:: Naples Itlay - Coastiewife
Station/Boat Location~
US Navy Capodochino, Italy (Naples, Italy) Currently home to two CG personnel and their families.
Date there~
June, 2009 - June 2011
Weather~
Mostly beautiful! The summers get HOT, over 100°F, Fall and Spring are very mild and sunny with highs varying from 60°-75°F, Winter is generally mild, rainy and wet, but no snow here. You can head to the mountains for a ski or sledding day easily.
Military facilities~
There are five bases to use here. The Support Site (known as SS) base in Gricignano is where the main base is. There is a commisary, NEX, schools, hotle, restaurants, gym, movies, bowling, pool, medical and housing here. The base in Capodochino (nicknamed Capo) is where most Active Duty personnel work. It is right next to Naples airport. They have a small NEX, hotel, gym, movies, indoor pool, and a medical clinic here (mostly for active duty). There is a NATO base in Agnano (Joint Forces Command or JFC), and one small one in Nisida. There is a base purely for recreation called Carney Park. Youth sports are here, pool, camping, hiking, MWR NOR center for outdoor activities, golf, paintball fields, archery, and more.
Medical~
All dependents go to the SS base hospital. I am very picky about medical care and have had a wonderful experience here. They have dental as well. If you can not be seen for a special problem here, you will be seen in the Italian community or flown home to the US for treatment and care then returned here.
Housing~
There are apartments on SS base and parcos off base. A parco is like a townhome Italian style. I live in a parco that has 4 bdr and 4 ba. They are very nice, new and its nice to have other Americans around you. There is a mix of all services here. We have 20 other families that live with us in a gated community. There is a high crime rate here, although I have not personally been affected. The SS base is nice if you have children especially if they are involved in activities after school. I find that I am driving back and forth to the SS base one to three times per day depending on who has what going on. I have three boys.
Shopping~
There is the NEX, commissary, a small mall in the base NEX with a dry cleaner, jeweler, watch repair, ice cream store, book store, bank, ITT planning, wine shop, framer, glasses and vision care, photo shop, phone store, hair and barber, tailor, pack and mail, US postal service, video rental, and more. There are many area markets to go locally shopping. Each town has a butcher, fruit and veggie markets, mozzerella balls, and much more. There is a vast amount of pottery and artistic wares around the area. Many people collect demi-john and olive jars. Many of the spouses go on day trips together for shopping. I go every year to Germany for the Christmas markets and shopping with girlfriends. There is much more to be written in this area. There is a local spouses club called NOSC that publishes a book on shopping here called Shopping on the Boot.
Child Care/Schools~
SS Base has a great DODEA school from pre-k thru 12. All three of my kids go to the elementary or the high school. I am impressed with both. They have wonderful facilities and first class education available to them. There is a CDC on Capo and SS. There are also international schools in JFC. There is a Montessori school here as well. There is a Homeschooling group on the SS.
Adult Schools~
University of Pheonix, Western Texas College and University of Maryland all have campuses here. There are a number of online schools and a college office at Capo.
Fun Activities~
Well, it is Italy. Central to many European travel opportunities. We love to take trips and go see many different countries. There is a ton to do in Naples and Rome. You are in the center of history here. I am so happy my kids and our family has had this opportunity to come and see so much. Again, there is way too much for me to list here, but may resources available to see things. You can find the CNIC Naples website and see ITT tours for listings of local tours. You also can research the USO Naples for info.
Additional Info~
At this time (Nov., 2010) there are only two CG positions here in Naples. It is a special assignment duty. I would say culture shock is a VERY real experience. You can expect everything you do here to be difficult for a while. TRAVEL as much as possible to make it easier. We have been here over a year now and I am loving it. There are so many wonderful people stationed here. Many wonderful resources and in general a VERY supportive environment provided by the US Navy. It takes a while to get used to living overseas and Navy way of life being a Coastie wife, but its a great learning experience. You can expect the active duty member to travel a great deal so be prepared to be in a foreign country on your own some of the time. There are Italian lessons on the base for free that help a lot. My biggest advice is to travel as much as you can afford and see as much as you can. Also, I would not necessarily recommend this tour if you have very small children. It is easier in general with daddy gone, navigating through Europe and the process of moving, etc. with older children.
