The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Naples

Naples, the vibrant port city in southern Italy, hosts a small but active Jewish community around the historic synagogue on Via Cappella Vecchia, and also serves as a convenient base for visiting one of the world's most astonishing sites — the Roman city of Pompeii, buried under Mount Vesuvius's ash in 79 CE. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

The synagogue and Chabad House

The Synagogue of Naples (Tempio di Napoli), established in 1864 inside a former private Rothschild family palazzo, continues to serve the small local community. Chabad of Naples & South Italy, a short walk away, offers prayers and up-to-date guidance for travelers.

See all options

Pompeii — book a private guide

Pompeii, the Roman city preserved by the very disaster that destroyed it, offers a rare glimpse into everyday life in ancient Rome — streets, houses, even a whole bakery. Practical tip: the site is enormous and not always well signposted — booking a private guide or a guided tour (two to three hours) turns a confusing visit into an experience that actually explains what you're seeing and why it matters.

See all options

Spaccanapoli — the street that splits the old city

Spaccanapoli ("splitting Naples") is the nickname for the long, straight street that cuts through Naples' historic center along a 2,000-year-old Roman road layout — lined with Baroque churches, statues, and lively street life the whole way. Practical tip: this is the most tourist-dense area of the city — it's best to walk it in the early morning to avoid the crowds and the heavy Neapolitan summer heat.

See all options

Between Naples' small Jewish community and astonishing Pompeii, Naples is an excellent base for combining an authentic Italian city with one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites.