Naples

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 | City Pass | Hop-On Hop-Off