Is it worth it to make a special trip to Naples just for the pizza?

Antica Pizzeria da Michele is certainly a fun place to visit. It was not at all what I expectedd my first time years ago... I'm not sure if "it's the best pizza in Italy," but certainly it was a unique experience (and the pizza WAS GOOD!).

If you're going, get there earlier, or be prepared to wait in line! The menu is simple, the decor is simple, and the service is, well - deliberate! The last time we went (from Rome) we drove... I DO NOT advise this as parking in this part of town is IMPOSSIBLE! I agree with Steve - head to the Museum and enjoy your day!

Thank you Steve and Ron.

Some time viewing the antiquities from Pompeii AND pizza will make for a great day. Oh, better throw in a gelato too I guess!

Hi Jan
putting in my 2 cents. last year was in rome for 5 days before our transatlantic cruise,i wanted to ride the train anywhere. off we went to naples. got off the train and walked to a hole in the wall place and had their pizza. it was delicious then we walked some streets to just shop around. ending up taking the hop on hop off bus. had a great time. then back on the train to rome, about an hour and a half ride. just go and have a great time for a day trip. btw what part of california? i'm in the bay area near walnut creek.

Jan, last september we stopped in Naples for the pizza and the Archeological Museum. Well i made a mistake and i forgot that the museum was closed on tuesdays...but the pizza made up for it! Naples is very different from Rome, we enjoyed our time there. Have fun!

One thing about Neapolitan pizza - don't expect deep dish or American style pizza.

I never met a pizza I didn't like...Oh! except the one I made. The "Margarita" pizza sounds pretty darn tasty. Yumo!
Thanks!

DON'T go to Naples just for the pizza, especially if you are traveling alone. There are tons of good places to eat pizza in Rome. Wood fired pizza is best, of course. I like Da Francesco (Piazza del Fico, 29) located just a few blocks west of the Piazza Navona. Afterward, just a couple of blocks north of there, is Via dei Coronari which is a street of antique shops. Enjoy!

Actually the pizza in Naples is probably the closest to what we are used to in the States, it has a thick crust, especially compared to the cracker thin crust that is the specialty in Rome. If you have the time, Naples is worth seeing, and definitely worth eating one of their pizzas, I'd say do it.

OMG! I can't believe that people are saying dont go.... I actually tried both de Michele and de Mateo which was recommended by my hostel and de Mateo was THE BEST pizza I have ever had in my life. I ate it for breakfast lunch and dinner for 4 days straight. I was hugely dissapointed with de Michele after reading Rick's review and reading the book Eat, Pray, Love- their pizza was horrible compared to de Mateo. The website for de Mateo is http://www.pizzeriadimatteo.it/ I think it is closed on Sundays and there wont be any other tourists there....there are tables in the back - it doesn't look like you can sit down from the outside but you can. The staff is friendly and attentive. Naples can be quite intimidating to the independent female traveler, but it ended up being my favorite place in Europe. I never felt unsafe and never saw the reported stories of trash piling up on street corners. I loved wandering around the old town squiggly little streets. I really hope you go!! See some of my pictures of Naples at www.thenomadphotographer.com

Thank you Melissa! Incidentally, your photographs are stunningly beautiful. You are clearly, very talented!

Yes, I am definitely going to Napoli and will follow your pizza guide. Because I have decided to add Sorrento to my vacation prior to going to Rome, I will have easy assess to the city. Eagerly I anticipate going to the museum which houses all the wonderful treasures from Pompei.

Thank you again for you valuable input.

Take care.

Da Michele has a great reputation, but only serves a few different kinds of pizzas. Our favorite place was across the street, at Trianon. They seat you at large rectangular tables and the pizza is the best I've ever had!

Go for it life is short. Olive oil is a must on all pizza. Don't put off to tomarrow what you can do today. We may never come this way agin. Don,t ask for every thing on it or thats what you'll get. Pea,s,fish,vedges the works. Take a pictur of your meal.

Ugh. Traveling to Naples alone just to try the pizza...good luck!

John: Revised plans and am staying in Sorrento prior to going to Rome. So will do a day trip to Naples hitting the museum in addition to having pizza. Really, I'm not a big eater (I weight 100 lbs @ 5'6"), but appreciate good tasting pizza and always hear Napoli to have the best. I am approaching the city as an adventure! Your post made me laugh...thanks!

Naples has a bad reputation, and I'm not one to categorically say it isn't earned. However on 2 trips we've spent most of day there each time (staying in Sorrento) and had nothing but good experiences. People were helpful when we were there helping us find the museum, a place to get some bread and salami for sandwiches, etc. I would advise being cautious and not carrying a bag that could easily be grabbed from your shoulder or off the ground when you're stopped.

I was more scared driving around downtown Kansas City
than I was lost on a bus in Naples for 3 hours....Naples is perfectly safe if you use some common sense and confidence.

As far as there being Italian chefs all over the world- that may be true, but there are not fresh local ingredients that make the dish special. To take a native Neapolitan ingredient then, pick it, ship it, pack it, store it etc. it looses most of the oomph. You can't find real blood orange juice in the US, not like you can in Italy, among other things.

Jan- I am glad you are going, even for just a day trip!! and thanks for your compliments