Naples Travel Guide

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City Introduction

The southern Italian capital and former residential city of Naples greet visitors with an abundance of impressive sights in a blend with the city’s almost chaotic charm; whether it is culture, nature or gastronomy you are looking for. Naples simply has it all and is a wonderful and unforgettable place to be.

In the old town, the streets are narrow with beautiful small squares in between the many churches, statues and the countless beautiful buildings that emit patina and Italian charm – and extra much as church and dining hours approach. It’s just about being curious and enjoying the atmosphere.

Fantastic church buildings, majestic castles, elegant palaces and lovely promenades are also the epitome of Naples, which as a royal city has always been one of the major Italian cities. Thus, you can plan a trip through the metropolis to see highlights of several centuries of construction.

On the horizon of Naples towers the volcano Vesuvius, which with its eruption in the year 79 buried Pompeii and Herculanuem, two of the major sights of Naples today. Vesuvius is the prime landmark of the Naples region, and you can enjoy the view to the high mountain from several places in the city, and you can also climb the volcano to the crater edge.

Several volcanic activities await in the Phlegraean Fields west of the city, and the islands of Capri and Ischia and the Amalfi Coast are also great choice as day trip destinations. Culturally, there is also a lot to see; such as the splendid castle of Caserta or Paestum’s archaeology.

Top Attractions

Castel Nuovo, Naples

  • New Castle/Castel Nuovo: Charles I of Sicily became king in 1266, and he moved the capital from Palermo to Naples. Construction of Castel Nuovo began in 1279, and three years later the castle was completed. It is today open as an interesting museum.
  • Naples Cathedral/Duomo di Napoli: This is the city’s cathedral and it is the most important Roman Catholic church in the city. The church was built in the 1200-1300s, and it has a beautiful and ornate interior with frescoes and various art.

Underground Naples

  • Underground Naples/Napoli Sotterranea: 40 meters / 130 feet below the streets of Naples is the historic Naples, which developed many years ago. You can go on an exciting tour of the city’s underground and experience parts of Greco-Roman history.
  • Sansevero Chapel/Cappella Sansevero: In 1590, Prince Francesco de Sangro had this chapel built in what was at that time the garden at his city palace. It is an immensely beautifully decorated chapel with sculptures and frescoes.

Naples Archaeological Museum

  • Naples National Archaeological Museum/Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli: The Archaeological Museum of Naples is among the best in Italy with large Roman collections from the cities of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabiae as well as Greek antiques.
  • Capodimonte Museum & Palace/Museo & Reggia di Capodimonte: Capodimonte Castle was the summer palace and hunting castle of the kings of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It was built from the 18th century and completed in the 19th century. Today there is a distinguished art museum at the castle.

Galleria Umberto I, Naples

  • Umberto I Gallery/Galleria Umberto I: This is a magnificent shopping mall, which was built in the years 1887-1891. Four streets meet in the glass-covered center under a beautiful dome.

Other Attractions

San Lorenzo Maggiore, Naples

  • Great Basilica of St Lawrence/Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore: This is a Franciscan church from the 13th century, built in the Greco-Roman center, and below the church you can see an excavation from of the Roman market.
  • Great Basilica of St Paul/Basilica di San Paolo Maggiore: San Paolo Maggiore is a beautiful church where you can see beautiful frescoes by Massimo Stanzione and Francesco Solimena. The church was built by the Theatine Order in the 16th century.

Galleria Principe, Naples

  • Prince of Naples Gallery/Galleria Principe di Napoli: This gallery and shopping center was designed by Nicola Breglia and Giovanni De Novellis in 1869 and built 1877-1883 in the era of cast iron and glass roofs over fine shopping streets.
  • New Church of the Gesù/Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo: Gesù Nuovo is a Jesuit church housed in a 15th-century residence palace. Behind the characteristic and austere exterior is a baroque church with beautiful decorations.

San Carlo Theater, Naples

  • St Charles Theater/Teatro San Carlo: San Carlo Theater is the oldest, still active opera house in Europe. It was inaugurated on November 4, 1737 with a staging of Domenico Sarro’s Achille in Sciro.
  • Plebiscite Square/Piazza del Plebiscito: This is one of Naples’ largest squares, and the city’s royal palace is located here. The square was conceived by Napoleon’s King Joachim Murat in the early 1800s..

San Franceso di Paola, Naples

  • St Francis of Paola Basilica/Basilica di San Francesco di Paola: This church was built in connection with the construction of Plebiscite Square in the early 1800s. The church was completed in 1816. The inspiration came from the Pantheon in Rome.
  • The Royal Palace/Palazzo Reale: Palazzo Reale was the royal palace of central Naples for the House of Bourbon, which ruled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the years 1730-1860. Today, the castle is a museum with several sights and exhibitions.

