Erika Chiappinelli tour guide

Guided tours

There are those who go down and those who go up, I'll take you up these stairs...

THE OBLIQUE NAPLES

Calata San Francesco
Pizzofalcone and Lamont Young ramps
Salita due porte all'Arenella and Materdei
Certosa di San Martino and Pedamentina
Sant'Antonio ai Monti
From Petraio to Palazzo Mannajuolo
The other Petraio: journey into Neapolitan Art Nouveau
Castel Sant'Elmo and Pedamentina di San Martino
Porta Posillipo and Salita Villanova
San Mandato and Salita Pontecorvo
Village of Santo Strato in Posillipo
From Posillipo to Mergellina: the thirteen descents and the Vergilian Park
Rione Pica and via Posillipo
Naples of the gardens: from via Foria to Paradisiello
The Salita del Moiariello, from Foria to Capodimonte
and more: via del Marzano in Posillipo, Salita Miradois, via Carlo de Marco... choose and book your route in sloping Naples!

Calata San Francesco

Some go down and some go up, I’ll take you along these stairs.

The current Calata San Francesco is a downhill road that begins in the area of the Old Vomero and ends at Corso Vittorio Emanuele. We reach Via Belvedere, where we can admire some noble villas from the 1600s, such as Villa Carafa di Belvedere and Villa Giordano. Our descent begins: already present on the map of the Duke of Noja, Calata San Francesco once reached the coastal area, because it also included the final part of the road, today called Via Arco Mirelli. Along our route, glimpses of the landscape alternate with charming villas and small buildings. We descend to the Riviera di Chiaia, the waterfront area and the Villa Comunale.

Calata San Francesco

Pizzofalcone and Lamont Young ramps

From Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the largest in Italy, we go up to Piazza Santa Maria degli Angeli, home to the baroque church of the same name. We then reach Monte Echia (or Pizzofalcone hill), where Partenope arose in the 8th century BC. In Roman times, the lush gardens of Lucullus' villa were located right there. On the road leading to the hill, in via Monte di Dio, lived Gennaro Serra di Cassano, one of the protagonists of the Neapolitan republic in 1799.

In recent years, Monte Echia has also become a film set for the television series “I bastardi di Pizzofalcone”, which has made it famous to a wider audience.

The focus of the tour is Villa Ebe, the last residence of Lamont Young, a visionary architect who lived between the 19th and 20th centuries: unfortunately, the building is famous for its troubled history and uncertain future. Descending the ramps to via Chiatamone, we recall the old fountain from which the so-called “acqua suffregna” flowed. The route ends at Castel dell'Ovo, where, according to legend, the body of the siren Partenope was laid to rest, who founded the city of Naples.

Pizzofalcone and Lamont Young ramps

Salita Due Porte at Arenella and Materdei

Do you know why Salita Due Porte in Arenella is called that?

Let's find out by starting from Piazza Muzji, and together we reach the entrance to the Borgo Due Porte. In via Molo alle Due Porte there is a Templar church, dedicated to Santa Maria Coeli and San Gennaro. Then, we begin our descent towards Materdei. We visit the exterior and entrance of the metro (art station, designed by Atelier Mendini), without passing through the turnstiles, and the most characteristic alleys of the neighborhood. We continue towards Salita San Raffaele, to discover the murals by Francisco Bosoletti, an Argentine street artist who painted the origins of the city of Naples in the Materdei district.

Borgo Due Porte at Arenella

Certosa di San Martino and Pedamentina

We visit the Certosa di San Martino: the cloisters and the monks' cemetery, the museum sections, and the church of the monumental complex.

The Certosa was built starting in 1328 to house the Carthusian order, but in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, thanks to artists of the caliber of Giovanni Antonio Dosio and Cosimo Fanzago, it took on the typical appearance of the era and became one of the most important examples of Neapolitan Baroque.

After finishing the visit to the museum complex, we will descend the 414 steps of the Pedamentina di San Martino, and then continue along the monumental staircase of Montesanto, to reach the Pignasecca market, still enjoying the view over the city.

Some go down and some go up, je ve porte pe' sti scale...