Homeport Naples Italy
US Navy Capodochino, Italy (Naples, Italy) Currently home to two CG personnel and their families.
Date there~
June, 2009 - June 2011
Weather~
Mostly beautiful! The summers get HOT, over 100°F, Fall and Spring are very mild and sunny with highs varying from 60°-75°F, Winter is generally mild, rainy and wet, but no snow here. You can head to the mountains for a ski or sledding day easily.
Military facilities~
There are five bases to use here. The Support Site (known as SS) base in Gricignano is where the main base is. There is a commisary, NEX, schools, hotle, restaurants, gym, movies, bowling, pool, medical and housing here. The base in Capodochino (nicknamed Capo) is where most Active Duty personnel work. It is right next to Naples airport. They have a small NEX, hotel, gym, movies, indoor pool, and a medical clinic here (mostly for active duty). There is a NATO base in Agnano (Joint Forces Command or JFC), and one small one in Nisida. There is a base purely for recreation called Carney Park. Youth sports are here, pool, camping, hiking, MWR NOR center for outdoor activities, golf, paintball fields, archery, and more.
Medical~
All dependents go to the SS base hospital. I am very picky about medical care and have had a wonderful experience here. They have dental as well. If you can not be seen for a special problem here, you will be seen in the Italian community or flown home to the US for treatment and care then returned here.
Housing~
There are apartments on SS base and parcos off base. A parco is like a townhome Italian style. I live in a parco that has 4 bdr and 4 ba. They are very nice, new and its nice to have other Americans around you. There is a mix of all services here. We have 20 other families that live with us in a gated community. There is a high crime rate here, although I have not personally been affected. The SS base is nice if you have children especially if they are involved in activities after school. I find that I am driving back and forth to the SS base one to three times per day depending on who has what going on. I have three boys.
Shopping~
There is the NEX, commissary, a small mall in the base NEX with a dry cleaner, jeweler, watch repair, ice cream store, book store, bank, ITT planning, wine shop, framer, glasses and vision care, photo shop, phone store, hair and barber, tailor, pack and mail, US postal service, video rental, and more. There are many area markets to go locally shopping. Each town has a butcher, fruit and veggie markets, mozzerella balls, and much more. There is a vast amount of pottery and artistic wares around the area. Many people collect demi-john and olive jars. Many of the spouses go on day trips together for shopping. I go every year to Germany for the Christmas markets and shopping with girlfriends. There is much more to be written in this area. There is a local spouses club called NOSC that publishes a book on shopping here called Shopping on the Boot.
Child Care/Schools~
SS Base has a great DODEA school from pre-k thru 12. All three of my kids go to the elementary or the high school. I am impressed with both. They have wonderful facilities and first class education available to them. There is a CDC on Capo and SS. There are also international schools in JFC. There is a Montessori school here as well. There is a Homeschooling group on the SS.
Adult Schools~
University of Pheonix, Western Texas College and University of Maryland all have campuses here. There are a number of online schools and a college office at Capo.
Fun Activities~
Well, it is Italy. Central to many European travel opportunities. We love to take trips and go see many different countries. There is a ton to do in Naples and Rome. You are in the center of history here. I am so happy my kids and our family has had this opportunity to come and see so much. Again, there is way too much for me to list here, but may resources available to see things. You can find the CNIC Naples website and see ITT tours for listings of local tours. You also can research the USO Naples for info.
Additional Info~
At this time (Nov., 2010) there are only two CG positions here in Naples. It is a special assignment duty. I would say culture shock is a VERY real experience. You can expect everything you do here to be difficult for a while. TRAVEL as much as possible to make it easier. We have been here over a year now and I am loving it. There are so many wonderful people stationed here. Many wonderful resources and in general a VERY supportive environment provided by the US Navy. It takes a while to get used to living overseas and Navy way of life being a Coastie wife, but its a great learning experience. You can expect the active duty member to travel a great deal so be prepared to be in a foreign country on your own some of the time. There are Italian lessons on the base for free that help a lot. My biggest advice is to travel as much as you can afford and see as much as you can. Also, I would not necessarily recommend this tour if you have very small children. It is easier in general with daddy gone, navigating through Europe and the process of moving, etc. with older children.
Homeport Naples Italy
