Luxury Shopping in Naples
- At March 22, 2021
- By Zia Lucy
- In City life
- 0
Did I ever tell you I was a shopaholic?
I still have a sort of addiction to clothes and accessories but, growing up, I realized I didn’t need same bags everybody had just because they were from Louis Vuitton or Christian Dior. You can’t be unique if your neighbour wears same outift as yours!
Everybody talks about “luxury” meaning “a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense”. Is this true? Do we all live a life of luxury just because we spend tons of money? Does luxury mean feeling unique in a bar where 10 girls wear exactly like you? Can luxury be combined with unique?
After years of matching clothes with my personality, I understood that unique can be combined with luxury. I wanted to be unique, 100% unique, and it was not essential to spend lots of money. Luxury for me means “having things that you can use for a long time, create your own style, wear accessories that set you apart, show your personality throughout your clothes”.
Why to Shop In Napoli!
After years of living in Napoli, I discovered lots of amazing shops. Napoli has always had a great tradition of high quality tailored suits, handcrafted shoes and bags, great perfumers. Here you are able to find seamstress and tailors who transmit their knowledge from generation to generation since 1850s. It is no coincidence that future brides go to Via Duomo ( main road for wedding fashion studios) to choose the perfect dress for their “Special Day”. Neapolitan fashion style can be classic, romantic, metropolitan, vintage, radical chic or pin up. The perfect mix of all these styles creates a unique way of being yourself, of feeling great by walking through old streets or drinking an Aperitivo with your friends into a speak easy bar. In Napoli “You Can Dare”, and you can wear dresses and accessories for many years because they never go out of fashion!
Where I Shop..
I am not jealous of telling you places where I go for shopping. Fashion in Napoli is so unique that you can find your own style without having my style… and shop assistants are very kind to help you choosing the best for you! Even if I have Miu Miu, Dior and Chanel bags, I don’t like buying those popular brands because I believe their new collections are made for everybody and not only for you. I am always in search of Vintage bags or high quality dresses and accessories that don’t cost you an arm or a leg! Best Streets for shopping are Via Duomo (for brides), Via Chiaja, Via Calabritto and Via dei Mille (if you are looking for Luxury Famous Brands) . But there are some other small roads where you can find amazing shops. And it is not necessary to spend tons of money!
Here’s my list for you
1. To Perfume or not to perfume?
After discovering Bruno Acampora Profumi your drama will be solved by five drops of Musc per Day!
Since 1947, Bruno Acampora has created emotional and provocative fragances involving all your senses. Located in the heart of the Luxury shopping area, into the ground floor of and old Palace, the little elegant boutique is the place where you can stay forever. It is very hard to choose the fragrance you like the most and you would keep all of them. Like in a Candy Shop, all the small colored glass bottles are a strong temptation! Between extrait de perfume and eau de perfume I prefer the pure essence and the choice for “the one” was really hard. Even if Musc has been declared “so sexy to drop men’s pants”, I chose Musc Gold (a meticulous mix of Lavender, Rose, Jasmine, Neroly, Violet, Amber, Vanilla, Patchouly, Sandalwood, Musk and Flowery honey). In case you think this perfume is too sexy or too sweet, no worries… there are many other fragances for you! https://en.brunoacampora.com/
2. Extravagant Romance from Nenna Pop
Colored, fun, in a mood of festive atmosphere and with objects all over, Nenna Pop is the shop where you can have the best dress for your mood. Unique as the owner, Mariagrazia Greco, you can’t leave this place without buying a thing. No matter if you wear classic, romantic or ethnic, if you feel young or old or need to find a dress to use at work, here you will find the style which better suits you and, after a great help from the sail assistants, you will be ready for a great Aperitivo next door! Nenna Pop is located in Via Carlo Poerio, close to the “Baretti” Streets ( an area full of bars where lots of people use to have Aperitivo after 7.00 pm). Follow them on Instagram: @nenna.pop
3. Gently Vintage Look by Roberta Bacarelli
Her passion for Vintage creates romantic prêt-à-porter dresses focused on extraordinary textiles. The lifestyle of contemporary women is perfectly touched by the elegance of the past in Roberta Bacarelli’s dresses. In her showroom you will find outfits for every occasion, shoes, swimming suits and kids collections: https://www.robertabacarelli.it
4. What about men?
Since 1800, the best city for men suits was the chaotic and extravagant Napoli! The perfectly designed tailoring tradition continues nowadays with a selection of unique prêt-à-porter collections, and you will surprised by the greatest choice of accessories for men! Between all the tailors in the city ( It wasn’t easy to make a choice) point out:
Mariano Rubinacci, an elegant showroom where you can also find ready to wear clothes, sited in one of the most popular and eclectic palaces of Napoli: https://marianorubinacci.com
Ulturale, for your perfect tie: http://www.ulturale.com
Antica ditta Mario Talarico, the last hand made umbrella creator: http://www.mariotalarico.it
5. Bags, My Passion
I started collecting bags since I was 19. I believe you can have a few clothes but you need lots of bags because accessories make the difference! One of the places I love the most is Tramontano: https://tramontano.it
How To Get Out of 2020 and stay positive
2020 has been a terrible year? We must find something positive.
