We had a wonderful stay at Willy and Rino's hillside escape in Mergellina. Willy’s communication and tips about Napoli leading up to our visit were extremely helpful. She checked on us frequently (but unobtrusively) during our stay to make sure all was well. She was quick to respond to any questions we had despite being on the other side of the world on holiday herself. Willy graciously allowed us to add a couple friend (husband & wife from the US) for one week and my cousin (from London) & her daughter (from Madrid) for the last weekend of our stay. Both groups were enamored with their first PLU experience and are planning to join once their homes are ready to exchange.
The apartment was well-stocked, very comfortable and has all that one can need. It is well-situated with a picturesque view of the bay of Napoli and Mount Vesuvius from the balcony where we enjoyed breakfasts & evening aperitivo. It is close to the Mergellina train station, local grocery shopping, and the bayside promenade. If you want to spend ample time in Napoli, Willy & Rino’s home is the perfect homebase. Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii, Ercolano, the Royal Palace at Caserta and the Amalfi coast are all easily reachable for day trips.
Napoli was great to explore, full of energy and great food. While it’s difficult to capture all that Napoli has to offer, here is our short list to share:
** 50 Kalo (#9 on the 50 Top Pizza list) is a 10-min walk from the apartment.
** Cibi Cotti da Donna Anna - a locals’ lunch spot tucked inside Mergellina's Torretta Market. We loved Cibi Cotti so much that we ate here FOUR times! Inexpensive & unpretentious, we saw dishes here that we did not see at other restaurants… comfort food at its best.
** Galleria Borbonica should be on your “must do” list as it was the sleeper hit for us. We went to three of the “underground Napoli” experiences and this was by far the best. Choose the “Vico del Grottone, 4 - Plebiscito Square Area” entrance when you purchase your tickets. Trust us.
** 365 Lite Campania>Artecard enabled us to visit Pompeii (€18), Castello St. Elmo (€6), Ercolano (€16), Royal Palace at Caserta (€18), Royal Palace Napoli (€17), San Lorenzo Maggiore (€2 discount), and Castel Nuovo (€6) during our 19-day stay. 365 Lite was a steal at €27 and covers over 80 cultural sites in Naples and Campania Region. If you plan to visit both Pompeii & Ercalano via public transit (super easy to do), the Artecard is the way to go.
We can't wait to host Willy and Rino in our home later this year and return the hospitality. Grazie Mille.