Fodor's Expert Review Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli MGallery

Sleek, soigné, and swank, this hotel set in the majestic palace of the very majestic Caracciolos (one of the most gilded names in Neapolitan history) is definitely a diamond in the rough—the rough being its immediate neighborhood, which is a bit far from the tourist or historic quarters. Happily, this problem has been solved by the hotel's shuttle bus and other enticements. The hotel is across the street from the "family" church, San Giovanni a Carbonara, where the multitude of worshipping Carracciolo princes, warriors, lovers, and cardinals resulted in two spectacular Renaissance-era chapels. Although the palace dates from the 14th century, this lodging has been refurbished for 21st-century visitors with red sofas, Gio Ponti–inspired ornaments, burnished black globes, and artworks that mirror Lucio Fontana minimal masterpieces. Done up in silvers and taupes, the guest rooms are cool and contemporary, and they all have thick piperno walls to buffer the din from the noisiest motorcycles, of which there are more than a few in this district. The cloister hosts temporary exhibitions of young artists, which are open to nonguests.