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            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>Naples' Centro Storico</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[Possibly the dirtiest city in Western Europe, Naples is, in spite of this (or maybe because of?), an absolutely fantastic place. To see the best of the city, wander the Centro Storico and the Spaccanapoli, a dense, heaving, noisy hive of life. <br><br>Abandoned churches give on to grand, dilapidated squares; buildings lean over narrow alleyways, almost obscuring the light, while down below, eerie, flickering saints and virgins peer out of their alcoves. Totally unique.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Climbing Vesuvius</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[Mount Vesuvius is still one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and as such is constantly monitored with a seven day warning system. Assuming that no warning has been issued, it's well worth climbing to the top to peer into the ashen crater and view the Bay of Naples which looks all too vulnerable as it spreads out from the foot of the mountain. Coach trips will take you so far up the ascent, but the last 1000 feet must be done by foot, once you've paid your entry fee of course. Unless you're feeling charitable, it's best to ignore the little man handing out 'walking poles', as they're not of much use and he'll demand a few euros from you when you've come back down.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Herculaneum</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[Unlike Pompeii, it's possible to look around the whole of the Herculaneum excavations in one visit. The small town was buried in lava and mud in the same AD79 eruption and rests below the ground level of modern day Ercolano. Highlights include a gymnasium, complete with athletes' swimming pool, bars which still have the recesses from which wine was served and some wonderful mosaics and sculptures.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Castel Nuovo</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[The castle dates back to the 13th century, but it includes impressive Renaissance additions which make it an imposing sight. It's also worth paying a few euros to have a look inside, where you'll find the Barons Hall, a chapel, a disconcertingly glass-floored room that you can walk on to view original foundations below, and an exhibition of art and artefacts. It also has excellent top-floor views over the bay.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Historic centre</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA['Spaccanapoli', the historic centre, is the heart of Naples. Go to Piazza Gusu and pick up a map that shows the locations of the architectural treasures of this area. There are numerous churches, monasteries, palazzos and some great cafés. Whatever you do, don't miss the monastery of Santa Chiara. It's breathtaking. Scarturchio's café has some of the best pastries and coffee in Italy.<br><br>Keep your wits about you and you'll be fine.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Pompeii</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[Too many people try to cram Pompeii into a couple of hours. Don't even think about spending less than a full day there. The site is huge, and some of the best (and least crowded) villas are outside the city walls.]]></description>
                
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                <title>The Duomo</title>
                
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                <description><![CDATA[This isn’t the most impressive of buildings from the outside – it looks rather squashed between the current day buildings – but inside it is very gorgeous indeed.<br><br>The main part of the cathedral is viewable in the usual way, but there is also an ‘archaeological area’ which you pay to enter, where you can see layers of building from the Greek and Roman periods as well as the middle ages. <br><br>The Duomo also contains two phials said to hold the solidified blood of San Gennaro which nevertheless miraculously turns back to liquid twice a year. If it fails to do so then a disaster is imminent.]]></description>
                
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