The Surprising Italian City Rick Steves Says Isn't For Everyone
By Amanda Finn
VACATIONS
Rick Steves loves Italy and admires the realness of the country and its people. While the travel expert doesn't turn people away from Naples, he does provide important context.
Steves identifies Naples as his go-to for "reality travel" on his blog due to its gritty nature. He shares that he only gained an appreciation for the city after he got to know it.
Naples is Italy's most polluted, crime-ridden, and densely populated city, but Steves says, "this tangled mess still somehow manages to breathe, laugh, and sing."
Steves suggests that only travelers who know how to handle the city venture to Naples. Pickpocketing is a real concern, but people with "good common sense" will enjoy the city.
Naples has intimidated travelers, but Steves still encourages them to visit if they can handle it. Decades after his first visit, he remains overtaken by the brashness of Naples.