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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Venice or Naples?

41 replies

FlipFlopShopInHawaii · 24/08/2022 16:15

Sorry for misuse of aibu, but I'm making use of voting!

Recently back from a holiday to Italy, which prompted this discussion. I've always heard of the saying "see Venice and die", but DH swears it's "see Naples and die". Googling suggests it could be either, so MN jury what do you say???
YABU - it's see Naples and die
YANBU - it's see Venice and die

OP posts:
JamieFrasersBigSwingingKilt · 24/08/2022 16:18

Naples is a dump.
Venice is not.

mrcow · 24/08/2022 16:20

See Naples and die of food poisoning?

I’ve been to both too. It’s awful.

WendyAndDave · 24/08/2022 16:20

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/see_Naples_and_die

bridgetreilly · 24/08/2022 16:47

The expression is definitely about Naples.

tothesea · 24/08/2022 16:48

I’ve only ever heard ‘see Naples and die’.

InsertPunHere · 24/08/2022 16:50

The expression is “see Naples” but Venice is way better

FiloPasty · 24/08/2022 16:52

It’s 100% Naples

Ladywiddithethird · 24/08/2022 16:53

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

FlipFlopShopInHawaii · 24/08/2022 17:06

Thanks all, interesting that MN jury is favouring Naples. DH will be happy he's right 😆

OP posts:
Runaway1 · 24/08/2022 17:09

Depends what you like - Venice is straightforward beautiful, a work of art in itself. Naples is interesting, edgier, the under-the-city tour is a must. It’s atmospheric and fascinating.

GrimDamnFanjo · 24/08/2022 17:10

Love both!

Venice is unique, scenic and unlike anywhere else.
Naples is gritty, fast moving and full of life.

You'll love or hate Naples. Few will dislike Venice but the hoarded of tourists and dwindling natives give it a very different vibe.

The glorious Pompei is in easy reach of naples, and the pizza...

entropynow · 24/08/2022 17:10

mrcow · 24/08/2022 16:20

See Naples and die of food poisoning?

I’ve been to both too. It’s awful.

I liked both for different reasons. Parts of Naples are lovely. In Venice I saw a dead cat floating in the canal...

jackstini · 24/08/2022 17:18

I hated Venice!
There are good parts but the amount of graffiti on such beauty really tainted it for me and it's also very expensive
Freezing in winter and smelly in summer

Naples I loved! The city, the riviera nearby, seeing Pompei... lovely people too

SultanOfSwing · 24/08/2022 17:18

The question isn’t which is more lovely - the question is what is the famous Italian quote, and it is definitely Naples.

Vedi Napoli e poi muori ("See Naples and then die") was a common expression, echoed most famously on his grand tour by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, to identify Naples as the most naturally and artistically beautiful city in the world; so beautiful that one needn't look upon anything else after seeing it. Quoted 1816, but apparently a much older Italian proverb.

ThreeKneeRepeater · 24/08/2022 17:18

It’s definitely See Naples and Die.
It’s an edgy city, but has amazing treasures.Most people on MN hate it, but it has the amazing Archaeological Museum, where all the treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum are on display. It also has the most beautiful statue ever, The Veiled Christ, by Sanmartino, in the Capella Sansevero. I go and stare at it any time I am in Naples. And don’t forget pizza was born here.

SwedishEdith · 24/08/2022 17:21

FlipFlopShopInHawaii · 24/08/2022 17:06

Thanks all, interesting that MN jury is favouring Naples. DH will be happy he's right 😆

I wouldn't trust the MN jury to have actually read and understood the question, judging by some of the replies 😀
It's definitely Naples.

TheBikiniExpert · 24/08/2022 17:21

Naples also has the best coffee. I don't know why but it's amazing there.

Choconut · 24/08/2022 17:24

Surely you go to Naples for Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius? I couldn't get hugely excited about Naples itself but as a base it's great. Venice is just beautiful as are so many places in Italy. One of my favourite countries.

beachcitygirl · 24/08/2022 17:25

I'm airline cabin crew of almost 30 years & been mostly everywhere and beyond a shadow of a doubt Venice is the most beautiful city in the world.
Naples can be exhilarating & great food & nice ease of access to visit Sorrento, positano, Capri but it's a bit of a dump to be honest

Unorthofox · 24/08/2022 17:42

I found Naples pretty stressful tbh. There are some really amazing parts of it, but it's very full on and loud. It's not relaxing.

Same for Rome and New York. Amazing places but fast paced, busy, loud and not great if you're sensitive to sensory overload.

You'll get far more for your money in Naples though, everything in Venice is very expensive.

JamieFrasersBigSwingingKilt · 24/08/2022 17:46

Choconut · 24/08/2022 17:24

Surely you go to Naples for Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius? I couldn't get hugely excited about Naples itself but as a base it's great. Venice is just beautiful as are so many places in Italy. One of my favourite countries.

This.
Which means you don't actually have to go to Naples, just near it.

Mybeautifulfriend22 · 24/08/2022 17:48

Spent a day in Naples and that was enough it’s not a great place. Had a lovely 3 day holiday Venice. Would go back tomorrow.

Mybeautifulfriend22 · 24/08/2022 17:49

Choconut · 24/08/2022 17:24

Surely you go to Naples for Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius? I couldn't get hugely excited about Naples itself but as a base it's great. Venice is just beautiful as are so many places in Italy. One of my favourite countries.

We based ourselves in Sorrento and did both Pompeii and Herculaneum. We also saw Capri and the Amalfi coast. As well as a day trip to Naples which we didn’t really enjoy.

yikesanotherbooboo · 24/08/2022 18:28

DH is correct and both cities are fantastic to visit.

MarshaMelrose · 24/08/2022 18:34

I loved Venice but it's so busy.

Naples is near pompei, amalfi, capri. So lots to do. Naples itself... yeah. No. Naples is one of the poorest cities in Europe with a massive unemployment rate. When we went it was dirty. It's a 👎 no from me.

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