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In a nutshell: A rare find where the boutique chic of a luxury hotel meets the functionality and independence of a B&B. The neighbourhood There really is something about Naples – it’s rough and ready, it’s energetic, it’s alive. This authentic charm is exactly why the city will have you planning your next visit before you’ve even finished your first. At first glance it can seem chaotic. Mopeds speed in and out of traffic (we’re told by several locals that they’re actually very good drivers and never crash), barely a wall in the city isn’t covered in graffiti and street art, and the nights (even mid-week) buzz with the chatter of locals and tourists alike. But it’s the pull of this organised chaos that (as a former New Yorker) led me to enthusiastically proclaim the city “Europe’s Brooklyn”. Then again, it’s also so much more than that. What Naples offers is a blend of old and new that at once clashes and coexists beautifully – here, you can experience ancient history and the coolest bars, all in one place. By day, explore the old town, where every turn surprises you with another ancient church, cobbled street or historic home. Take a tour of the underground of the city and walk through tunnels trod by the Romans. Walk to the high point of Castel Sant’Elmo to look down on the iconic Spaccanapoli – the straight and narrow main street that literally splits the city in two – or pay a visit to the square in the Spanish quarter, which has been transformed into a shrine to one of football’s biggest legends: Maradona (to say he’s idolised here would be a major understatement). By night, the city comes even more alive as groups of friends gather in the historic squares and at homely restaurants and effortlessly trendy bars, where people laugh, drink, smoke and eat gelato into the night. As the home of pizza, it’s also a food-lover’s delight. Wander the streets sampling the classic margherita and marinara pizzas, try the famous deep-fried pasta (trust me, it’s worth it) and get a deli sandwich unlike any other, with the freshest meats and cheese around. Naples has the added benefit of also being considerably more budget-friendly than some of its neighbouring Italian hotspots (here, a classic margherita or marinara pizza from the city’s most popular pizza places will set you back just two or three euros). So, as well as enjoying all that Naples has to offer, this makes it a great base to travel further afield during a stay in Italy – visit the historic ruins of Pompeii or Herculaneum, the MountVesuvius volcano, the lemon groves of Sorrento, the designer stores of affluent island Capri or the picturesque Amalfi Coast towns of Positano and Amalfi. The vibe The Dante House is the latest addition to the House in Naples’s fleet of four boutique B&Bs as well as apartments dotted across Naples’s historic centre. The concept is all about catering to travellers who want the quality of a hotel but don’t want the impersonality that can often come with it. With each location carefully handpicked and each perfectly unique and with its own character, it certainly delivers just that. Located on Piazza Dante at Port’Alba, The Dante House is right by one of the historic city gates encasing the old town and also conveniently just steps away from the Dante metro stop. At first glance, when you arrive outside the The Dante House in the heart of the historic old town, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in the wrong place. Nestled between a late-night pizza spot and a casual, local bar, heavy, metal doors loom from a nondescript grey concrete building. There’s no sign confirming you’ve reached your destination. But step through the metal doors, and you’ll find yourself inside a classic, traditional Italian palazzo building. Climb up the huge slab stone stairs to the towering wooden double doors and you’ll be at The Dante House. This is where your real Neapolitan adventure begins. After all, what better way to experience the historic, vibrant city of Naples than to live like a local in a traditional Neapolitan house? Though the building may date from the 18th century, The Dante House manages to perfectly mix old and new, with its clean and modern interior renovation. It’s practical while being quirky; industrial but with boutique style; chic and modern but true to its original architecture – an embodiment of Naples itself. When we arrived, Connie was waiting to welcome us and show us around – not to mention enthusiastically give us her own personal and fantastically comprehensive guide to the best things to see and do in the city. The overall vibe is relaxed, and staff are super helpful and friendly – with excellent communication both in the lead-up to and during our stay – but are also hands off, if you’re more of an independent traveller. Basically, they’re there if you want them but they’ll leave you alone if you don’t. The reception is only staffed up to 8pm but one of the friendly staff members will come to greet late arrivals, there’s a 24/7 number for any queries and there’s also the option to arrange transfers from the airport or train station. If you’re someone who likes an all-inclusive hotel or a place that will plan your every holiday whim for you, this isn’t the place for you. Instead, this is perfect for independent travellers who want a comfortable, relaxed place to stay that’s more luxurious than your regular B&B but still acts as the perfect base from which to explore the city. Being situated in the heart of one of Naples’s most prominent historic squares, The Dante House couldn’t be in a better location to do exactly that. You’re close to some of the best bars, restaurants and pizza joints, and within walking distance to all the historic sites. Bed and bath None of the six rooms in The Dante House’s boutique B&B are the same. Some have quirky mezzanine levels, some have wrought iron balconies, some have spectacular views across the square. All have character. Seriously high wooden or frescoed ceilings give the huge rooms a decorative canopy, while light floods through the french doors. Handmade and restored vintage furniture has been