Napoli Unplugged Guide to Naples

by Bonnie Alberts, Barbara Zaragoza, Penny Ewles-Bergeron (Editor)

The Napoli Unplugged Guide to Naples is not your typical guidebook. Written by four women united by a common passion – Napoli – it makes you feel you're seeing Naples through the eyes of your best friends. Their own enthusiasms are multiple: art, archaeology and architecture; history and mythology; music, dance and theatre; food and wine, the islands and the beach - even shopping - and each subject has its narrative moment in the spotlight. The prose is embellished by many beautiful photographs, urban sketches and plein-air paintings.
From the parallel city hidden below Naples' bustling streets to the summit of Vesuvius, the authors explore the city, the bay and a little further afield in Campania. Rambles Through the City explores Naples by the neighbourhood – its historic and municipal centres as well as its hill districts and is enhanced by creative cartography to orient the reader; Outings in the Outskirts dives into the Bay of Naples and a bit beyond – the Vesuvius Excavations, the Phlegraean Fields and the glories of the Amalfi Coast; Ventures in a Different Vein feeds the mind and delights the senses with a section dedicated entirely to Naples' history, and finally, the authors outline an immersion course in the city's music, theatre and food and wine cultures. Each section is equipped with practical advice on transport, opening hours, essential numbers - and the book is topped off with a thematic index offering the reader other pathways of discovery into the city.

376 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

Bonnie Alberts is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for art, architecture, archaeology and history. Living in Naples, Italy for nearly a decade, her curiosity and love of the story takes her all over the city, the Campania region and beyond and she records everything she takes in with a camera and a pen. Bonnie is the founder of the Napoli Unplugged website and that work became the basis of the Napoli Unplugged Guide to Naples Today, Bonnie is busy working on the next books in this series, the Napoli Unplugged Guide to the Bay and the Amalfi Coast and the Napoli Unplugged Guide to Campania. Bonnie regularly contributes articles about Naples to websites and to online and print magazines. Bonnie’s photography features in Naples in 3 Days: Part 1: A Guide to Neapolitan Art and Architecture and Tweeting Da Vinci.

Reviews

[Suzan G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually go for another well crafted travel series of books for reading a great travel guide when about to go on vacation, but this one is such a fabulous encyclopedic guide to majestic Naples, Italy and the wonderful surrounding area, I would choose this book instead to carry with me , or to research ahead of my visit. Napoli Unplugged is pure treasure!
I am so happy to let everyone know about Napoli Unplugged and what a great read and well researched resource this book is. If you have never been to Napoli, have been and are returning or just want to dream about the chance to get there, buy this book and treat yourself. Make a cup of good Italian coffee and dream.

Naples, Italy has so much to offer in the way of history, grand art and architecture, amazing food, amazing people, beautiful festivals and wonderful surprises. Naples was the capital of Italy at one time and still shines with gilded grandeur. With Napoli Unplugged as a great guide you will never be lost and never lack for opportunities to find the best of all possible experiences in Naples.

This book is authored by several who live in Naples currently, and others who have lived there for years. Each section is packed with details one would never get in a travel book written by non-residents. also many daytrips are described along with city wide adventures, and not to be missed peeks.

There are lots of actual photographs along with maps,handy hints,all needed phone numbers and emergency information, and helpful websites listed in the book. Humor is essential to a great vacation and the guide is written with some funny anecdotal info and suggestions for playful events.

All neccessary transportation hub data is included along with all you need to find a wonderful place to eat, shop, sleep, worship and explore. I hope these authors decide to write about other areas of the world as they are unique and entertaining in this genre, yet completely researched and thorough. I like to curl up with this book on a day when I know I am in need of a good visit and dream of going back to the Campania region of Italy and the magical city of Napoli and surrounding delights.

[Ann Pizzorusso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a keepsake, one that you will enjoy before, during and after your trip. It is much, much more than a guidebook, it is a work of art produced by four women who are passionate about Naples. Their desire to share this marvelous city with the reader shows up on every beautiful page of this highly illustrated guide. No wonder it won a gold medal for best travel book! Bonnie Alberts' superb photos capture the beauty, mystery and playfulness of this land. The specially commissioned hand painted landscapes and maps are worthy of an art book. This guide provides you with an "experience" rather than a laundry list of hotels and restaurants. It tells you what to see and why to see it and that is saying a lot for a city with nearly 3000 years of history! The guide is really a companion, a book you can read with joy, even if you have never been to Naples. And if you do come, it will open your eyes to one of the most magical, contradictory, fun places you have ever visited.