Advice from locals, made for explorers
About Ciao Napoli
Ciao Napoli is a curated guide of Naples made for explorers. We started the project in 2025, the year Naples turned 2,500 years old. Quite a milestone, right? The idea is to build a carefully curated collection of recommendations from locals aimed at visitors, perhaps someone looking for something beyond the classic tourist experience. The website is constantly improving and growing and we have chosen to build it exclusively in English because it’s the most widely spoken language among travelers, and because modern tools now make accessing content across languages easier than ever.
Ciao Napoli is entirely self-funded. You may occasionally come across a mention of a contributor or a partner, but in general the project does not follow traditional advertising or affiliate schemes - at least for now. We want to stay away as much as possible from the influence of sponsors and the clutter of advertisement to focus on the core principles of the project. If and when the project grows, we’ll carefully consider how to support it sustainably, without compromising its original spirit: we will choose only partners which fall in the category of “things we would genuinely recommend as locals”.
As you browse the site, you may occasionally notice a weathered-looking bird with a sly, knowing air. Don’t worry about him - that’s Gennarino the seagull. He’s our mascot, keeping us company between one flight and the next over the Gulf of Naples.
I hope you’ll find this guide useful, whether you’re planning your trip or already here. And if you have feedback, suggestions, or simply want to say hello 👋🏼, we’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Yours sincerely,
Svevo
People of Ciao Napoli
Svevo
Svevo is the founder of Ciao Napoli. He's been a marketing consultant and Full Stack developer for 25 years and have returned to his home town after a decade spent working and living in London. If you want to find out more about his work and life, you can have a look at his website. Back in Italy, he resumed consulting as a freelancer after starting his accommodation business. When free, he loves spending time with his wife and children, playing guitar, and spending time on his small fishing boat across the Gulf.
Andrea
Andrea works as a public official for the Regione Campania, where he specialises in environmental procedures and structural public funding in the waste management sector. He has travelled extensively across the world - including a true world tour for his honeymoon - and brings a global perspective to everything he does. A passionate walker and history enthusiast, Andrea knows corners of Naples that most Neapolitans have never seen. His curiosity and deep knowledge of the territory make him an invaluable guide to the city’s lesser-known stories.
Toti
Antonio, known to everyone as Toti, began his career writing about theatre for a national newspaper before becoming a lawyer specialising in cultural rights and intellectual property. He is now among the most respected professionals in Italy in his field and works closely with local institutions as an advisor. Deeply engaged with the cultural life of Naples, he is a trusted guide to its most interesting events. He is also an excellent cook, particularly when it comes to fish, and several recipes on this website owe something to his kitchen.
Yvonne (Magazzini Fotografici)
Yvonne De Rosa is an Italian photographer and founder/artistic director of Magazzini Fotografici, an independent space in Naples dedicated to contemporary photography. Her work explores photography as a narrative medium, often suspended between memory and the present to reflect on contemporary themes. She has published several monographs and received major awards, including the IPA Award and recognition from the Royal Photographic Society. Since 1998, her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli.
Athos
Athos Zontini was born in Naples in 1972. A novelist, screenwriter and musician, he has worked as an author and presenter for RadioRai and, since 2001, as Story Editor for the long-running TV series Un posto al sole (RaiTre). His short stories have appeared in Italian anthologies and magazines, and he has published two novels with Bompiani. Curious and sharp-eyed, he brings to Ciao Napoli a deep knowledge of music and culture, and an instinct for the details that often go unnoticed.