In the novel, Margret's Aunt Shaw visits Naples and sends letters to Margret, telling her about her adventures. Later in the story, after Mr. Hale has died and Margret is greatly greiving, Mr. Bell comments on the fact that Mrs. Shaw could go to Naples at an "interesting time," but could not visit Milton to check up on her niece. At the first mention of Naples, Margret is telling her father about her aunts trip to distract him from worrying about Mrs. Hale. The second mention of Naples is used by Mr. Bell to complain about Mrs. Shaw's priorities. 

During the late eighteenth century and into the mid-nineteenth century, Naples quickly became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, rivaling Rome. Rome was believed to be a more traditional vacation destination, whereas Naples became more of a modern destination as it was newer and seen as more exciting. Taking a trip to Naples would have been new and exciting to those who lived in England during the 1840s and 1850s.

In the novel, Mrs. Shaw is disappointed with the fact that the Hales have moved to Milton, as she sees Milton as lesser than London. She goes on a trip to Naples, which, after doing research, I now know would be a fairly fancy and exciting trip for one to take. The trip she takes and the comments that are made about her going by others in the novel show her preference to wealth and status rather than to that of her extended family. 

Jbcaltech. “‘Re-Thinking Tourism: Visitors to Nineteenth-Century Naples and the Consumption of Feeling.’” Brewer's Blog, Jbcaltech, 18 Feb. 2018, https://brewersblog.org/2018/02/18/re-thinking-tourism-visitors-to-ninet....