St Elmo Fort, Naples

  • St Elmo Fort/Castel Sant’Elmo: Fort Sant Elmo is located above Naples on the ridge of the same name. From Castel Sant’Elmo you can see the iconic view of the city and the Gulf of Naples with Mount Vesuvius as the great backdrop.

Day Trips

Mount Vesuvius, Naples

  • Mount Vesuvius/Vesuvio: Mount Vesuvius is the volcano that draws the silhouette of the Gulf of Naples and rises to an altitude of over 1,100 meters/3,600 feet. The volcano dominates the area, and you can relatively easily get up to the crater edge and look down into the volcano and beyond the Naples area.
  • Pozzuoli: Pozzuoli is an independent city located as one of the western suburbs of Naples. It was founded as the Greek colony of Dikaiarchia before becoming a Roman colony. Today you can e.g. see excavated ruins and volcanic craters here.

Caserta Palace, Italy

  • Caserta Palace/Reggia di Caserta: This is a beautiful and large former residence of the Neapolitan kings. It was built from 1752, and the colossal castle was completed in 1780. The adjoining garden is also beautiful and exciting.
  • Herculaneum Excavations/Scavi di Ercolano: Herculaneum was until the 24th of August year 79 a thriving city with about 5,000 inhabitants. That day, Mount Vesuvius erupted. Today it is an excavated city where you can walk in the old streets.

Pompeii, Italy

  • Pompeii Excavations/Scavi di Pompei: Pompeii is an excavated city that was destroyed in connection with the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79. A visit here is a fantastic experience of the city and urban community of that time with many well-preserved ruins.
  • Capri: Capri is a famous island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula. There a beautiful nature and nice atmosphere on the island. You can sail to Capri from Naples and thus get a wonderful sailing trip.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

  • The Amalfi Coast/Costiera Amalfitana: The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most famous places. The coast forms the beautiful southern coastline of the Sorrentine Peninsula, and there are picturesque towns on the rocky slopes all the way along the coast.

Paestum, Italy

  • Paestum Archaeological Area/Area Archeologica di Paestum: The city of Poseidonia was founded in the 600s BC. by Greek settlers. It became Roman with the name Paestum, and today you can see preserved temples, the Roman forum etc.

Shopping

  • Carrefour, via Morghen 28, via Poggioreale 18, www.carrefour.it
  • Coin, Via Scarlatti 86/100, www.coin.it
  • Galleria Umberto I, Via San Carlo
  • Shopping streets: Via Toledo, Via Chiaia, Via dei Mille, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Via Luca Giordano

With Kids

Practical Links

City History

Greek colonization
Napoli’s history began, like many other cities in southern Italy, with Greek colonization in the 9th century BC. The Greeks came to control large areas from present-day Naples to Sicily. Precisely Neapolis, later Naples, was one of the leading cities in this colony; Magna Graecia.

The first Greeks came from Rhodes and established the settlement Parthenope on the island of Megaride, which is close to the modern center of Naples. In the 5th century BC conquered Greek settlers from the neighboring town of Cumae area of ​​the Gulf of Naples and founded Neápolis, meaning the new city. Parthenope at the same time changed its name to Palaípolis; the old Town.

The following centuries, the two cities grew together and were now both fortified with walls and had various structures such as a theater and the smaller odeon, as well as a temple for the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

Vesuvius and the Roman Era
In the 300s BC conquered the Rome area and thus Neapolis, which quickly became popular with the Romans for the mild climate and Greek culture, which served as a source of inspiration in the Roman Empire.

In 79, Roman Naples became a spectator of one of the most famous volcanic eruptions of recent times; here almost all parts of Vesuvius exploded and buried several of the area’s bustling cities such as Pompeii.

In Naples, the development continued, and many Romans built prestigious villas along the coasts in Pozzuoli, among others. In one of the villas, the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire came into exile, which was Romulus Augustulus in the year 476.

In 568, the Germanic longobards began their conquest in what was to become the Kingdom of Lombardy. Surrounded by the new empire, Naples maintained its loyalty to the Byzantine Empire along with Rome, among others. At that time, the city had about 30,000 inhabitants.

The new Duchy
Naples was subject to the Byzantine emperor, represented in Italy by the exarch of Ravenna. In 618, Naples rebelled against the exarch, thereby the status of the city itself as subject to a remote power.