reworked to embody The Dante House’s style: combining old and new. Nordic-inspired furnishings and touches of plush velvet perfectly clash and complement the industrial-style lighting and functional wood panels. Rooms and suites sleep between three and six people – some have kitchenettes, so they’re perfect for groups of all sizes. We stayed in the Dante 2 family studio apartment located in the same building as The Dante House, giving us access to the staff and the communal spaces – but also the privacy and peace and quiet of our own space. For a couple, family or group of friends on a city break, this option is the perfect middle ground. The apartment itself was spacious and functional – with a bedroom area, dining table and chairs, and a large kitchenette to cook in, if you so wish. There’s also a separate bathroom (complete with complimentary toiletries) and a small single bedroom, so up to four can sleep comfortably. It also has a washing machine, 32in smart TV, sheets and towels included. Decor-wise, it’s clean and simple with a few quirky pieces (such as a unique towering green wardrobe), which truly sets it apart from your usual B&Bs. All in all, it leans into the charm and edginess of the city waiting outside. The one downside (if we were to be picky) is the lack of windows and natural light. But, for us, this all added to the charm and quirkiness of the apartment, with its interior-facing window to the courtyard – which also meant less noise from the lively city outside. All in all, The Dante House is a far cry from a typical B&B. It’s somewhere between your home away from home and a luxury hotel. Food and drink Breakfast is a big draw at The Dante House. It’s buffet-style and has clearly been carefully curated with the best-quality ingredients in the way of fresh, organic, homemade and zero km foods. From delicious homemade yoghurt and dried fruit (prepared fresh every day), freshly baked croissants and sfogliatelle pastries (a classic Italian specialty handmade in House in Naples’s own bakery), to ready-made rolls with fresh cold cuts and cheeses. The breakfast area itself also perfectly matches The Dante House’s vibe, with its boutique-style plush velvet seats coupled with a laidback, homely feel, as though you’re sitting in a friend’s home. Sip freshly squeezed orange juice and freshly roasted coffee from a window seat overlooking the historic square below. It’s the perfect start to a day exploring the city. Later in the afternoon, there’s also coffee and tea available – just in time for a much-needed pit stop after wandering around the city. Public areas The blend of old meets new, industrial meets luxury and functional meets quirky runs through all the spaces at The Dante House. The reception area is all tiled flooring, vibrant teal wall, wooden desk and – most intriguing – a wall covered in old telephones. As a B&B concept, it, of course, doesn’t have the amenities of a hotel (though the last thing you have time for in Naples is a trip to the gym). What it does have, however, is Posca – its cafe come bistro come bar just steps from The Dante House and right in the middle of the beating heart of the city. By day, it’s a hip spot for freshly roasted coffee, homemade cakes and brunch. By night, it’s a quirky cocktail bar – which also brews its own beers – where friends can meet for an aperitivo. We visited on a Wednesday night and sampled the cocktails, which come in the form of twists on popular classics, drinking alfresco on the cobbled street out front among the buzz of the city. Inside the bar, the House in Naples’s creators surprised us yet again with the decor – think vibrant pink floral wallpaper, pink velvet and neon signs. To make it even more appealing, guests at The Dante House can get a discount off the bar tab. Nuts and bolts Room count: Six rooms at The Dante House, four apartments. Freebies: Breakfast, coffee and tea bar. Wifi: Free. Extra charges: Tourist tax of €2.50 per person per day. Parking €30 per day. Disability access: Due to its many stairs and steps, it is not wheelchair accessible. Pet policy: Pets allowed, upon request. Bottom line Best thing: The location right in the heart of the action, and the unique style. Worst thing: It can be a little noisy in the mornings, as the area is home to other businesses and local residents (though it’s not a bad thing to make sure you don’t miss a day of exploring). Perfect for: Families, couples and friends who want the luxury of a hotel coupled with the freedom and homeliness of a B&B. Not right for: People who like the round-the-clock service and all-inclusivity of a typical hotel. Instagram from: One of The Dante House’s eight balconies overlooking the historic square below. Read more of our Italy hotel reviews: Best hotels in Rome Where to stay in Venice Best hotels in Florence Read more about Italy travel: The ultimate guide to Italy What to do in Bologna Why Puglia makes for a great escape Read More Le Sirenuse, Positano, review: Exclusive luxury meets the intimacy of a family vacation home Best hotels in Europe 2023, from boho chic to Art Deco design Cala di Volpe hotel review: Live like royalty on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda The 10 best countries for solo travel – and top tips for travelling alone 9 of the best Italy holiday destinations: When to travel and where to stay 8 best cities and towns in Portugal to visit on your next holiday

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Wildfires are raging across Greece after about 19,000 people were evacuated from the island of Rhodes over the

By Fedja Grulovic RHODES, Greece (Reuters) -Tour operators began flying home holidaymakers as wildfires raged on the Greek island of

