Joe Sidonio

Naples was once on the Grand Tour so beloved by Victorian era folk - and rightly so. The Museum and gardens of the Capodimonte are absolutely stunning. And, the works of art it contains are just amazing. If you go to Naples, you should find at least half a day to explore this treasure.

We stopped in for a quick beer and went upstairs to the Spying Room. The pub is opposite MI6 which you can see from the windows. The theme of the pub is based on the four infamous Cambridge spies of the 1960s: Philby, Blunt, Maclean and Burgess. All very atmospheric - and the beer wasn't bad either!

There is something quite grand about the square which makes walking through it an experience. There are lots of little distractions such as the obelisks and the German Fountain and the main fountain just before you reach Haya Sofia; simit sellers and corn on the cob sellers add extra flavours to your walk. Above all, it's a nice place to sit and take in the two main attractions within the square: Haya Sofia and the Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque). You can browse by some of the shops and cafes if you like and at night the whole area is transformed as everything is lit up. Amazing place.

While exploring the East Side Gallery - which is about 1.3 km in length, you may need a pit stop. The Playce is a large shopping mall situated approximately at halfway along the Gallery. It's hard to miss since it is situated right next to the Mercedes Benz Arena. Toilets are 70c and there is also the usual array of eateries and shops.

In the heart of the old town (stare miasto) is the Royal Castle or Royal Palace, full of beautiful art and elegant rooms filled with antiques and objects of interest. You can choose different "routes" around the castle - we chose the Royal Route (there's also a Great Masterpieces Route). Tickets were 90 zlt (with a senior reduction) for 2 of us - about 21 euros as of July 2024.

It's definitely one of the cultural highlights of any visit to Warsaw. We had audio guides which explained what each room contained - and I have to say they were very good. Very impressed with the whole experience.