I completely lost my job, I couldn’t go out for more than 2 months, when I finally found a part-time job I realized It was just for a few months.
Despite all, I survived… and in a very positive way!
Would you like to know what happened later?
Government closed Campania Region again!
Too many covid-19 cases and a few hospitals to take care of all.
Two days to decide if we were red zone, yellow zone or orange zone… is this a joke? Unfortunately not!
So guys, after discovering that I am at home again, without a job, with a broken Iphone and lots of sunny days outside, I started using some positive methods of how to get out of a 2020 existential crisis.
Good News: This lock down is a bit easier, we can go out for a fitness workout. Thanks God I am not feeling like a prisoner into my own house (which is very comfortable though).
When you are out of your comfort zone you realize you are able to move on. You can’t make future plans, you can’t do what you like, you can’t see your family and friends every time but there’s an energy helping you to survive and you must release this energy.
How did I release this energy?
With Simple things and here are some suggestions (I hope it helps you too):
1.Make a Plan of Things to do
You have lots of free time you never had before and if you have nothing to do, It’ll end you’ll get bored and depressed. So try to find a plan of things to do and make a list.
2. Hiking Therapy
I know the Amalfi Coast has the best scenery in the entire World and I must consider myself lucky to live here, but hiking really helped me. it doesn’t matter whether you are in the most scenic place of the Heart or just in the Green Park close to your house. The most important is to walk!
It’s not only necessary for you stay fit but it really helps your mind to keep away bad thoughts and have happy dreams at night. Walking into Nature really helps because it improves your creativity, it strenghtens your body and mind and gives you positive energy.
Well… if you can’t do Hiking Therapy, you can try to stay fit at home by using different Apps such as
http://: https://www.kaylaitsines.com
At least those apps help you to stay fit and do some workouts.
I really missed traveling and my job. As a tour guide, my job is more like having a holiday on the Amalfi Coast with my customers and showing them hidden corners, describing the places with incredible stories. In a positive way I know we will travel again and I know maybe you need to get some inspiration for your next trip to Italy. So, I started making some short videos on my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GduTZmfh4fw
Read more»Four things to love about Naples, a city full of surprises.
- At March 02, 2017
- By Zia Lucy
- In City life, Local Tours and History
- 0
What’s not to love about Naples? Despite what lots of people think, this beautiful city is filled to the brim with culture, color, and wine. The city’s history goes deep into the ancient past, and aspects of long-gone eras mix sensually with modern delights in every corner of the city. From food to art, here are the things we know you’ll love about Naples.
Food
It’s hard to pick just a few dishes that stand out in Naples. From sea food to pizza, Naples has some of the best Italian cuisine you’ll find anywhere. When you visit the city, you have to try Impepata di Cozze, a mussel dish spiced with freshly-ground black pepper. If your tastes are bit less exotic, go for some ragù, a more familiar dish made of meats and tomato sauce served on pasta. Of course, you can’t visit Italy without trying some pizza! Be sure to go to one of the finest pizzerias: Sorbillo, Vesi and Da Michele are my favorite but prepare yourself for a long queue. Another option should be to eat PIZZA A PORTAFOGLIO (folded pizza): it’s a folded pizza that you can eat take away, my favourite is Pizzeria Portalba!
If you go for fried pasta, Di Matteo is the best.
If you are looking for a great meal, don’t miss Ristorante Don Vesuvio where you will have the best Neapolitan experience with Francesco and Valeria: great food, good quality, home atmosphere:
Don Vesuvio, Vico San Domenico Maggiore, Napoli, +390812520074.
What Neapolitans eat is baccalà, salted cod, cooked into different ways. My favourite place for eating baccalà is Osteria Baccalaria. When I first went there, I would have eaten all but I chose Fried and baked cod:
Pizza and Pasta may get all the credit in Italy, but don’t forget about dessert! Naples has some of the most delightful desserts you’ll find in Europe: Sfogliatella and Rhum Babà are the best seller but during Easter, Neapolitans eat Pastiera.
Read more»A tour around Naples, part 2
- At March 06, 2016
- By Zia Lucy
- In City life
- 0
I love walking around Naples and every time I discover new places.
There are many associations who are improving social situations of some nieghborhoods in Napoli and organize guided tours.
One the best tours I’ve done was with the cooperative La Paranza into the Rione Sanità where I discovered the Catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso, amazing places dated back the 2nd century AD where you are able to visit the underground of Naples without suffering claustrophobia and see incredible frescoes of the 6th century. The Catacombs are accessible to all, for extra infos:
http://www.catacombedinapoli.it/en/ (guide included in the price of the entrance)
My suggestion is to visit the catacombs during the first tour of the morning so you have enough time to see other places or eat something.
