A calcified lizard in a church, vestiges of a former brothel, a "hole" that cures headaches, a bunker turned art gallery, a customised Vespa from the Second World War, remarkable secret private collections, extraordinary old libraries unknown to Neapolitans, a Greek watchtower in a theatre, a rare clock that measures the equation of time, the bars of a chapel door that resonate like a xylophone, a mysterious phallic symbol in San Gennaro catacombs, a little-known museum with a section dedicated to Punch, a unique anatomical model dating from the 18th century, a raft ride 20 metres below Piazza del Plebiscito. Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, Naples holds many well-hidden treasures that are revealed only to local residents and travellers who know where to step off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who think they are familiar with Naples or who want to discover another side of the city. "The great advantage of Secret Naples is that it reveals aspects of the city that are right under our noses but we don't see them" - Eleonora Puntillo, Corriere del Mezzogiorno,Corriere della Sera "Everything you've always wanted to know about Naples can be found in this guide" - Ugo Cundari, Il Mattino "Spirits, witches, ossuaries, statues and mummies - city itineraries that are far from the usual" - Gianni Valentino, La Repubblica, Napoli

Valerio Ceva Grimaldi Pisanelli di Pietracatella, 38, belongs to an old noble Neapolitan family. A journalist by profession, he worked on the staff of the governor of the Province of Naples, Professor Amato Lamberti, then for the Assessorato all'Ambiente del Comune di Napoli. He also spent two years with Rai TV's Gap programme. He was editor-in-chief of the newspaper Notizie Verdi and deputy editor of Terra, the first environmental daily with a wide distribution. He has published numerous articles and surveys on the City of Naples. If you would like to visit some of the places in the guide, accompanied by the author, e-mail him at: cevagrimaldi@gmail.com.