One of the joys of travel is to experience different cuisines, as well as cultures.

And Europe is blessed with a rich culinary heritage that never ceases to surprise and amaze.

The imagination and creativity of its chefs has rightly made Europe today one of the top destinations for gourmets from all around the world.

One European city has now been singled out for special praise and attention by professional foodies.

The publication Time Out invited its market chefs to compile a list of the top three culinary capitals.

Without hesitation they chose a southern Italian city as their number one, that was also once the home of one of the world’s most famous and gifted footballers.

Naples is known for its magnificent churches, world-class museums and of course its food.

Possibly the most famous food item associated with the city is pizza – a dish that was born in Naples in the nineteenth century as a quick, affordable meal for the city’s working classes.

Old-school pizzerias, which are mostly centred around Via dei Tribunali, continue to feed hungry Neapolitans today.

Pizza is still the cheapest bite in Naples, with a grab-and-go folded slice costing around €1 a pop.

The Cuoppo Napoletano is another big hit with locals and is as much a part of the city’s identity as the iconic Neapolitan Pizza.

The classic version typically includes a mix of seafood such as small fish, shrimp, squid, anchovies, and sometimes octopus, along with vegetable offerings like zucchini flowers, eggplant, and potato croquettes.

Another speciality is the aptly named “mozzarella in carrozza”, or “mozzarella in a carriage”.

Two slices of bread are stuffed with mozzarella, dipped in egg, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until the bread turns a beautiful, crispy golden brown and the mozzarella inside becomes delectably gooey and melted.

However, the city has a reputation for crime and is home to the Camorra – the local mafia .

It ranks as the fourth most dangerous European city in a world crime index complied by the website numbeo.com

Naples is rated as more dangerous than London but less so than Marseille, Coventry and Birmingham.