If you don’t mind walking, from the Archeological Museum you can reach the Curch of San Giovanni a Carbonara: a church built into the 14th century, which hide the incredible funerary monuments of the family Angiò last members.
If you are not tired of monuments, I suggest to see The Treasure of San Gennaro: you will love this amazing collection of jewels which can be compared with the Treasure of the Queen of England. Don’t forget to visit the nearby Cathedral.
Another option for another day could be a tour above one section of the Greek- Roman City of Neapolis. You can start this tour from Bellini Square, where you can see the Greek walls of the Ancient city, and keep going to Via Tribunali where there’s a great choice of attractions.
I sometimes love walking into this street without visiting any place, just to enjoy the real lifestyle of Naples, with guys on motorbikes without helmets, the eggs seller on the street and the fast crowd that accompanies the sunny days with their loud voices. I stop for a babà and a coffee and walk down to the coloured street of San Gregorio Armeno, full of craftsmen who create nativity scenes and figurines (some of them with faces of famous people such as John Paul II, famous soccer players, Barack Obama, etc…).
In case you are interested in a place to visit in Via Tribunali, I higly recommend to see:
1. San Severo Chapel with the amazing statue of the veiled Christ: http://www.museosansevero.it/en/
2. The Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio, where neapolitan people pray for adopted skulls in order to give to their souls the ascension from Purgatory to Paradise: http://www.purgatorioadarco.it/
2. Underground Naples, a visit to the ancient Greek aqueducts, not recommended for people who suffer claustrophobia: http://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/naples-underground/ (guide included in the price of the entrance)
If you wish to help local charities but also to admire one of the most beautiful religious complex, I suggest you to visit the Church of San Gregorio Armeno and its cloister, where the nuns help poor children and give to some of them the possibility to study: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_San_Gregorio_Armeno
Those are just some suggestions about what to do in Naples and I will be happy to give you some extra infos,so do not hesitate to ask!
A tour around Naples, part 1
- At February 23, 2016
- By Zia Lucy
- In City life
- 0
My first approach with the city of Naples was I-don’t-remember-how-many-years-ago!
I was just a student and I decided to go there because it was near my lovely Positano.
Napoli: You can love it or hate it.
I soon fell in love with this interesting city: a place of contrasts which looks like an asian-arabian-european city, where you can be everyone an no one at the same time, where you can live into an open air theatre at every corner and discover the thousands shades of the everyday life.
Naples lives on the energy of Vesuvius, in its language and the way people walk and move their hands… I could never get bored here.
When I miss the city life I go to Naples for a week-end. There’s so much to do that you can spend an entire week and… miss something.
I could write about the history of Naples but I prefer to write about suggestions on what to do/ where to go/ what to eat here in case you stay just for a week-end.
Last time I was in Naples I decided to sleep into a very nice B&B in the historic centre. The place is called Bed and Breakfast Neapolis Bellini and it’s next to the ancient Greek walls in Bellini Square:
http://www.neapolisbellinibed.com/website/
it’s clean, central, quiet and the owner, Lisa, always has great travel tips… she’s an insider of Napoli and loves its evening-night life.
Lisa invited me for a drink at La Spritzeria (https://www.facebook.com/La-spritzeria-Napoli-813080662049396/) in Via Bellini 6. La Spritzeria has become my kingdom as they only make spritz… yes, 55 different kinds of spritz! And they also have their personal version of Tapas ( I had a great bruschetta with vegetables).
During my visits to Naples, I love staying in Bellini Square because it’s right nearby all the main attractions of the historical centre and it’s also full of bars and restaurants. After 6pm all the bars are crowded and the square is full of students and professionals who have just finished working. Some of the bars are really interesting because they have book shops, organize art exhibitions and sometimes have live music.
One of the places where I like eating is a veggie-vegan restaurant called Sorriso Integrale (http://www.sorrisointegrale.com/): here they cook fresh organic food and they have a good selection of tea, wine and pastries. I like eating the “piatto unico” (meal of the day with a selection of vegetables and soup) and their special vegan pie.
Another good restaurant is called Tandem (http://www.tandem.napoli.it/), I love eating here when I miss mamma’s ragù!
And, if you can’t wait to eat pizza, here are my favourite:
– Gino Sorbillo (http://www.sorbillo.it/)
– Da Michele (http://damichele.net/)
– Di Matteo (http://www.pizzeriadimatteo.com/)
Those pizzerie are always busy and sometimes you have to wait for more than one hour, my suggestion is to buy a frittatina di pasta (fried pasta ball filled with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce- the best one is at Di Matteo) and a beer take away so you can have something to eat while waiting outside for your table.
If you wish to be a real neapolitan student, you should eat “pizza a portafoglio” (folded like a wallet) while walking along Via dei Tribunali or San Gregorio Armeno.
After walking along San Gregorio Armeno, you reach San Domenico Square, where you can have a coffee and a sfogliatella da Scaturchio (http://www.scaturchio.it/).
… to be continued
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