No Records Found
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Naples
see Naples and die...
Popular Categories
Our experience of Naples changed considerably between visits. When we first came about sixteen years ago, we found a great deal of rubbish in several central areas. We spent New Year's Eve in the city, and it was extraordinarily noisy: the fireworks lasted a long time, followed by dense smoke hanging only a few metres above street level and obscuring the sky. It felt like we were at war...
History of Naples:
Naples developed from ancient Greek settlements on the Campanian coast. Parthenope was established on the Pizzofalcone area in the eighth century BC, while the settlement later known as Neapolis, meaning "new city", was founded in the fifth century BC. It became an important centre of Magna Graecia and retained a strong Greek cultural identity after coming under Roman influence. Read More [...]
After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the city passed through Ostrogothic and Byzantine control. It became part of the Byzantine Empire during the sixth century and subsequently developed into the largely autonomous Duchy of Naples. This political entity survived for several centuries before Norman expansion incorporated the city into the Kingdom of Sicily during the twelfth century.
A major political transformation occurred in the thirteenth century when Charles I of Anjou made the city the capital of his mainland kingdom. Angevin rule produced important fortifications, churches, and royal buildings. Alfonso V of Aragon captured the city in 1442, beginning an Aragonese period during which the urban defences were strengthened and the royal court became an important Renaissance cultural centre.
From the early sixteenth century, the city was governed for about two centuries as part of the Spanish monarchy, generally through viceroys. Austrian rule followed briefly before Charles of Bourbon established an independent Bourbon kingdom in 1734. After the Napoleonic period and Bourbon restoration, the city became the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1816.
Garibaldi entered the city in 1860, shortly before the former Bourbon kingdom became part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. During the Second World War, heavy Allied bombing caused extensive destruction. In September 1943, the population rose against German occupation during the Four Days of Naples, shortly before Allied forces entered the city on October 1.
Geography of Naples:
Naples is the capital of Campania and the principal municipality of the Metropolitan City of Naples. The municipal territory covers approximately 117 square kilometres and had about 903,000 residents in May 2026. It is Italy's third-largest municipality by population after Rome and Milan and the largest city in southern Italy within its administrative boundaries. Read More [...]
The city occupies the northern side of the Gulf of Naples, an inlet of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its territory extends between the eastern margins of the Campi Flegrei volcanic area and the zones leading toward Mount Vesuvius. The coastal setting combines harbour districts, densely built central neighbourhoods, residential hills, and western waterfront areas facing the gulf.
Elevation changes substantially across the municipality. Vomero, Arenella, and Posillipo occupy prominent hills, while the Camaldoli ridge reaches about 458 metres and forms the highest point within the municipal territory. The volcanic island of Nisida lies just off the western coastline, while the broad Campanian Plain extends northward beyond the more densely built urban districts.
By road, Caserta is roughly 40 kilometres north, Salerno about 55 kilometres southeast, Avellino around 55-60 kilometres east, and Benevento approximately 75-80 kilometres northeast. Rome lies about 220 kilometres northwest, Bari around 260 kilometres east, Florence roughly 470 kilometres north, and Milan approximately 770 kilometres north by the principal road routes.
Transport to/in Naples:
By train: Napoli Centrale is the principal railway hub, with high-speed, Intercity, and regional services operated by Trenitalia, while Italo also operates high-speed trains. Direct services connect the city with Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin, and other major destinations. Regional railways provide additional connections throughout Campania and surrounding areas. Read More [...]
By road: The A1 Autostrada del Sole connects the city with Rome and northern Italy. The A3 runs southeast toward Salerno, while the A16 crosses the Apennines toward Avellino and Puglia. The A56, commonly known as the Tangenziale di Napoli, forms the principal urban motorway across the northern and western parts of the city.
By bus: Long-distance coach services connect the city with destinations throughout Italy. Operators include FlixBus and Itabus, alongside regional companies serving Campania. Many intercity coaches use Napoli Metropark, located beside Napoli Centrale, providing convenient transfers between buses, national rail services, local trains, and the urban transport network around Piazza Garibaldi.
By air: Naples International Airport, also known as Capodichino, is approximately six kilometres from the city centre. The ANM Alibus service connects it with the central railway area and port. The next significant commercial airport is Salerno Costa d'Amalfi and Cilento Airport, approximately 70-75 kilometres southeast of the city by road.
Getting around Naples: The principal municipal public transport operator is ANM, which runs buses, trams, Metro Lines 1 and 6, and the city's funicular railways. EAV operates several additional suburban and regional rail services. Central districts are also extensively walkable, while public transport connects the historic centre with Vomero, Fuorigrotta, Chiaia, and outer neighbourhoods.
Tourist Attractions in Naples:
The historic centre contains an exceptional concentration of religious architecture. Major landmarks include the Duomo di Napoli, dedicated to the Assumption and closely associated with Saint Januarius, the Gothic Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara, and the distinctive Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo. Nearby, the Museo Cappella Sansevero contains Giuseppe Sanmartino's celebrated marble sculpture Cristo velato. Read More [...]
Royal, military, and theatrical architecture is represented by the medieval Castel Nuovo, the waterfront Castel dell'Ovo, and the seventeenth-century Palazzo Reale di Napoli. Close to the palace stands the Teatro di San Carlo, inaugurated in 1737. The nineteenth-century Galleria Umberto I is distinguished by its monumental iron-and-glass roof and central dome.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli preserves major collections from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Farnese collections. On the Capodimonte hill, the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte occupies a former Bourbon palace and contains important European paintings. The hilltop Certosa e Museo di San Martino combines a former Carthusian monastery, historical collections, and panoramic viewpoints.
Events in Naples:
The principal religious celebration is the Festa di San Gennaro, on September 19, the feast day of the city's patron saint. Ceremonies take place around the cathedral, including the traditional observation of the liquefaction of the saint's blood, an event followed by large numbers of residents and visitors. Read More [...]
The annual Maggio dei Monumenti presents exhibitions, concerts, performances, guided visits, educational activities, and special openings at cultural sites across the city. Another major event is COMICON Napoli, an international festival dedicated to comics, games, animation, cinema, and popular culture, generally held at the Mostra d'Oltremare exhibition complex in the Fuorigrotta district.
Frequently Asked Questions about Naples
Is the historic centre of Naples a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. The Historic Centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 because of its exceptional architectural and historical stratification. Read More [...]
What language is spoken locally?
Italian is the official language. Neapolitan is also widely spoken and forms part of a broader linguistic tradition extending across much of southern mainland Italy.
Can Pompeii be reached without a car?
Yes. EAV Circumvesuviana trains provide regular connections from Napoli Piazza Garibaldi toward Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Sorrento along the Vesuvian railway network.
Can you travel to Capri and Ischia from the city?
Yes. Ferries and hydrofoils depart from the port for Capri and Ischia, with services concentrated around Molo Beverello and other passenger terminals.
What foods are particularly associated with the city?
Local specialities include Neapolitan pizza, sfogliatella, pastiera, ragù napoletano, pasta alla Genovese, casatiello, friarielli, babà, and numerous seafood dishes.
Is Mount Vesuvius inside the municipality?
No. Mount Vesuvius rises southeast of the municipal boundaries within the wider metropolitan area and forms part of the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex.
Near me
1000 km