Naples Island is a small residential neighbourhood in the eastern part of Long Beach that was built on dredged land in the early twentieth century as a Venetian-style development with canals instead of streets. The original developer named the streets after Italian cities and built the canal network to allow residents to reach their homes by gondola. Much of that infrastructure is still in place.
The best way to see Naples is on foot or by renting a kayak or paddleboat and exploring the canals from the water. The gondola service operates in the evenings and offers romanticised rides through the canal system. The streets around the canals have good local restaurants and cafés, and the Rivo Alto canal is the most photogenic section. Naples is a sharp contrast to the industrial harbour that dominates much of Long Beach's waterfront.