Galleria Umberto I under the glass dome

Built in the 1890s opposite the San Carlo opera house, the Galleria is a cross of four glazed arms meeting under a dome. The floor is a marble mosaic with the signs of the zodiac in the centre, the walls rise in tiers of stucco and statues, and everything above head height is glass — which turns the whole building into one enormous softbox.

That is the reason to shoot here: it is the best bad-weather location in Naples. Rain, harsh midday sun and winter gloom all arrive filtered and even. The zodiac mosaic under the dome is the obvious centre — shoot straight down from the first-floor level if you can, or place the couple on it and tilt up so the dome ribs radiate behind them. The long arms give clean symmetrical perspectives towards the daylight at each end.

It is a public passage, open and free, and busy with people cutting through between Via Toledo and the opera house. Early morning is quietest. Cafe tables occupy part of the floor from mid-morning; the arms away from them stay clear. Being indoors and step-free, it is also the reliable option for a family session with a pushchair.