There are not enough words to describe what a wonderful experience we had renting the Sannazzaro Apartment in the beautiful quarter of Chiaia at Mergellina. First of all our hosts were just the best. Mario and his brother, Dino, and Emilia, Dino's wife, couldn't do more to make us feel welcome and at home. They were ready to help us reach some of the places that would have been difficult to see without a car, especially Baia and Cuma and the less well known archeological sights.
The apartment, itself, was one of the best equipped we had ever had. The kitchen was new and spotless and contained every piece of cooking equipment a cook like me would need to create for herself some of the typical Napoletana dishes with the bountiful produce found right around the corner. Unlike other parts of Chiaia, this section had everything: vegetable stores, fish stores, butchers, pastry shops, supermarkets (that deliver to your apartment). It was a cook's paradise. Another great thing was that is was only a few steps away from a veritable treasure trove of restaurants to fit everyone's pocket, each one serving authentic cusine of the South. Then there were the cafes along the lungo mare where you could gaze and the views of Vesuvius or watch the passaggiata that happens every evening.
As far as access to public transportation, you couldn't find a more central location. There were plenty of buses to take you to the historic center of the city, and the 140 bus traveling west winds through the breathtaking neighborhood of Posillipo. Also, being able to just walk to Mergellina Station Linea 2 gave us the ability to travel around most of the city, including the ability to transfer to Linea 1 and the Circumvesuviana and Cumana lines. And I shouldn't forget the ability to reach Pozzuoli and its borgo marinaio.
I should mention that the apartment faces on an extremely quiet courtyard and garden. The sounds of this lively city never entered into this Palazzo d'Epoca built around l890. Also, the Internet worked perfectly which is something that was extremely important to us.
We hope to be able to return to this place soon, and we would recommend it and its welcoming hosts to our friends and family here in the US and in Italy. Grazie Mario, Dino and Emilia!!!
