Umberto

September 27, 2006

Another of the landmarks in the neighborhood near the apartment here is the Galleria Umberto I.

The Galleria is a gigantic indoor shopping complex that was built in the 1800s as part of one of the many -- mostly failed -- urban renewal projects that have been undertaken in Naples since time immemorial in an attempt to "clean the place up." I'm not sure what eyesore was replaced by this shopping complex, but, given the right light, it sure is pretty inside.

Photos below.

The actual amount of commerce that occurs in the Galleria these days appears limited. I've only really ever seen it busy when it was raining outside. The glass canopy provides a nice refuge from the weather. And a nice home for the ubiquitous packs of feral dogs that roam around everywhere here.

But these days, all of the "good" shops are on the Via Chiaia a few blocks away and on the Via Toledo. Too bad.

-- Aaron