Pictures Of Cats And Dogs In Naples Italy

Naples Italy is a photographer’s dream – an ornate antique city built over ancient Roman and Greek ruins with a working-class population that screams Italy. Unlike tourist dominated cities like Bruges that exist in a vacuum, Naples has somehow avoided the forces of over-touristed gentrification.

Yesterday’s laundry hangs from centuries-old buildings. Nonnas flock to local supermarkets, butchers, fish markets and produce vendors where they crowd the aisles while buying their weekly supplies of passata (pureed tomatoes), cheese, friarielli and wine.

With the exception of a few large thoroughfares like Corso Umberto, cobblestones line the ancient streets. Fancy medieval doors welcome visitors to buildings covered with graffiti. As we strolled the city, we often wondered what would happen if Naples were to clean up or ban the all-encompassing street art – but that would be a sin on the city’s awesome character.

Along with the ancient denizens who have called the city home for millennia are a crew of adorable cats and even cuter dogs who also call the city home. We can’t imagine a better place for alleycats to prowl than a city with alleys older than the Roman citizens who occupied them.

These lucky cats enjoy some of the most beautiful vistas on earth, walking along walls with breathtaking views of the Vesuvian landscape… And what landscape it is.

There is nothing like walking along the Neapolitan waterfront that stretches forever over the Sea of Naples.

To the right, islands like Capri and Ischia dwell as rocky impressions through the mist while, past distant waves, the peninsula city of Sorrento invites you to walk through its lemon tree alleys. At the center, the mighty Mount Vesuvius dominates the January vista with an innocent snowcap that belies its fiery past.

For many people, taking photos of the majestic landscape would be enough. But not us.

We were captivated by the animals who make the city their own. These cats and dogs walk with a stagger and have the attitude made famous by the mafiosa that used to rule the city. Though we specifically went to Naples to eat great Italian food in one of the top Italian food cities, we couldn’t resist the city’s furriest residents between meals.

Life isn’t much different for the local cats. This cat seems to have found plenty of pizza and maybe some gnocchi. Life is good for cute cats and their canine friends in Naples.

Ah, yes. Naples and its home region of Campania serve some of the best food in the world. Naples is the home of great pizza and is the epicenter of the kind of simple Neapolitan food that has made Italian cuisine popular all over the world. It’s also a great city to enjoy Italian pastries, especially the Sfogliatella.

Discover favorite pizzas and pastries in Naples.

However, reality intrudes sometimes. The Naples streetscape is filled with traffic that can lead to fatigue in both animals and humans.

The city’s alleys are narrow, causing scooters to compete with pedestrians for space. On crowded days in the Centro Historico, it’s not unusual to straddle a narrow sidewalk as the occasional Fiat attempts to fight its way through the crowd.

Unlike tourists, local dogs adapt to the Southern Italian lifestyle. They don’t complain. They just hop along for the ride.

Sometimes dogs and cats occupy the daily space along with street vendors, wine shops and grocery stores.

While walking into our local supermarket we noticed a special white cat that seemed to enjoy a seat on the floor just past the checkout counter. This fat cat sat idly by almost as if it was working a day job guarding the market’s doors.

We wanted to grab a photo of this feline curiosity the moment we saw him. Unfortunately, due to the early hour of the day, we were not equipped with our trusty camera.

For two weeks we looked for this street-tough, feisty cat until we finally found him enjoying the afternoon between two parked cars on Via Padre Luigi Tosti. Don’t mess with this dude! His legs may be thicker than our arms.

While in Naples, we were also privileged to visit spots in rural Campania like the charming medieval town of Caiazzo where we enjoyed what is surely the world’s finest pizza at Pepe in Grani. While there, we also enjoyed wandering down dark, narrow, old alleyways twisting toward grand mountain views.

See what it’s like to eat the best pizza in the world at Pepe in Grani.

We wandered alone that day – just us and a solitary dog who watched us in sphinx-like solemnity on the ancient alley steps. This encounter was an added bonus to our pizza-driven day trip.

Pro Tip
Take a road trip while you’re in Naples – it’s one of the best ways to experience southern Italy.

Back in Naples, we wandered aimlessly among quiet, dark alleys lined with brass balconies on decaying buildings. These battered walls convey a beauty that’s purely human.

This is a city that has survived batttles and volcanic eruptions. It would be a shame to clean up and repair the humanistic structures that define the city or the pit bulls that protect its proscenia.

It would also be a misnomer to only characterize Naples as a gritty, hardscrabble city. As you travel west, across the bay to neighborhoods like Chiaia and up the city’s super steep hills to Vomero, the character of Naples transforms.

These Napoli neighborhoods possess much of the city’s wealth as shown by the high priced shops and commanding, towering views of the bay.

It’s always fun to stroll down thoroughfares where pampered dogs strut their stuff next to fine Italian leather boots. After admiring the finery, stroll down one of the high-class boulevards and stop for a break with a sfogliatella or gelato. In Naples, there’s always time for a coffee break.

Learn more about the Naples coffee culture.

Once your active day is ended and you’ve walked over 20,000 steps (like we did on many days), it’s time to settle down and chill with a glass of local wine, Aperol Spritz or Negroni. Pick a piazza, find a cafe, stretch your legs and relax.

But, on your way, keep your eyes peeled for the occasional black cat. Don’t let it cross your path!

Check out our guide to eating in Italy as well as our picks for the best Italian foods and the best Italian desserts before your trip so that you don’t miss a delicious bite.

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