Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo

May 30, 2019

After leaving Rome we took the short train trip down to Naples, primarily as a gateway to visit Pompeii which I had regrettably missed on my first trip to Italy as a backpacker two decades earlier. We had opted for the Renaissance Naples close to the water but a bit of a distance from the train station so we took a taxi to get to the hotel. Instantly it was apparent that Naples was a rougher town than Rome, the cab drive was lively and animated in his swearing at the other drivers as we weaved through the traffic. Pedestrians seemed to take their life in the hands by stepping of the curb.

Arriving at the hotel we were told they were full so no upgrades. The room was basic and small but functional and nicely updated. The highlight of the hotel was the roof deck spaces which included the breakfast restaurant and the expansive terrace with stunning views and an excellent breakfast buffet and the pool and lounge area. The lobby with spiral staircase was nice as was the bar.

We walked before sunset out along the water and the coast, stopping by the two castles and grabbing real Naples pizza along the waterfront. The next morning I was up early to do a run along the stunning coastline, only partially surprised to see some people still partying on from the night before. I stopped in at the Galleria Umberto next door to the hotel whose impressive atrium is visible from the hotel but is even more impressive when standing beneath it. After showering we had an amazing brunch on the roof terrace and then walked the thirty minutes to the train station. We took the short ride to the Pompeii station and walked up to the main entrance. As we were flying to Paris that evening, we opted to just wander ourselves instead of doing a tour. One of my degrees was in Greek and Roman Studies so I had some information to pass along. We explored for almost three hours, hardly enough time to scratch the surface, but still well worth the visit if that is all the time you have. Absolutely surreal experience, seeing such destruction preserved for centuries was not only an historic experience but almost a spiritual one as well putting things in perspective, everything can change in an instant.

I had not expected to be so impressed with Napes, which was rough around the edges but had a vibrant life and beautiful coastline with ample great restaurants. The Renaissance was a wonderful property perfectly located in the center of town to access the coastline.