Secret Naples - Valerio Ceva Grimaldi

A calcified lizard in a church, vestiges of a former brothel, a "hole" that cures headaches, a bunker turned art gallery, a customised Vespa from the Second World War, remarkable secret private collections, extraordinary old libraries unknown to Neapolitans, a Greek watchtower in a theatre, a rare clock that measures the equation of time, the bars of a chapel door that resonate like a xylophone, a mysterious phallic symbol in San Gennaro catacombs, a little-known museum with a section dedicated to Punch, a unique anatomical model dating from the 18th century, a raft ride 20 metres below Piazza del Plebiscito . Far from the crowds and the usual clichs, Naples holds many well-hidden treasures that are revealed only to local residents and travellers who know where to step off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who think they are familiar with Naples or who want to discover another side of the city."The great advantage of Secret Naples is that it reveals aspects of the city that are right under our noses but we don't see them" Eleonora Puntillo, Corriere del Mezzogiorno,Corriere della Sera "Everything you've always wanted to know about Naples can be found in this guide" Ugo Cundari, Il Mattino "Spirits, witches, ossuaries, statues and mummies - city itineraries that are far from the usual" Gianni Valentino, La Repubblica, Napoli