Naples - Piazza Bellini, Greek Walls and Music Conservatory

Piazza Bellini

Greek Walls

Bellini led a short, but not tragic life. Ten of his eleven operas were successes and he was a well off man when he died at 
33 just outside Paris. 

He studied at the Music Conservatory which is located right next to the piazza now named for him and that bears a statue on a pedestal high enough that most of the graffiti remains at ground level.  I read that the four blocks at the corner of the statue once contained statues representing the heroines of his opera. They have since been removed. 

Also in this square can be found the remains of the Greek walls of the ancient city of Neapolis. I didn't see a sign when I was there pointing out what they were, however I had read about them before hand.  This square reminded me of Paris in a strange odd way. 

Walking towards the conservatory on a Holiday afternoon we heard classical piano music drifting from open windows of the old world flats nearby and the occasional operatic piece floated from a lace curtained window, music was everywhere drifting down from flower bedecked balconies on decrepit buildings. It was perfect. 

Then a man began to follow us and ask us for money. And he wouldn't go away, and after a block or so he began shouting. Now my Italian might be a wee bit rusty, but I am sure those were not the sort of words one wants to say in front of one's mother. Ah Naples, the passion, the pathos! Such life this city has!  Seriously though, lovely little piazza.

Naples Music Conservatory