Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Madonna del Carmine
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Pilgrims and fireworks on Piazza del Mercato, in honour of the Chiesa di Santa Maria del
Carmine's miraculous Madonna; 16 July.
RELIGIOUS
Eating
Naples is one of Italy's gastronomic darlings, and the bonus of a bayside setting makes for
some seriously memorable meals. While white linen, candlelight and €50 bills are readily
available, some of the best bites await in the city's spit-and-sawdust trattorias, where three
courses and house wine can cost under €15. Even cheaper is Naples' plethora of top-notch
pizzerias and
friggitorie
(fried-food kiosks). On the downside, many eateries close for two
weeks in August, so call ahead if visiting then.
SARTORIAL NAPLES
Milan may be the hyped-up face of Italian style, but Naples is its heart and soul. The city's bespoke
tailors are legendary and once drew the likes of early-20th-century Italian king Emmanuel III to their
needles and threads.
The key to this success is traditional, handmade production, superlative fabrics and minute attention
to detail and form. Suitwise, the look is more brat pack than power broker - slim-fit flexible cut, natur-
al and unengineered shoulders (great for gesticulating), high-set armholes and the signature
barchetta
(little boat) breast pocket.
A classic Neapolitan shirt will often feature fine Italian, Swiss or Irish cottons, hand-stitched collar,
yoke and sleeve, hand-sewn buttonholes and gathered pleating at the shoulder.
While most of the boutiques offer prêt-à-porter threads and accessories (including ready-made
suits), creating a shirt or suit from scratch will usually involve a couple of fittings and anything from
three to eight weeks. Finished items can be shipped overseas.
Credit card at the ready, hit these needle-savvy icons for a Neapolitan revamp:
Anna Matuozzo
Offline map
Google map
( 081 66 38 74;
www.annamatuozzo.it
; Viale Anto-
nio Gramsci 26; Mergellina)
The softly spoken Signora Matuozzo was once the apprentice of Mariano
Rubinacci. Now the
signora
and her daughters are famed for their bespoke shirts, which feature
mother-of-pearl buttons and vintage hand stitching. Silk ties in luscious tones complete the elegant
look. Fittings must be booked.
