I just returned from a wonderful 2 week trip to Rome, Positano and Naples. I knew to expect different levels of cleanliness and overall ambiance in each city. Each hotel we stayed at was unique. We were able to stay in historic centers in Rome and Naples. I have stayed and been extremely happy in 3 star hotels in Amalfi, Rome, Florence, and Lake Como. We stayed at an incredible 4 star hotel in Venice so I was beyond excited to finish our trip with the last 2 nights in Naples at a 4 star hotel, Decumani Hotel de Charme. The website says :
The Decumani Hotel de Charme is a charming hotel located in the heart of Naples, Italy. It is situated in a historic building, specifically the Palazzo Riario Sforza, which was once the residence of Cardinal Sisto Riario Sforza.
The hotel itself was okay - not as nice as all of the 3 star hotels we have stayed in. I can see maybe 20 years ago it was something really special- the breakfast room itself was beautiful- the food was disappointing. The real issue was the historic old town area. It was filthy. Broken glass all around the piazza, cigarette butts thrown to the ground and trash piled up in the street and graffiti everywhere. It was tragic seeing swastikas spray painted on churches and the Madonnas outside the church entrances.
It was a different world when we got to the main street and went to the newer section of town where there were wide esplanades, cobbled streets with shops on the ground floor with apartments above. There was not one ounce of graffiti anywhere there but the old town area was riddled with it. Perhaps it is due to the fact there is a university near the old town. It was odd. I wanted to warn others to perhaps avoid staying in this area of Naples unless you don't mind the trash and graffiti. I wish we had stayed in another area.