Just registered so I can chime in and enthusiastically say that Naples is back! I have been twice in the past year (my sister lives in Posillipo), and have already scheduled two more trips.

My wife is from Cassino (midway between Naples and Rome), and she has relatives who have never been to Naples because they grew up hearing the stories. They are shocked that (1) my sister lives there and hasn't been murdered yet, and (2) that my wife and I almost prefer it to Cassino. I can relate to their sentiments, because I grew up near Detroit, and have friends that still won't go "downtown," despite the incredible turnaround that city has undergone.

Also, just a note about Italian-Americans - 80% of them are from the Sud, which is a pretty incredible statistic. That's why, when you talk about Italian-American foods, they are mostly southern Italian dishes, (then watered down for American pallettes.) That's also why, as PWMTrav noted, when Italians go back to visit family, they go back to the South. I know a couple Italians from Philly, and they are from Naples too! In Detroit, we have a lot of Laziale, Abbruzzese, and Siciliani. And, it's why, when we think of Italians, we think big warm families that are loud and talk to anyone. Those are Southern traits.

We spent winter vacation 2015 traveling from Naples to L'Aquila to see family, then to Florence for Christmas, then back South to Cassino to see family, and then spent New Year's in Naples (an absolute Bucket List item, btw), and relatives were shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that we drove that entire distance in a 15 day period.

So, in sum, Naples is a great city.