Naples is a beautiful place to visit. Primarily, because the region is the inventor of one of the world’s most famous foods—pizza (not to be confused with the Italian location of a ‘piazza’). And exploring this beautiful place first begins with your arrival. If you’re traveling through Italy Naples is likely to be one of your last stops on your tour, since it’s in the southwest region of the country. So, as a result, travelers either get there by car or by train.
If you’re arriving by train, it’s important to understand the Napoli Centrale. The Napoli Centrale is the main train station in the port city of Naples, Italy. Which makes it naturally very busy, but also busy because it transports people to and from two popular key locations throughout the region— the ruins of Pompeii and the breathtaking coastline of Sorrento. Both of these destinations is a big reason why travelers come through Naples and commute through Napoli Centrale.
However, Napoli Centrale can be confusing. Because it also takes commuters, the train station is also called Piazza Garibaldi, which can confuse travelers who might look up Napoli Centrale on a map but be unable to find it. So, as you guide your way through the area know that Garibaldi, Piazza Garibaldi, and Napoli Centrale all mean the same station, it’s just a matter of what train line you’re going to take.
If you’re headed to this region of Italy, here is a brief guide for travelers on Napoli Centrale.
Location matters
Napoli Centrale is perfectly situated right in the heart of Naples on what’s known as the Piazza Garibaldi. It’s easily accessible and simple to find.
It’s not the original station
Although there’s been a train station in this location for over 100 years, since 1866, the Napoli Centrale station that travelers go to and from today was actually originally designed back in 1954 before it finally opened over a decade later in 1966. The modernized version you will see today underwent a remodeling period between 2005 to 2010. Now, it contains a central passage that runs underneath the station along with many other updated features. For those who have traveled through it in the past this upgrade will be a welcomed surprise and for those passing through for the first time you will be able to get around fairly easily.
The Piazza Garibaldi isn’t a place to hang out
The Piazza Garibaldi is named after a former Italian general and revolutionary Guiseppe Garibaldi, but that’s about as far as the beauty of it goes. Unlike other central train stations throughout Italy (Milan, Pisa, and others) this train station is surrounded by a less than suitable crowd and is under constant construction. As you visit this area, keep in mind that there isn’t much to do and it should be considered just as a place of transport rather than a place to explore.
It’s actually four stations
Napoli Centrale is more than just a main single train station, it’s actually four stations combined into one major one with 25 tracks. There is the main terminus on the ground level, then there’s one below it in the underground station that’s referred to as the Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (again, after Guiseppe Garibaldi). This underground station hosts two separate platforms for the metro line 1 and for the Trenitalia’s metropolitan trains. But then it gets even deeper, with four additional underground stations that have four separate platforms for the EAV’s Circumvesuviana that transports passengers to Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Sorrento. Each of these four stations combined sees roughly 137,000 individuals each day as they pass through to continue on to cities all across Italy.
You’ll have things to do
If you are waiting for a train, and need to kill the station platform level has ways to keep you busy. You’ll be able to shop around, enjoy a few restaurants to fill up on, and even have the convenience of currency exchange. Directly inside there is a ticket office and tourist information desk as well, for all kinds of travelers. Individuals with Gold or Platinum Cartafreccia cards or with AV Salottino or Executive tickets are also able to visit the Sala Freccia Club on the upper level, or the Sala Blu for individuals requiring special assistance.
There’s luggage storage nearby
As you head to and from the station, there is plenty of places in and around Napoli Centrale to drop off your luggage. The luggage storage Napoli Centrale includes Central Station Naples, Porta Nolana, Vasto, Trianon Viviani, Vico Toto, Centro Storico, Port of Naples, Palazzo Marigliano, Spaccanapoli, Museo Station, Università, Naples National Archaeological Museum, Gesù Nuovo Square, Toledo, Minicipio Station, Santa Lucia, Inside Vanvitelli Station, Napoli Sotterranea Percorso Ufficiale, Quartieri Spagnoli, Basilica, near Pozzuoli Station, Porto di Pozzuoli, Posillipo, Maradona Stadium, near Pompei Scavi, Procida Port, Nola, Porto di Sorrento, and far and beyond for hours.
The next time you’re passing through Napoli Centrale keep these tips in mind and enjoy your trip!
blue lagoon farm & blue lagoon resorts, nearby Blue lagoon Resort. Make your trip happy and more enjoyable.
blue lagoon farm & blue lagoon resorts, nearby Blue lagoon Resort. Make your trip happy and more enjoyable.
