Advertisement

'How I fell in love with Naples, a city full of contrasts'

The Local Italy
The Local Italy - [email protected]
'How I fell in love with Naples, a city full of contrasts'
Naples: A city of contrasts. Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

Ana Stanciulescu moved from Bucharest, the modern capital of Romania, to Naples almost two years ago. She shares her photos of the city, where she works as a tour guide, and tells us how it changed her life - and why you should give it a chance.

Advertisement

“I’ve never seen a place more full of contrasts.”

That’s how 28-year-old Ana describes Naples, a city she has grown to love but which is completely different to her hometown; bustling, modern Bucharest.

“Youngsters from Bucharest travel a lot and our Internet speed and infrastructure is among the best in Europe. Most importantly, there’s a thirst for learning about other cultures, so for example we never dub over films or TV programmes.”


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“Naples might be Italy’s third-largest city, but I feel more like Campania is a country, with Naples as its capital. They do everything differently here compared to other parts of the country: they have their own language, a different system of hand gesturing, and their own philosophies.”

“The defining trait I would say is sticking to the traditional way of doing things, postponing modernity - it seems immune to influences from the outside. Grandparents and family ties are a central element in every young person's life, whereas in Bucharest we often only remember to get together for the holidays.”


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

Still, Ana has adapted. “Naples is my home now..It has an intoxicating charm that you have to discover first hand.”

The story of how she ended up here encompasses a lot of threads that will be familiar to other expats: a long-term fascination with Italy, its culture - and love.

Growing up in Romania, Italy never seemed exactly ‘foreign’ to Ana.


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“Many Romanians identify as Latin first and foremost, despite the Slavic and Eastern elements of our language and culture. Growing up we are taught that we are descendants of the Dacians and the Romans, so there’s a feeling of brotherhood towards the Italians.”

“I believed the usual cliches - I thought Italians were elegant, romantic, theatrical. Now I know that it’s impossible to generalize.”

It was a film that inspired her to experience Italy for herself. While going through a rough patch in her own relationship, Ana watched ‘Journey to Italy’, a 1953 film which follows the breakdown of a couple’s relationship during a visit to Naples.


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“I related to the female lead while also being captivated by the city. That’s how I found myself booking a plane ticket.”

Since it was her first time travelling abroad on her own, she arranged accommodation via CouchSurfing so that she’d be able to get tips on exploring the city from a local.

“The host gave me an amazing tour of the city, we visited the Archaeology Museum I’d seen in the film, and before long I was back - this time as his girlfriend. That was two years ago.”

 


Ana during a hike along the Amalfi coast. Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

Taking the leap to move permanently came “naturally”, Ana says. “ “I was in love and I followed my heart.” But there were obstacles as a newcomer that she hadn’t encountered as a tourist.

For a start, while the similarities between Romanian and Italian meant she could understand the language quite well, she says she soon learned this didn’t work the other way round. What’s more, most people used the Neapolitan language rather than Standard Italian.

Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“These days, I say ‘mamma mia!’ every five minutes and I’m constantly doing hand gestures. It’s part of learning the language and the way of life.”

Naples has changed her in other ways too. “I’ve learned to be calmer, to be more patient, to disconnect more from social media and most importantly to connect more with the people here: the vendors, the baristas, the bus drivers - everyone is so chatty and wants to wish you ‘buongiorno.”


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“I love listening to stories from older Neapolitans about growing up in a bucolic Italy, when wearing a bikini on a public beach could get you excommunicated.

Her work as a tour guide in the city has opened her eyes to the many surprises which await visitors. “You see the group arriving; curious and sometimes reluctant or anxious about being in Naples. Slowly, they embrace it.”


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“I wish people just came to visit Naples with an open mind as it is no longer in the sad condition of ten years ago”.

Her top recommendations for a perfect Naples experience are the underground network of caves and tunnels built by the Greeks 2,400 years ago, a visit to Trattoria Nennella in the Spanish neighbourhood (“try the aubergine parmigiana!”), and aperitivo in the trendy Chiaia area.


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

“Also don’t miss: cafe' espresso, roasted in Naples, extra dark and strong at Mexico Bar (Dante Square) and the traditional sweets. Rhum Baba, plain or with whipped cream and berries and sfogliatella (crunchy pastry dough filled with lemon ricotta and candied fruit pieces).”


Photo: Ana Stanciulescu/Flickr

She recommends the vibrant Pignasecca area, one of her favourite spots for photography and people-watching.

“I love to capture the scooters whizzing by, the glamorous mothers pushing strollers along dirty streets, the never-quiet Neapolitans and perplexed tourists.”

Would you like to tell The Local about your Italy, or write a guest blog for us? Get in touch at [email protected]

 


 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also