloncello liquer! (creamy melon liquer) The staff are very nice too!

visit the Regina Margherita website

One of the cosy tables upstairs in I Re di Napoli, with views onto Capri and Ischia.