The best walks and hikes around Qualiano

Piazza Municipio is one of the largest squares in Europe and represents the administrative center of Naples. It is bordered by Palazzo San Giacomo (seat of the Municipality) and the Maschio Angioino (Castel Nuovo), extending to the port area of the Stazione Marittima. The square has recently taken on a new architectural configuration that integrates the archaeological remains of the ancient Roman port discovered during the subway excavations. It is a fundamental interchange hub between the monumental center, the port, and the artery of via Toledo.

The Royal Palace of Naples overlooks Piazza del Plebiscito and was founded in 1600 as the residence of the Spanish viceroys, later becoming the seat of the Bourbons and the Savoys. The building houses the Historic Apartment, with rooms decorated in Baroque and Neoclassical style, and the National Library. The main facade is famous for the eight statues in the external niches depicting the sovereigns of the ruling dynasties of Naples. It is located a short walk from Galleria Umberto I and the Teatro San Carlo, representing the heart of the city's monumental center. Another unmissable stop!

Via Toledo is one of the most important historical and commercial arteries of Naples, over 1 km long, connecting Piazza Dante to Piazza Trieste e Trento (near the Plebiscito). Created in 1536 by the viceroy Pedro de Toledo, it is today a pedestrian area famous for its shopping, noble palaces, and the "Toledo" metro station, considered among the most beautiful in Europe.

Via Toledo is one of the most important historical and commercial arteries of Naples, over 1 km long, connecting Piazza Dante to Piazza Trieste e Trento (near the Plebiscito). Created in 1536 by the viceroy Pedro de Toledo, it is today a pedestrian area famous for its shopping, noble palaces, and the "Toledo" metro station, considered among the most beautiful in Europe.

The Tower of Lake Patria, usually called Torre di Patria, is a 16th-century coastal tower and part of a vast defensive system in southern Italy. It was built during the Spanish rule of the Kingdom of Naples, primarily under the viceroys in the 16th century. The purpose of these towers was to protect the coast from pirate and Saracen raids, which posed a significant threat to villages, trade, and fishing at that time. The tower is strategically located between Lake Patria and the sea. From here, watchmen could monitor the open sea and the coastline. In case of alarm, smoke or fire signals were relayed from tower to tower—an early warning system that allowed for the rapid organization of military assistance or the evacuation of the population. Architecturally, the Torre di Patria is typical of the period: a massive, square structure with thick walls, few openings, and a raised platform. It was intended less as a residence and more as a purely military and observation post. With the decline of piracy, the tower lost its military significance from the 18th century onward. Today, it is primarily a historical landmark of the region, a reminder of an era when the Campanian coast was under considerable threat. Together with Lake Patria and the ruins of Liternum, it forms a vivid ensemble that combines Roman antiquity, medieval and early modern defenses, and landscape history.

Liternum gained particular fame as the last residence of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, victor over Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Scipio withdrew here into political exile and died in Liternum around 183 BC. His tomb is believed to have been located nearby, which gave the town great symbolic significance.

Liternium (Liternum) was a Roman colony in Campania, near the modern-day coast north of Naples and not far from present-day Lake Patria. It was founded by the Romans in 194 BC, after the area had previously been inhabited by the Samnites and other Italic peoples. Strategically, Liternum was situated on the Via Domitiana, an important coastal road connecting Rome with southern Italy. Liternum gained particular renown as the final residence of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, victor over Hannibal in the Second Punic War. Scipio withdrew here into political exile and died in Liternum around 183 BC. His tomb is believed to have been located nearby, which gave the town great symbolic significance. Economically, Liternum thrived primarily on agriculture, fishing, and trade, facilitated by the fertile soil and its proximity to lagoons and the sea. During the Imperial period, the city boasted typical Roman structures such as a forum, basilica, baths, and an amphitheater. From late antiquity onward, Liternum increasingly declined. Floods, the spread of marshland and malaria, as well as the collapse of the Roman administrative structures, led to the city's abandonment. In the early Middle Ages, Liternum was largely deserted and submerged under sediment and vegetation. Today, the remains of Liternum form an archaeological site near Giugliano in Campania. Excavations provide insights into the city's structure and underscore Liternum's historical significance as a link between Roman history and the landscape surrounding Lake Patria.

A vast collection of paintings spanning from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. A must-see for anyone who appreciates sacred art and wants to discover the great Italian, Flemish, and Neapolitan painters. However, the museum's layout isn't always ideal: the labels for each work are often placed too low and printed in far too small a font, forcing visitors to get very close and bend down. Furthermore, the museum entrance isn't signposted; you have to guess where to go. Finally, we would have appreciated some wayfinding within the exhibition: there are so many rooms that it's easy to lose track of where you are and risk missing out on certain works.