The city of Naples along the Italian coastline looks great on Instagram – with its lively, narrow streets and an old town that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. But is the city really that stunning? Come with us to Naples to take a look behind the scenes of the shiny social media facade.
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00:00Colorful, lively, packed with pizza and charming old buildings.
00:06That's how Naples looks on social media feeds.
00:09But in some photo captions, people complain that the city is overcrowded and dirty.
00:18It's time to reveal the truth about Naples.
00:21Are the hotspots really as beautiful as they seem, or do the critics have a point?
00:30With more than 900,000 inhabitants, Naples is Italy's third largest city.
00:40We visit three popular social media spots to see whether they live up to their reputations.
00:53Time for our first reality check, the Old Town.
00:56With its winding alleyways, this area is a must-see.
00:59It looks charming but chaotic on Instagram.
01:04In reality, it's packed with people, and also full of garbage, which you won't see in photos.
01:13While in the Old Town, or Centro Storico, you're sure to come across Spacanapoli,
01:18which translates to Naples Splitter.
01:22As the name suggests, it splits the Old Town into north and south, and is lined with sites.
01:29It's not what we expected.
01:31No?
01:32No.
01:33No.
01:34It's very densely populated.
01:37It's busier than we thought, but in a really good way.
01:39The traffic's terrible.
01:41It's a lot of tourists, and it's a dirt city too.
01:46But perhaps the most important thing to experience in Naples is the food.
01:52Naples is, of course, famous for pizza, which is said to have been invented here.
01:56Pizza Fritta, a greasy street food, is another local favourite.
02:00So, does the Old Town live up to its reputation on social media?
02:09Well, it's not a classic Insta-spot, since it's spread over many alleyways.
02:13And it's definitely dirtier than on social media.
02:16Here, La Dolce Vita and trash coexist.
02:19Our second stop is underground Naples, a.k.a. Napoli Sotterania, which looks mysterious and secluded on Instagram.
02:36In reality, you won't find peace and quiet down here.
02:39This area under the city is packed with groups of tourists.
02:42The tunnel network was built over 2,000 years ago, when ancient Greeks created underground quarries to source tough blocks to build the walls and temples of Naples.
02:57The tunnels were later used as aqueducts to supply water to the city.
03:04Our tip, wear comfortable shoes for the underground hike, and remember to dress appropriately for the weather.
03:12It can get damp and be chilly, depending on the time of year.
03:18Tickets cost 15 euros.
03:21And if you book online, you can avoid waiting times.
03:27So, does our second reality check live up to its Instagram image?
03:33Although you won't be the only one visiting, a journey through these underground tunnels is totally worthwhile.
03:43On to our third reality check, the Castel Sant Elmo Fortress.
03:47This photo spot has a breathtaking view over the city, the bay and the volcano Vesuvius.
03:52It's as impressive in real life as it is on social media, and you won't even find any garbage here.
04:08What's the conclusion of our third reality check?
04:12It's definitely worth going to Castel Sant Elmo for the view.
04:15Our overall verdict, pictures on social media come close to reality, but if you visit in real life, you might also find more noise and dirt than you expect.
04:32We'll see you next time.
04:33We'll see you next time.