View from the Certosa di San Martino

Sant'Antonio ai Monti: from Vomero to Pignasecca

Departure from Piazza Leonardo, corner of Via Girolamo Santacroce. We reach Corso Vittorio Emanuele, formerly Corso Maria Teresa, built around the mid-19th century at the behest of Ferdinand II. It is the first "ring road" in chronological order, connecting Piazza Mazzini to the Mergellina district. The noble palaces in the area leave passersby speechless. But, as often happens in Naples, just turn the corner to completely change the scenery and find yourself in a working-class neighborhood made up of narrow streets and laundry hanging out in the open air. We walk along the picturesque Sant'Antonio ai Monti, among alleys and small lanes, to arrive in the Montesanto area, and then we cross the Pignasecca market. We can take the opportunity to observe Neapolitan culinary specialties: tripe, wallet pizza, fried pizza, zeppole, and panzarotti. After delighting our eyes, we continue to Piazza Carità, where our route ends. Those who wish can take a few steps back and feast on all (or just some) of the delicacies seen during the tour!!!

Sant'Antonio ai Monti

From Petraio to Palazzo Mannajuolo: some go down and some go up

Some go down and some go up, I'll take you along these stairs...

Meeting in Via Cimarosa, Vomero, at the entrance to the Chiaia funicular. To reach the lower city, however, we won't use the cable transport, but will descend along the Petraio stairs. One of the most spectacular of Naples' "pedamentine", the Petraio connects the Vomero district to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, near the Church of Santa Maria Apparente. Our route continues along Via San Carlo alle Mortelle, until we reach the church of the same name. The Brancaccio ramps, finally, will take us to Via Filangieri. The itinerary ends at Palazzo Mannajuolo, a jewel of Art Nouveau style in Naples, built at the beginning of the twentieth century based on a design by Giulio Ulisse Arata.

Petraio

The other Petraio: journey into Neapolitan Art Nouveau

We start from Largo San Martino to discover the Art Nouveau buildings of Vomero, and we arrive all the way to Chiaia. You will be fascinated by the villas on Via Donizetti and Via Palizzi. We reach Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where the view of Castello Aselmeyer, the undisputed masterpiece of architect Lamont Young and now a private condominium, is breathtaking.

We continue along Via del Parco Margherita, to admire more Art Nouveau villas, until we reach the Chiaia funicular and Piazza Amedeo.

The route is different from that of the Petraio steps (From Petraio to Palazzo Mannajuolo).

View from Via Palizzi

Castel Sant'Elmo and Pedamentina di San Martino

Castel Sant'Elmo was built starting in 1329, at the behest of Robert of Anjou and by the work of Tino da Camaino. Its structure was later modified during the viceregal period, when, at the request of Pedro de Toledo, it took on the six-pointed star layout, the same shape that characterizes it even today. From the terrace of this huge complex made of yellow Neapolitan tuff, you can admire a 360-degree view of the city of Naples and the gulf: to the east, Vesuvius with the Sorrento coast, and to the west the Phlegraean Fields, with the islands of Procida and Ischia. After visiting the castle, we will walk along one of the most picturesque "pedamentine" of Naples, to reach Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and then the Pignasecca market.

View from Castel Sant'Elmo

Porta Posillipo and Salita Villanova

Some go down and some go up, and some see the sea from the stairs! The route starts from the funicular on Via Manzoni, then visits the village of Porta Posillipo and that of Villanova. We descend the steps of the "canalone," a path carved into the tuff, down to Via Petrarca. Among the panoramic views of the Gulf of Naples and the sumptuous villas of Parco Carelli, we arrive at Via Posillipo, at the height of Palazzo Donn'Anna, the sumptuous but unfinished Baroque jewel built in the 17th century by Cosimo Fanzago for the noblewoman Anna Carafa. At the end of the visit, you can choose to stop for a while on the beach, or continue, with a ten-minute walk, towards Mergellina, where the funicular or public bus will take you back to the starting point.

Villanova Hill

Salita Villanova

San Mandato and Pontecorvo Ascent

Contrada San Mandato and Salita Pontecorvo: let's discover another vertical route of Naples, the oblique city. We meet in front of the Salvator Rosa metro station, designed by Atelier Mendini in 2001: the street, which currently bears the name of the Neapolitan painter, was once called "l'Infrascata," probably because it was hidden among the branches (the dense vegetation), and it connected the lower city with the hilly area. We proceed by crossing the district of San Mandato. Do you know where its name comes from? The little alleys wind through and offer a valid alternative to the main road. We then walk along salita Pontecorvo: it's impossible not to notice the concentration of churches and monasteries. In the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, in fact, many farmhouses and noble palaces were ceded to monastic orders, who built their headquarters there. In some cases, however, traces of noble residences are still evident, as in the case of Palazzo Spinelli di Tarsia. The tour ends in Piazza Dante, once known as Largo Mercatello.

