Having descended a little lower from the high-rise aristocrats, along a charming long alley we moved to a space where antiquity is fixed with fashion and modernity. The atmosphere of modern fashion and luxury brands was in the air, making mixed impressions. Although I'm not a fan of such luxury brands as Gucci, Louise Vuitton, BVLGARI, Versace, Prada, Moncler, etc., but for fans and people whose wallets are not tight, there will be a nervous and abundance of a shopping paradise, and the pleasures of a solid life.
Turning the first corner, I was overcome with admiration, among the more restrained standard even figures, I saw a bright one like a prince or princess with a crown - Palazzina Velardi. Built in 1906 by architect Adolfo Avena, Palazzina Velardi is one of the masterpieces of Neapolitan modernism. Located on the Brancaccio ramps, it brought a modern style to the landscape, where baroque and neoclassicism still dominate.
Distinguished by a gentle bright color, triangular in shape, with patterns on the main tower, which is the crowning feature of this building, it is like a light at the end of the tunnel, like an oasis in the mist.
This residence symbolizes the openness of Naples to the artistic movements of the early 20th century. And passing further, we get right into the heart of the Francesco D'Andrea Steps, we stand exactly in the middle (or not exactly) In any case, the Francesco D'Andrea Stairs begin exactly on Via dei Mille 3, the same one with a bunch of boutiques and going up and capture two more streets.
The one in the middle is Rampe Brancaccio Street on which our unsurpassed Velardi Palace is located, and the second upper half that completes these same stairs also goes out onto the street as I later clarified on the map, because the street goes like a winding snake to confuse naive tourists. And so, moving further, we explore these contrasts and bright colors, peaks and valleys, rigor and paints, style and chic, fashion and brands, modernity and antiquity.
And making a 90-degree turn, we discover for ourselves another Donna Beige of these areas, or rather another beautiful building that, although it may be a little behind our Vilardi in architectural sophistication and antiquity, nevertheless, with its shape, bright color and self-confidence, it very well adds to the originality of the street and draws and concentrates all attention on itself, I think that I have a similar character to it. The street that has been honored to bear such a star, or the street on which this building has been honored to stand, is called Via Gaetano Filangieri, approximately at number 70.
And so we quicken our steps to as soon as possible climb, enter, immerse ourselves in the most impresbustling, mixed, not perfectly clean, not very strictly organized, diverse, creative, embodying a touch of beauty in disorder, mysterious, narrow, spectacular, high, confusing, treated with a spirit of poverty, which conveys a peculiar chip of commercial and central Naples.
@darine.darine⬆️
I admit to you honestly that even such, I will not be afraid of this word, professional GPS (in the words of @olga.maslievich), as I, managed to get lost in Naples. Therefore, I am not even completely sure that my sequence of events is 100% correct. But I tried my best to recreate the sequence a little bit, and in fact, all these districts are somewhere in between each other. I found a shopping street that was the most similar to my photos, which was somewhere in the middle of the district called Via Nardones number 31.
But in general, all these photos contain many shopping streets, starting from the metro station, which I don't remember, but when we came out, the first thing we saw was a flock of pigeons and a bright church called Chiesa di Santa Maria di Montesanto.
I just noticed that it was a little higher than the shopping street that I indicated, but still in about the same direction, although not completely different.And it seems logical that from this church you go down and explore the corners. It was very hot and we were very exhausted, we walked between these narrow alleys, tall buildings from which balconies with things hung above us and it was actually very homely and authentic.
And after these journeys through heaven and hell, we go out onto a slightly more spacious street to stretch our bones. The street that once again breathes sophistication and elegance, although with a very tragic-sounding name: Piazza dei Martiri, Napoli, is a patriotic monument dedicated to the martyrs of the Neapolitan uprisings. It is decorated with a Bourbon column and four symbolic lions.
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Behind the monument, like a strong shadow of protection, like support, stands Palazzo Calabritto, and also around several more beautiful classical buildings. And so it turns out that the final stage of this excursion falls on Victory Square, it's like we've come a long way, we're tired, but we've won. So we emerge from the heavy architectural giants that cast a shadow on your path.
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I couldn't have imagined that a relaxing-looking square similar to the Miami areas with palm trees is called Victory Square. Piazza della Vittoria is an important public space, named after the Christian victory at Lepanto. The square is home to symbolic statues of Neapolitan history.
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It connects the port area with the central areas of Naples. Going out here at sunset was the best idea because it was so tenderly romantic and relaxing to present all these monuments and the surrounding exterior against the background of the pale pink sky and pastel colors that were visible in the distance on the sea line.
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Walking along such a charming promenade that is on the street V. Francesco Caracciolo 192-68, Napoli is a feast for the eyes. I think the locals really like this scenario, I saw many people walking and also some running along the road inhaling the sea breeze. Also a little to the left along the embankment, where my photo tour did not have the strength to reach, there is a popular castle, also on the seashore, which is visible from afar on the map.
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Therefore, I don't think it would be a great sin if I didn't mention it in my photos, because it is always very easy to find for any visitor to Naples. Leaving the incomparable sea domination and its pier, we turned around and went back home. We were returning late in the evening up various alleys and streets somewhere near the San Ferdinando district, also so chaotic but with its own "spices", a vagabond district. And here, for everyone, what seems to me to be a surprise, right on top of all living things, etc., there was a huge and proudly standing bridge: Ponte de Chiaia.
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I admit honestly, until the last moment, until I checked it on the map, I considered it an arch. And it turned out that this bridge was not even young, but built in 1636 by some Spanish viceroy. Having survived the intrigues of the Spaniards and the transformation of political regimes, having survived four centuries, being restored, it still stands with its head held high and you complain that your life is hard? But better look at this real piece of history! We even saw a cute tangerine tree right in the middle of a busy street. It's all so exotic because I've never seen anything like it in Ukraine.
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Thank you very much for your attention, have a nice time of day.