>>2783124 (OP)Naples is quite intense. A lot of people hate it and consider it filthy and dangerous. I’ve only passed through fairly briefly (but several times) on my way to other places, and while I get where the haters are coming from, I can’t agree. It’s grubby and the traffic is chaotic and awful—driving in central Naples is the single-worst driving experience I’ve ever had, anywhere. But it’s also lively and historic, largely not ugly despite being dirty, and there’s a lot of really good food.
It’s also very close to Pompeii and fairly near the Amalfi Coast, which are overcrowded but popular for good reasons.
My take on Italy, where I’ve traveled widely, is that the north is cleaner and more functional, but the people are colder, while the south is much more messed up but warmer (temperature and population). Different regions are better for different things, but whether you prefer one environment over another is the key factor in deciding where might be “best.”
Personally, I especially love Sicily, several cities and towns in Tuscany, and the mountain and lake areas up north. I like the Amalfi coast, too, but it’s really, really saturated with tourists.