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The Vomero is a hill-top district sited to the north of Naples with Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples to the south. An area of approximately two square kilometres, until the late 19th century it was relatively inaccessible and largely populated by small rural villages. From the 1880s the Vomero began to be developed into a smart district with large private villas, impressive public buildings and beautiful squares and gardens. Its urbanisation continued apace and access, including a funicular railway and improved roads were also implemented. Augustus Hare’s book, Cities in Southern Italy and Sicily was published in 1883, so it is likely that he saw the Vomero during this major change.
'Wearied with filthy streets and dirty yelling yelping people, let us now turn from the Museum up the hill to the west by the Strada di Salvatore Rosa, which leads to the Corso Vitorio Emanuele, a noble terrace opened since the change of government, with glorious views over the town and bay.
"With every winding of the way, with every hill, with every valley, the view of town, of gulf, of mountains and islands is changed, and, in the glory of sea and distance, one does not know where to look, whether to the amphitheatre of the town flooded in sunshine, or to the upland gardens full of golden oranges and blood-red pomegrantes, to the pleasant villas, or to each artistic group of exquisite pines, palms, and cypresses." —Gregorovius.'
Augustus Hare, Cities of Southern Italy and Sicily, London, Smith, Elder & Co, 1883, page 145
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