Let’s just get the obvious out of the way—Naples is not for everyone. And one Polish traveler learned this the hard way.
The Comments Section Was… Crazy
Marek’s video made a lot of waves on the internet. He received over 700 comments. Some were heated, some agreeing, and some suggested he check out better parts of the city, like Lungomare or the lovely historic center. Some were not so nice:
“You’re only showing the bad parts.”
But others agreed with him.
“This isn’t just a Naples problem, it’s a southern Italy problem.”
Okay, but Who is Marek, and what did he say?
He’s a content creator from Poland who has been sightseeing throughout Italy. Earlier this year, he visited Bari, Florence, Alberobello, and other destinations that he said left him in awe! But, then he went to Naples. And that, according to him, was a different story.
“Italy usually blows me away with its charm. But Naples? It shocked me… in a bad way,” said Marek on his Instagram @marko.travel.
His video (now over half a million views) showed streets with waste piling up everywhere–bottles, wrappers, plastic bags, everywhere you look. He talked about how chaotic the vibe seemed, how hard it was to enjoy the city. However, he did keep saying that it wasn’t about disrespect, it was just what he experienced.
Let’s Jump to the Middle: Is it really that bad?
It depends who you ask. Some say it’s unfair to judge a city based on one visit, even if it’s based on the worst corner of a block. Others say, yes, Naples can be dirty, but it’s full of soul, art, and history.
Perhaps, one person put it the best: “Naples is messy, but it’s also strangely beautiful, with a energy that you won’t find anywhere else.”
In Other Parts of Italy…
Trash isn’t the only topic of discussion in Italy… Overcrowding is quickly becoming an issue as well. Despite active anti-tourism protests (yes, just like those mountaintop protests we discussed in Spain), quite honestly no-one (to include Varenna) can move. So, cleanliness certainly may not be the only complaint.
Final Thoughts? Well, We Started There, So We May as Well End With a Start
Marek definitely did not start a war in the comments—he took his own “travel photo” and was sharing what he saw. Perhaps it was a bad day. Perhaps that was the wrong street. Or perhaps that’s just how certain parts of Naples are… Cities are nuanced. And travel in general… doesn’t always come in postcard form.
However you slice, it is evident that Marek has a sentiment for Naples. But they were just not the sentiments Marek had hoped for.
