Naples Pizza: A Simple Lunch After Exploring Pompeii

This is post 12 of our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series. After our tour of Pompeii, we stopped at a cameo factory and then headed back to the port area in Naples. We were a bit tired and hungry. Wanting something simple, pizza seemed like the perfect choice since we were in Naples! So, we set off to find some pizza before returning to our ship. If you haven’t read previous posts in this series, you can start from the beginning here.

A Cameo Appearance

On the drive back toward Naples, our tour bus made one final stop at a small cameo factory. It was a brief visit, but an interesting one. We watched artisans at work, carving cameos from shells, carefully shaping each piece by hand. I had never given cameos much thought. But after this brief visit, I had a greater appreciation. The level of patience and precision was impressive, especially knowing this craft has been practiced in the region for generations.

There was, of course, a showroom at the end of the visit, and while it was clearly geared toward visitors, it was still enjoyable to see the finished pieces and learn a bit about the tradition behind them. After a morning full of ancient history in Pompeii, the stop offered a quiet reminder that craftsmanship and tradition are still very much alive here.

Not long after, we arrived back at the port in Naples, tired, hungry, and ready to find something to eat. Naples pizza seemed like the perfect way to round out the day. Just across from the port was a street that immediately caught our attention, bustling with people and energy. We had asked our tour coach driver where to find the best pizza, and he simply pointed to that street, saying that any of the restaurants along it would be good. With that endorsement, we headed over to take a look.

Finding Pizza in Naples Near the Port

Most of the side streets in Italy are narrow, but this one felt especially tight, made even narrower by rows of outdoor tables from the many restaurants lining it. It felt less like a street and more like an alley filled with conversation, clinking glasses, and the aroma of food.

Demi and I walked the length of the street, checking out our options. Every restaurant seemed packed—no surprise with a cruise ship in port. I suppose it’s great for the local restaurants.

We made our way back down the street and decided on Castel Nuovo. Like most of the others, it was small, but it had a welcoming appeal that drew us in.

We ordered mozzarella in crosta as an appetizer. It sounded good. It’s a slightly larger-than-bite-sized mozzarella ball wrapped in a puff pastry crust. It came drizzled with an orange colored sauce (no idea what it was) and some pesto. These were very good. Definitely a tasty aperitivo.

For our meal, we ordered a margherita pizza, split into two halves rather than one whole pizza, per our waiter’s suggestion, along with a glass of wine. When the pizza arrived, we were ready to dig in. If you’re used to “American” pizza, it’s worth noting that Naples pizza is a bit different. I’m not suggesting lowering expectations, but rather adjusting them, or better yet, arriving with none at all and letting the experience unfold.

Knife and fork, please

Pizza here is typically eaten with a knife and fork, and this one was no exception. When the pizza arrived, we were a bit taken aback by its appearance. Again, letting our biased expectations creep in. There was a party of six across from us, and they ordered two full-size pizzas. When the pizza arrived at their table, they all looked at each other for a moment, likely with the same sort of expression that Demi and I had on our faces.

The crust was very thin and floppy, with a good amount of cheese swirling about and a flavorful sauce, though it still had some crispness around the edges. The underside had a nice, slight char, just the way I like it. It was clearly a pizza that required a knife and fork. You could not hold a slice in your hand.

I found it tasty and enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say it was the best pizza I’ve ever had. Demi thought the pizza tasted good, but the crust was too mushy, and the cheese was soupy. When it comes to pizza, opinions and preferences are as varied as the day is long. This was the only pizza we had in Naples, so it’s definitely not a reflection on all the pizzas in Naples. I wish we had more time to explore more pizzas from different restaurants.

It may not have been the best pizza either of us has ever had, but eating Naples pizza in its hometown, wine in hand, was an experience we won’t forget. It was a perfect way to round out a day spent mostly exploring Pompeii before returning to our ship.

Below are some photos of Naples. Some were captured from the street, and some from the ship.

With Naples behind us, we returned to the ship for the final time on this cruise. The next leg of our journey would take us back to Civitavecchia and on to Rome, where we would spend a few days exploring the city and rounding out our vacation before heading home.

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