View Full Version : the filthy, beautiful streets of naples


stempka
February 20th, 2008, 02:53 AM
most of the time, i'm just a lurker around these parts, but after a recent much-too-short trip to naples, italy, i had to share my love of this city.

grimy though some might find it, the chaos and vitality are sorely missing in most european cities. and forgive the lighting, the sun was not out the first day, and the buildings do not allow much sunlight from reaching the streets. hope you enjoy.


http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3209/dscf1562al0.jpg

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stempka
February 20th, 2008, 02:57 AM
whoops. this should be moved to the urban showcase. a little help please, mods?

Modern Design
February 20th, 2008, 03:22 AM
Good gracious..that looks like the braziliam slums...terrible:ohno:

Mahratta
February 20th, 2008, 03:46 AM
To be honest, I like it.
It may not look too nice but it definitely looks like a city - too many European cities don't have the element of life that Naples has

kids
February 20th, 2008, 03:52 AM
:)

Wonderful. This is how cities should be portrayed. That really is beautiful. Thanks.

koolkid
February 20th, 2008, 03:54 AM
This is awesome. I love it all, the dark alley ways with the hanging laundry and dirty walls. I find this quite interesting actually. I'd definitley like to walk those streets someday.

I wonder how many other cities in Europe are like this...

Shezan
February 20th, 2008, 05:14 AM
..a city of magic

nygirl
February 20th, 2008, 06:06 AM
More please ;) Thanks for all of these pictures stempka. I miss Naples but hope to go back someday in the future.

edubejar
February 20th, 2008, 06:33 AM
This is awesome. I love it all, the dark alley ways with the hanging laundry and dirty walls. I find this quite interesting actually. I'd definitley like to walk those streets someday.

I wonder how many other cities in Europe are like this...

Although maybe not as much, Marseille, France is a bit like Naples. Marseille in fact is the Naples of France (both in the southern part of their respective countries, on the Mediterranean, both famed for high crime rates, both proud cities [their citizens], both roughly the 3rd biggest metro areas, etc.)

Giorgio
February 20th, 2008, 06:34 AM
I wonder how many other cities in Europe are like this...
Its quite an extreme version of most Southern European cities.
Athens looks similar in some respects but far less "filthy" than portrayed here.

Naples is one of my favourite cities...its beautiful.

koolkid
February 20th, 2008, 06:39 AM
yeah, although most would shiver and find these cities disgusting and ugly, I find them beautiful.

Thanks for the tip guys. I'll have to check both Marseille and Athens sometime...

edubejar
February 20th, 2008, 06:42 AM
Naples, like Italy, is without a doubt a place of amazing contrasts. On one hand you have great know-how in the arts, gastronomy, design/fashion and other high culture, and on another you have chaos, filth and major neglect. I think that's where France gets extra points since IMO France keeps up well alongside Italy on the former but tells Italy she's on her own on the latter.

edubejar
February 20th, 2008, 06:44 AM
Interesting. Is that like a lower part of the city, some sort of basse-ville?
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3317/dscf1605be9.jpg

koolkid
February 20th, 2008, 07:31 AM
It's the city's basement!

MNiemann
February 20th, 2008, 07:34 AM
OK, Naples wins the SSC award for density:

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4505/dscf1567ue9.jpg

Taller, Better
February 20th, 2008, 07:52 AM
You have posted these in the wrong forum, but I will move it to the Urban Showcase.

canucker16
February 20th, 2008, 09:33 AM
i love it. the grit and the density are oddly appealing. great photos too!

city_thing
February 20th, 2008, 11:30 AM
You have posted these in the wrong forum, but I will move it to the Urban Showcase.

He mentioned that and asked to be moved already... :)

Butterfly_Dubai
February 20th, 2008, 11:46 AM
amazing City ....so imprassive thnk you so much for it

GregPz
February 20th, 2008, 11:55 AM
I think it looks like a great place to explore! Clinically clean cities are generally boring places. A bit of chaos and disorder is an essential part of any great city.

Avientu
February 20th, 2008, 12:02 PM
I have to agree the city looks certainly interesting, and it's already on my list of must-see places, but on the other hand urban decay has a whole new meaning down there. I mean, a little bit of clean up won't hurt anyone, and would certainly boost tourism and help to improve its bad reputation. :yes:

teddybear
February 20th, 2008, 05:22 PM
^It does not look like first world but third world. I believe several advanced countries are in the declining state while several developing countries (especially Asian countries) are in advancing state.

eklips
February 21st, 2008, 10:12 AM
:drool: I need to visit the city.

PeterSmith
February 22nd, 2008, 05:44 AM
Naples photo threads have a way of making me excited like not other. Such a beautiful city. Are the streets so narrow in most parts of the city, or were these photos taken mostly in the older areas?

pwright1
February 22nd, 2008, 08:32 AM
I see some grime but then I see mostly breathtaking beauty. What an amazing beautiful city. The architecture is to die for. I love it.

MonsieurAquilone
February 22nd, 2008, 08:58 AM
Napoli is a beautiful city! :D What amazing photos.

stempka
February 22nd, 2008, 09:51 PM
well thank you for the comments. naples really must be seen in person.

i am no expert on the city, i just have a friend who is studying there. while there, i simply walked around, taking in the city's sounds and smells (walking around around 11 am all you smell in the city is the delicious cooking from the housewives' lunches)
it seemed to me that the really crowded streets were surrounding the downtown area. from what i heard (take it with a grain of salt) there are around 1 million people in this area. it is also supposedly the poorest area in all of italy.
looking on google maps will give you a good idea of the maze of streets.

and i am sad that i have no more pictures to share. maybe when i make the same trip next year...the city grabbed me enough to make a yearly trip out of it.

Deanb
February 22nd, 2008, 11:00 PM
for some reason, it is really sexy... like the narrow streets etc.
I guess some parts of Tel Aviv r somehow similar, yet not THAT dense...