In 638, the Exarch established the Duchy of Naples to counter the rebellion of the city, and 23 years later a local ruler came to head the city and the area; duke Basilio in 661. However, the duke was still appointed with the approval of the empire, but in 840 duke Sergius I made the title and position an inheritance, and thus Naples had effectively become independent.

At that time, the city had a certain military significance, and it was not a prominent commercial city like many others in the region. In the following centuries, Naples lost power, and in 1027 Duke Sergius IV suffered defeat to Pandulf IV of Capua. With the help of the Norman Rainulf Drengot, Sergius IV was reinstated as a duke in 1029, and as a thanks, Sergius donated the area Aversa, north of Naples, to Rainulf, thus becoming Aversa’s Count from 1030. In 1037, Rainulf defeated the Byzantines in the area, and Naples formally still a Byzantine vassal, Aversa gained independence the following year.

The Normans come
The Normans from the north were the next to come to the area, and their later would prove to put an end to Napoli’s independence.

In the 11th century, Naples remained a duchy, but the Normans had overcome the longobards in the region and with Roger II’s establishment of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1130 a new power had emerged.

In 1137 Naples Sergius VII had to surrender, and Naples became a vassal in Sicily with little power and influence for the city itself. Sergius VII became Napoli’s last duke. During this time, approximately 30,000 people continued to live here, and the Normans had several castles and fortresses erected; eg Castel Capuano and Castel dell’Ovo.

Cultural flourishing
The German-Roman emperor, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, was also king of Sicily, and he regarded Naples as the intellectual center of the kingdom when in 1224 he founded a university here. For centuries, the institution remained the leading educational institution in the southern part of present-day Italy.

After the defeat of Frederick II’s son, Manfred, Pope Clement IV in 1266 handed over the power of the Kingdom of Sicily to Karl of Anjou, who moved the capital from Palermo to Naples. Karl built the new castle, Castel Nuovo, as a residence, and during his reign the church building also flourished. Naples Cathedral, Santa Chiara, San Lorenzo Maggiore and Santa Maria Donna Regina thus originate from this period, which also offered many noble mansions in the growing district around Castel Nuovo.

The Two Sicilies
After the Sicilian Vespers revolt in 1282, the Kingdom of Sicily was split into two. The Spanish, Aragonese kings then ruled the island of Sicily itself, while the French Angonian kings ruled the mainland. Both of them officially continued to call themselves the Kingdom of Sicily, but the mainland part was also called the Kingdom of Naples.

With Naples as the center of a large area, the city developed and attracted, among others, merchants from Pisa and Genoa, bankers from Tuscany and a number of artists.

The Spanish King Alfonso V defeated the last Anglo-King in 1442 and took over the reign as Alfonso I. It created a resurgence on the back of increased trade in the Iberian Peninsula. Artistically, the city also became the center of the Italian Renaissance.

In the 1490s there were power struggles and disputes between the former Anglo-royal family claiming the Kingdom of Naples and the sitting rulers. The Angevins gained a brief transition of supremacy under Charles VIII, but it ended up with the Spanish king of Aragon taking over Naples.

From 1501 the two kingdoms were united, and there were deputy kings and ruled the Kingdom of Naples. The first three years under French rule, and in 1504 the first Spanish viceroy was deployed, and the form of government with the viceroys came to last until the 18th century with a brief exception in 1647.

New development and decline
One of the important viceroys was Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, who paved roads during the reign of 1532-1552, built new roadways, renovated and erected new buildings, and established new defenses that made Naples one of the most fortified in Spanish realm.

The culture flourished in Naples through the 16th-16th centuries, where philosophers, writers and artists flocked to the city as few other places in Europe. During that period, Naples grew from 100,000 to 300,000 inhabitants and was therefore one of Europe’s largest cities.

In 1647, Naples revolted against the Spanish government and established the Republic of Naples. They also asked France for help in the fight against the Spaniards, but several landfall attempts failed. The Republic survived only half a year, and then the Viceroys returned. In 1656, the population was hit by a plague epidemic, which killed about half of its inhabitants, marking the beginning of the city’s impending recession.

1700s and the Napoleonic period
After the Spanish War of Succession in the early 1700s, with the Peace of Rastatt in 1714, it was decided to grant the Kingdom of Naples to the German-Roman Emperor Charles VI, who became king for the following twenty years. During the Polish Succession War, Spanish Charles III conquered Naples in 1734, and with the Peace in Vienna in 1738, Naples was again recognized as an independent kingdom with Karl as king. Karl was then Duke of Parma and became Spanish King from 1759. With that status, he handed over the throne in Naples to his eight-year-old son, Ferdinand, who initially reigned as Ferdinand IV for forty years.