San Mandato Steps

The Village of Santo Strato in Posillipo

Posillipo is known for its crystal-clear sea, much less for its rural villages. This strip of land so dear to the gods, where the yellow of the tuff alternates with the blue of the sea water, is the result of the fury of a supervolcano, the Phlegraean Fields. The coast was first chosen by the ancient Romans, and then by Neapolitan nobles, as the site of their villas. A paradise on earth, isolated from the rest of the city until the mid-1600s, when the viceroy Ramiro de Guzmán had the current Sant'Antonio ramps built, which reach Mergellina. Once, life took place there in small self-managed villages. The most important hamlet was that of Santo Strato, which takes its name from the church in the area. Let's discover together the history of the village and its authenticity, the same that inspired the Hungarian Sándor Márai for his book The Blood of San Gennaro, set right in the village of Santo Strato. At the end of the visit, those who wish can continue on their own and reach the coastal village of Marechiaro, where it is possible to swim.

Borgo di Santo Strato

From Posillipo to Mergellina: the thirteen descents and the Vergilian park

We visit the Vergilian Park with a guided tour of the site of Leopardi's tomb and the "tomb of Virgil." But, since we love long walks, we start from Via Manzoni, and take the opportunity to walk the "thirteen descents," the ramps of Sant'Antonio in Posillipo. It was the first road connecting Posillipo and the lower city to be made accessible to carriages, in 1643, by order of the viceroy Ramiro de Guzmán, Duke of Medina de Las Torres. Right on the ramps, the church dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua was built, who was the patron saint of Naples for 15 years.

The route will end, after the visit to the Vergilian Park, in Mergellina, where we can admire the lion of Mergellina and the fountain of the siren Parthenope.

On the way back, you can comfortably return to the starting point on your own using the Mergellina funicular.

In case of strong wind or rain, the Vergilian Park will be closed, so it will be explained from the outside.

Sant'Antonio ramps in Posillipo

Rione Pica and Via Posillipo

Many of us know Posillipo for its coastline and its crystal-clear water. But how many of us know its hilly areas? Let's discover an unusual route. We start from Via Posillipo, gifted by Gioacchino Murat to the city of Naples in 1812. From above, you can admire some of the coastal villas, such as Villa Rocca Matilde. We then move inland, to Via Rione Pica. Why is it called that? It was built by the architect Massimo Pica Ciamarra. However, it has little in common with what is generally considered a "rione" (district): in fact, right on Via Rione Pica, we find some of the most luxurious villas in the city of Naples. Duration: about 2 hours

Villa Ruffo della Scaletta in Posillipo

Naples of the gardens: from Via Foria to Paradisiello

Do you want to escape from the city to go to the countryside, but don't have enough time? No problem, I'll take you to a little paradise close to the city center.

We start from the Garibaldi barracks, on Via Foria, to explore the hillside slope, among stairs and little alleys.

We will discover the noble palaces of Via Foria and the surrounding areas, learn the history of the local churches, until we reach Vico Paradisiello. There, after a short climb, you can rest in a wonderful garden, among mandarin and lemon trees. You can also, if you wish, pick them and buy them at a very discounted price.

From wide streets to little alleys, from palaces to farmhouses, come and discover the Paradisiello in the city! Duration: about 2 hours

Paradisiello

The Moiariello climb, from Foria to Capodimonte

Let's discover the Salita del Moiariello, the "Posillipo of the poor".

The hill that rises towards Capodimonte was once occupied by woods and countryside, farmhouses and gardens.

Very little remains today of its agricultural past, but there is a trace in the name "Moiariello", which derives from "moio" or "moggio", an ancient unit of agricultural measurement corresponding to one third of a hectare.

The ascent, where doctors and scientists once lived, offers very evocative panoramic views and provides insights into the history of the city.

Starting from the Garibaldi Barracks, on Via Foria, we will reach Capodimonte, through the Montagnola ascent and then through the Ottavio Morisani ramps. We will see, from the outside, the Torre del Palasciano, which was once the residence of the founder of the Red Cross, the Astronomical Observatory, commissioned by Giuseppe Bonaparte and Gioacchino Murat during the French decade, and many other historic buildings.

The charm of places from the past will accompany us throughout the route. On the way back, we will descend via the steps to Via Foria. Duration: about 2 hours

Moiariello

...and many, many other itineraries!

The itineraries can also be combined. For information and reservations, contact via SMS or WhatsApp at +393492949722

Do you want to customize your tour?

Do you want to customize your tour? The requested destination is not among those listed? No problem, contact me at 3492949722 and request a personalized tour.

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