Stroll around this district and watch the locals zoom around on their Vespas, fix their cars, eat pizza, and mingle in shops and cafés.
The Vasto, officially named La Vicarìa, is wedged in between the Piazza Principe Umberto to the southwest and the Piazza Nazionale to the north. In between, you can find many supermarkets, fish shops, homeware stores, pizzerias, some Catholic churches and a few typical Italian cafés and lounge bars. There is also a wide range of auto parts stores and garages due to Vasto’s proximity to the Industrial Zone of Naples.
It is well known that Naples doesn’t have Milan’s elegance or Rome’s timeless beauty, but as one of Italy’s oldest cities, “Napoli” never fails to intrigue first-time visitors due to its many contrasts. The Vasto is one of those suburbs that may not sparkle, but does give visitors a glimpse of everyday life in one of Italy’s biggest cities.
One of the few visitor attractions is the Via Ferrara, a partly indoor community market that stretches along three city blocks. The market runs daily, except Sundays, and you can find everything from clothing to fruit and vegetables. Via Ferrara has been operating for more than 70 years and is a great place to mingle with the locals and chat with the merchants.
Just to the east of the Vasto sits a nature strip that covers one of the city’s traffic tunnels. Centro Direzional di Napoli, a series of office buildings and residential flats, sits around it.
Before you leave the area, take the tram to the Piazza Nazionale. Have a meal at a café or pizzeria overlooking the square and see the locals of this diverse suburb of Naples come together. While not overly charming, this central community hub has some palm trees, a playground with a kiosk and sunny café terraces nearby.
The Vasto is located close to the central station and metro stops on the Piazza Garibaldi. Be aware that this is not the safest district in the city, so make sure to use common sense and take all the recommended precautions, especially when visiting at night. The Vasto sits north of the waterfront Market District of Naples and is best reached by taxi, tram or metro if you are coming from the Centro Storico.
