Have you ever heard of Pompeii and Herculaneum, where all those people burned up like fried chicken when Mt. Vesuvius blew? That’s Naples. They call it “Napoli”. That event went down in history as one of the worst ways anyone could have to die. It still is. But don’t let that make you think that they stopped living there. As soon as it cooled off, they built an even bigger city with even more people. And THAT’S Naples…the real Naples. As a community and a people, they collectively decided that this was their most favorite place on Earth. They belong there, and they’re not going to let a little thing like an active volcano stop them. Ask any of them why they would willingly live in a place with such a tragic history, and they’ll look at you like you’re crazy. Who wouldn’t want to live in this warm, sunny paradise? If the mountain blows again, they’ll wait for it to cool, and build the city back again even bigger next time. But whole generations have lived and died in the shadow of that volcano with no problem. So until Vesuvius erupts again, this is home and they’re not leaving. 

The locals call it “Napoli”. And the people call themselves “Napoletanos”…what we anglicize as “Neopolitans” like the ice cream. They invented it. Italians are legendary around the world for their food, but one of their specialties is deserts, especially frozen confections like shaved ice. Gelato. ICE CREAM!!! Personally, I’m not a fan of Neopolitan ice cream or Spumoni, another Italian creation. But you’re not gonna hurt my feelings if you bury me in a vat of lemon gelato. And you can get all of it, everywhere you go in Italy. If there’s anything to take away from Naples, it’s that they’re a fiercely proud people. They’re proud of their people, proud of their city, and proud of its local flavor. You won’t be able to shop or eat on your video tour, but I guarantee you…you’ll wish you could.