We have discussed some of the famous cafés in Italy that are steeped in history and the country's unique coffeehouse culture before, such as Venice's famous and beautiful Caffè Florian, which dates back to the 18th century. There are plenty other such establishments dotted around the country and, if you're headed further south, don't worry because a particularly beloved example will be near at hand if you have found a vacation rental in Naples.
The Caffè Gambrinus is a historic institution located in the centre of Naples, on Piazza Trieste e Trento, in the rear of the Palazzo della Prefettura. It was named for Gambrinus – a legendary “tipsy figure of joviality” whose name has been commandeered by plenty of brands and establishments around Italy – and founded in 1860 by Vincenzo Apuzzo. The city's oldest and most venerable café in the city, known to have welcome the likes of Oscar Wilde and Gabriele D'Annunzio, it was a meeting site for intellectuals and artists for centuries and is now an elegant spot to grab coffee or a drink, depending on the time of day, or food, depending on your budget.
The Caffè Gambrinus is a historic institution located in the centre of Naples, on Piazza Trieste e Trento, in the rear of the Palazzo della Prefettura. It was named for Gambrinus – a legendary “tipsy figure of joviality” whose name has been commandeered by plenty of brands and establishments around Italy – and founded in 1860 by Vincenzo Apuzzo. The city's oldest and most venerable café in the city, known to have welcome the likes of Oscar Wilde and Gabriele D'Annunzio, it was a meeting site for intellectuals and artists for centuries and is now an elegant spot to grab coffee or a drink, depending on the time of day, or food, depending on your budget.
When the second owner, Mario Vacca, took over in 1889, the Gabrinus was refurbished under the architect Antonio Curri and numerous contemporary artists were hired to create a painted scheme on its walls including Luca Postiglione, Pietro Scoppetta, Vincenzo Volpe, Attilio Pratella, Giuseppe De Sanctis, Giuseppe Casciaro, Gaetano Esposito, Vincenzo Migliaro, Vincenzo Irolli, and Vincenzo Caprile. To this day, their work and the Art Nouveau interiors remain, lending a wonderful Belle Epoque spirit to the whole place.
Come and enjoy the stunning interiors, a luxurious cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) or Neapolitan coffee with its frothy sugar crema, a well-earned Spritz at the end of the day, or a delicious pastry to start another off right.
Photo credits
Picture 1: Michele Sergio / CC BY-SA 3.0
Picture 1: Michele Sergio / CC BY-SA 3.0