HISTORY: Naples was founded by the Ancient Greeks, who settled in this area in the 2nd millennium BC. The Romans conquered Naples in 326 BC, and the city grew under Roman domination until the empire collapsed in 476 AD. In 536, the Byzantines sieged Naples, the city becoming a duchy. In 1139, the Normans took control of Naples, and the city became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1265, Charles of Anjou conquered the city, and Naples became the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily.
In the 16th century, the city was part of the great Spanish Empire, and by 1600, Naples was the largest city in Europe, with a population of around 300,000. In 1799, the French army occupied Naples and a republic was created. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and after the Austrian occupation of 1821, Naples joined the new United Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
GEOGRAPHY: Naples is the capital of the Campania region and the third-largest municipality in Italy after Rome and Milan. The city is located in the Gulf of Naples, on the western coast of Southern Italy, between two volcanoes, Mount Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei.
Naples is located 225 kilometers southeast of Rome and about the same west of Bari, 470 kilometers south of Florence, 573 kilometers south of Bologna, 720 kilometers south of Venice and 765 kilometers southeast of Milan.
TRANSPORT: You can get to Naples by plane, arriving at the Capodichino Airport, located just outside the city. To get from the airport to the city, use the special line Alibus. A ticket costs 5.00€ and the trip takes about half an hour.
If you travel to Naples by train, the main railway station is Napoli Centrale, where you can find connections with the nearby cities like Sorrento, Pozzuoli or Caserta, but also with Rome. A train ticket to/from Rome costs 12.65€ and the trip takes about 3 hours. To get to Pompeii or Sorrento, you must use the Circumvesuviana, a railway separate from other national and regional railway lines. A ticket from Naples to Sorrento costs 3.60€ and the trip takes about 1 hour.
To get from Naples to the nearby islands, you can use the services of Caremar (routes to Capri, Ischia and Procida) or Medmar (routes to Ischia and Procida). To get to the Amalfi Coast, the best way is to take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, and then one of the SITA buses.
LANDMARKS: Naples is known for having one of the largest historical city centers in the world. The city is filled with interesting places, of which we can mention the beautiful square Piazza del Plebiscito, the seaside castle Castel dell'Ovo, the magnificent medieval Castel Nuovo, the Galleria Umberto or the Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale). But these are just a few of the things awaiting you in Naples.
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Naples Airport | Car Hire | Train Timetables & Fares | Bus, Tram & Subway Timetables & Fares | Hotels in Naples
Piazza del Plebiscito, formerly known as Largo di Palazzo, is a beautiful large square in Naples, with an area of about 25,000 square meters, bordered at one end by the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and at the other by the Basilica of San Francesco di Read more [...]
Basilica of San Francesco di Paola is an impressive church in Piazza del Plebiscito, in Naples, one of the most important examples of neoclassical architecture in Italy. SHORT HISTORY Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law through marri Read more [...]
Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples and is one of the constructions that stand out the most when you approach the city from the sea. Its name derives from an ancient legend about the Latin poet Virgil, who hid an egg in the foundation Read more [...]
The Brikmania exhibition, dedicated to the Lego world, will be held in Naples, inside Palazzo Fondi, in Via Medina 24, between October 13, 2018, and January 27, 2019. Lego is a line of construction toy Read more [...]
The Escher retrospective, which has beaten every record of visitors in recent years, will be hosted by PAN | Palazzo delle Arti Napoli, in Naples, between 1 November 2018 and 22 April 2019. Maurits Cor Read more [...]
Grand Hotel Parker’s is a five-star hotel in Naples, that offers extremely luxurious accommodation in the residential Co Read more [...]
Bella Napoli is a nice hostel in the historical center of Naples, 40 meters away from the Naples Cathedral. The hostel is loca Read more [...]
Hotel Toledo is a three star hotel in Naples, located about 800 meters away from Piazza del Plebiscito and 1,2 kilometers away Read more [...]
Gran Caffè Gambrinus is a historic coffee house in Naples, located in Via Chiaia, near the Piazza del Plebiscito. In the Gran Read more [...]
Le Officine Bistrot is a restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine, located in Via Andrea d’Isernia 6, in Naples. The restau Read more [...]
Koi is a Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Naples, offering a cultural journey through the oriental culinary traditi Read more [...]
Medmar is a private ferry company founded over fifty years ago in Naples, specialized in the transport of passengers and vehic Read more [...]
Caremar (Campania Regionale Marittima) is a ferry operator founded in 1975 in Naples, that transports people, goods and vehicl Read more [...]
Di Sarno Car Service is a leading car hire company in Naples, providing transfers and private tours not only in Campania, but Read more [...]
Since 1865, Tramontano designs and produces bags and leather accessories in Naples. Its distinctive style and continuous quest Read more [...]
La Scarabattola is a workshop and, at the same time, an art gallery in Naples, born in the second half of the nineties, from t Read more [...]
Gay-Odin is a chain of eleven stores, nine in Naples and one in Rome and Milan, that offers wonderful handmade chocolate produ Read more [...]
The Curse of Palazzo Dario
Top 10 Most Beautiful Squares in Italy
How to Find the Best Hotels in Venice