A mother who says she experienced “hell on earth” was among the British tourists forced to flee Rhodes this weekend as fierce wildfires continue to rip through the Greek holiday island. Officials on the island, which sits southwest of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, launched Greece’s biggest-ever evacuation operation as the blaze tore through vast swathes of land, threatening resorts popular with holidaymakers. Tourists were forced to shelter in schools, sports stadiums, airports and alternative hotels as firefighters desperately fought to contain the flames, which officials fear may worsen on Monday as wind speeds more than double on the island. As Britons rushed to book seats on packed flights home after the evacuations, holiday firms including Jet2, the UK’s biggest tour operator, announced they would be cancelling services to Rhodes and would be sending empty planes to bring stranded tourists home. Airline easyJet said they would operate repatriation flights to bring home stranded British holidaymakers. Two rescue flights are scheduled on Monday and a third on Tuesday, they said. Greek authorities also told people in some parts of Corfu to evacuate due to further wildfires on Sunday evening. Around 19,000 people in total are reported to have been evacuated from Rhodes, the largest of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, which has a local population of about 115,000. Becky Mulligan, a 29-year-old training manager from Leicester, was staying at the Princess Sun Hotel in the Kiotari resort on Rhodes’s southeast coast when she, her five-year-old daughter, and sister, 20, were forced to quickly pack their bags and flee as the sky turned “orange”. “Smoke started coming up against the window of the hotel so we decided to run,” she told The Independent. “There were helicopters hovering above making the whole building shake. “We ended up legging it down a dirt track as the smoke came up around our legs. I thought I was going to die. It was like hell on earth.” Ms Mulligan and her family were forced to seek refuge on the beach as they waited for coaches to come and pick them up, which she described as the “most scary point”. She said hundreds of people were waiting to be evacuated with grown adults “basically trampling on children to get to the buses”. The trio was then taken to Gennadi Grande resort and from there bussed to another location, where they were forced to spend Saturday night on the floor of a hotel room. On Sunday morning they managed to escape safely, sharing a taxi with another family to the airport where their flight back to the UK was due to depart after 11pm. Dan Jones, a sports teacher from Torquay, Devon, said he had to climb onto a fishing trawler with his sons on Saturday night, describing it as “the scariest moment in my entire life”, adding: “What brave boys.” Ian Wakefield told Times Radio he spent the night in a school playground in Faliraki after being evacuated from his hotel in Pefki. He said: “It didn’t really feel real – being in imminent danger of being burned to death. Between midnight and around 5am this morning we were going through an evacuation which was pretty chaotic. “There were a lot of upset people and children who were understandably quite hysterical. It was all very confusing – the instructions from the hotel manager were unclear. “You had to make your own choice in the end. I’ve had to leave quite a lot of luggage in the hotel.” As fire crews struggled to contain the blazes and thick black smoke continued billowing into the sky, British holiday firms began cancelling flights to Rhodes, although some planes touched down on the island on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning despite the emergency. Jet2 Holidays cancelled all flights to the island until 30 July and said it would send empty planes to bring stranded Britons home, while Tui said it would cancel all flights and holidays until Tuesday. Thomas Cook later announced it had cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos – the areas of the island most at risk – until 31 July and would be in touch with customers to arrange “swift refunds”. It has also offered full refunds to customers due to depart for other parts of the island on Sunday and Monday who wish to cancel their trip. But some holidaymakers suggested that operators should have cancelled flights to the island sooner. Lowri Jones from Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales, described scenes of “chaos” at Rhodes Airport when she arrived there on Saturday night. The mother of one, 52, travelled to the Greek island with her thirteen year-old-daughter for a holiday. “It was absolute pandemonium at the airport, with long queues of people trying to find out what coach they were,” she told The Independent. “We booked with Tui and there has been very little communication from them. “We had been due to stay at the Atlantica Dreams hotel in Gennadi but were driven – without warning – to a completely different resort in the north of the island due to the wildfires.” She added: “Me and my daughter ended up spending the night on the floor with other people in a room with no air conditioning in sweltering heat – it was horrible. “To be honest, I don’t think we should have even been there in the first place. The flight was delayed because the pilot had to do a risk assessment to see if it was safe to land because of the fires. “Tui should have told us it wasn’t safe and given us a refund – at least that way I could have made a decision about booking somewhere else. Now I’m stranded in Rhodes and having to look at booking flights home.” A spokesperson for Tui said it is continuing to monitor the wildfires and appreciated the “distressing and difficult” situation for its customers. Anyone who remains in Rhodes is urged “follow the advice of the local authorities who are managing tourist movements in impacted areas,” they said. Britain’s ambassador to Greece said the Foreign Office had sent a “rapid deployment team” to help UK tourists who were among thousands forced to flee for their lives on Saturday as the wildfire spread. Read More ‘It was hell on earth’: British tourists describe fleeing Rhodes wildfire inferno Rhodes wildfire: How are British travel companies responding to the emergency? Corfu evacuations begin as fleeing Rhodes tourists spend second night in airport Holidays and flights to Greek island ravaged by fire cancelled UK airlines still selling tickets to Rhodes despite wildfire inferno Greece: Smoke turns Rhodes sky grey and hazy as wildfires continue to rage

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