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Naples Attractions

Author: Constance Blair

Naples is the third biggest city in Italy (after Rome and Milan) and its second main port. It’s the largest city on the south of the country and the capital of Campania province. Nowadays Naples has a population of about 1,5 millions (3 millions with suburbs). Naples is also a very important railway and cultural center of Italy.

Naples stands on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea not far from the famous Vesuvius volcano and the remains of the city of Pompeii destroyed by its eruption.

Legends say that Naples is the place of origin of the famous sirens, singing mermaids who brought death to the sailors. Originally Naples was named Partenope in the honor of the most beautiful mermaid. Naples was founded by the Greeks in 8 century BC but later became a part of the Roman Empire. By 12 century AD Naples had a population of about 300 thousands and was the second biggest city in Europe after Paris. Later it was a capital of the Sicilian kingdom, Neapolitan kingdom and the kingdom of the Both Sicilies. In 1860 it joined the newborn state of Italy.

Naples is rich in cultural attractions – castles Castel del Ovo and Castel Nuovo, baptistery San-Giovanni, numerous palaces, churches and gothic and renaissance buildings make the significant part of the city. Naples Archeological Museum is one of the most famous museums of its kind.

During centuries Naples was the favorite residence of the several royal families. There are 4 royal residences within Naples and its suburbs. It’s the only place in Europe with such a concentration of the royal residences.

Among other attractions are Piazza del Municipio with view on Castel Sant`Elmo, Galleria Umberto I, Chiesa di S. Anna dei Lombardi on Piazza Carita, Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo, Tearto di S. Carlom, Chiesa di S. Francesco di Paola, Piazza del Plebiscito.

Naples gained its glory not only as cultural and historical center of the Southern Italy, ut also as an important commercial center. Various little shops neighbor here with the modern supermarkets, designer’s boutiques. In Naples you will also find a great number of cafes and restaurants. Naples is considered to be the motherland of the notorious Italian pizza. The oldest pizzeria in Naples dates back from 1830.

Naples has always had its own atmosphere. Neapolitans differ much from the citizens of the other parts of Italy.
 

About the Author:
Constance Blair - For booking a hotel, please, go to Naples hotels page

Things To Do and See in Naples

National Archaeological Museum

(Museo Archeologico Nazionale), Naples
This museum has all of the interesting finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum,

both doomed cities after the violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.
Attraction type: History museum; Specialty museum; Historic home;

Art museum; Museum

Mount Vesuvius, Naples
The only active volcano on the mainland of Europe, Mount Vesuvius is

famous for the calamitous eruption in 79AD, which buried the towns of

Herculaneum and Pompeii.
Attraction type: Volcano; Mountain

Cappella Sansevero, Naples
Built in the late 1500s, this gem of Italian artistic heritage was greatly

influenced by the famous Raimondo de Sangro VII, Prince of Sansevero,

a genius of science and invention.
Attraction type: Religious site; Architectural building; Historic site; Museum

Certosa di San Martino and Museo dell'Opera, Naples
Founded in the 14th century as a Carthusian monastery, this museum

contains a ceiling painting of the "Ascension" by Lanfranco and the

ceiling fresco of the "Triumph of Judith" (1704) by Luca Giordano.
Attraction type: Historic home; Religious site; Historic site; Specialty museum

Museum & Gallery of Capodimonte

(Museo e Gallerie Nazionali di Capodimonte), Naples
This 18th-century museum houses magnificent collections from such

renowned artists as Masaccio, Titian, Raphael, El Greco and Bruegel,

including the immense Farnese collection.
Attraction type: Art museum; History museum

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