The Pedamentina: Discovering Naples on Foot
There’s a place in Naples where time stands still and the view opens wide: it’s the Belvedere of San Martino, a privileged vantage point over the city, embraced by the Certosa and Castel Sant’Elmo. But the wonder doesn’t end there: from this hill begins a downward path that is more than a road. It’s an experience. It’s the Pedamentina.
A view that tells a thousand stories
Climbing up to the Belvedere of San Martino means seeing Naples in its most complete form. From here, you can gaze over the historic center, trace the curves of the bay, and spot Vesuvius, the islands, the domes, and streets stretching toward the horizon. This is the Naples of postcards and dreams—but also the real city, layered, powerful, alive.
The belvedere is open, accessible, and moving—a perfect place to pause and listen to the city breathe beneath you.
The Pedamentina: 414 steps of wonder
Right next to it, almost hidden, is the Pedamentina: a long historic staircase that descends from the Vomero district to the heart of the old city, passing Corso Vittorio Emanuele and then Via Salvator Rosa. Built in the 14th century to connect the Certosa to the city, today it’s one of Naples’ most charming and peaceful walking routes.
As you descend, the panorama follows your every step. Each turn offers a new perspective, each stretch a moment of beauty. It’s not just a path—it’s a vertical journey between sky and stone, history and awe.
An experience of art, nature, and silence
Along the way, the city’s noise fades into the background. What remains is the wind, the scents, the distant voices. It’s an ideal walk for those who enjoy taking their time, capturing photos, meditating—or simply being surprised. In spring, the gardens lining the steps burst with greenery and wildflowers. In autumn, soft light bathes the rooftops and façades of the old town.
A Naples best discovered on foot
Combining the Belvedere of San Martino with the Pedamentina means living a complete experience: you begin with contemplation and end with immersion. Starting from above, you take in the city with your eyes—then, step by step, you truly reach it. This is a vertical, profound Naples, where every step tells a story.
Why you should go (and return)
- For the view: the Belvedere of San Martino is one of the city’s most iconic and beloved spots
- For the history: the Pedamentina is a unique feat of medieval engineering
- For the emotion: the walk offers a slow, intimate, poetic journey
- For the photography: every corner is a perfect shot
Naples can be loud and overwhelming.
But it also knows how to speak in silence, revealing itself one step at a time.
San Martino and the Pedamentina are its gentlest voice, its most authentic face.