Ferdinand was from the Bourbon house and therefore in natural opposition to Napoleon. In 1799, French troops forced the king to flee to Sicily, and in Naples and southern Italy the Parthenopean Republic was formed. The life of the republic was short lived when peasants launched a riot, and after less than five months, Ferdinand was back on the throne of Naples. His reign now lasted seven years.

In 1805, Ferdinand IV supported the countries of the Third Coalition; Austria, Russia and Portugal, who fought against Napoleon’s France. In March 1806, French troops over Neapolitan won the Battle of Campo Tenese, and then Napoleon deployed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as new king of Naples. Napoleon’s brother-in-law, Joachim Murat, became king in 1808 when Joseph became Spanish king, and meanwhile Ferdinand IV defended himself with British aid from Sicily. Joachim Murat, among others, introduced a municipal administration with a mayor post in Naples.

In 1815, the Neapolitan War between Austria and Joachim Murat was fought. The battles fell short and the Austrians won at the Battle of Tolentino. Murat had to flee, and for the third time Ferdinand IV became king of Naples; from 1816 as Ferdinand I of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, which emerged when the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily were officially united.

Naples in Italy
In the 19th century industrialization, Naples became Italy’s first city by rail. The line between Naples and Portici opened in 1839. Despite progress, however, the distance between court and bourgeoisie grew ever larger, and in 1860-1861 time as an independent kingdom was over. Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi made his entry into the city by train and arrived at the place that bears his name today. At that time, about 450,000 people lived in Naples.

The history of modern Naples is in present-day Italy. During World War II, the city became known as the first to rebel against the German troops. In the days of September 28-1. October 1943, the city overcame the adversary and the British-American troops to help arrived in a city that had already prevailed.

Throughout the 20th century there were several eruptions in the volcano Vesuvius, which lies as a silhouette behind Naples. In 1906 there was an outbreak, and in 1944 a larger one of sorts occurred, challenging the area, which, like much of Europe, was affected by World War II.

After World War II, Naples established itself with the status of the region’s largest city as an extensive transport center with ferry and freight services to other Italian cities, across the Mediterranean and as a major cruise port.

Over the past decades, much has been invested in Naples. New roads have been established and subway construction has taken place. Old buildings are being renovated and the modern business center, Centro Direzionale, has been shot in the neighborhood just east of the main train station.

Geolocation

In short

Overview of Naples

The southern Italian capital and former residential city of Naples greet visitors with an abundance of impressive sights in a blend with the city’s almost chaotic charm; whether it is culture, nature or gastronomy you are looking for. Naples simply has it all and is a wonderful and unforgettable place to be.

 

In the old town, the streets are narrow with beautiful small squares in between the many churches, statues and the countless beautiful buildings that emit patina and Italian charm – and extra much as church and dining hours approach. It’s just about being curious and enjoying the atmosphere.

 

About the upcoming Naples travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

 

About the travel guide

The Naples travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Italian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

 

Naples is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

 

Read more about Naples and Italy

 

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

 

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Naples you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Great Churches • Beautiful Squares • Pizzas • Vesuvius • Pompei • Capri

Overview of Naples

The southern Italian capital and former residential city of Naples greet visitors with an abundance of impressive sights in a blend with the city’s almost chaotic charm; whether it is culture, nature or gastronomy you are looking for. Naples simply has it all and is a wonderful and unforgettable place to be.

 

In the old town, the streets are narrow with beautiful small squares in between the many churches, statues and the countless beautiful buildings that emit patina and Italian charm – and extra much as church and dining hours approach. It’s just about being curious and enjoying the atmosphere.

 

About the upcoming Naples travel guide

  • Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
  • Published: Released soon
  • Author: Stig Albeck
  • Publisher: Vamados.com
  • Language: English

 

About the travel guide

The Naples travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Italian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

 

Naples is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.

 

Read more about Naples and Italy

 

Buy the travel guide

Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.

 

Use the travel guide

When you buy the travel guide to Naples you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.

Other Attractions

San Lorenzo Maggiore, Naples

  • Great Basilica of St Lawrence/Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore: This is a Franciscan church from the 13th century, built in the Greco-Roman center, and below the church you can see an excavation from of the Roman market.
  • Great Basilica of St Paul/Basilica di San Paolo Maggiore: San Paolo Maggiore is a beautiful church where you can see beautiful frescoes by Massimo Stanzione and Francesco Solimena. The church was built by the Theatine Order in the 16th century.

Galleria Principe, Naples

  • Prince of Naples Gallery/Galleria Principe di Napoli: This gallery and shopping center was designed by Nicola Breglia and Giovanni De Novellis in 1869 and built 1877-1883 in the era of cast iron and glass roofs over fine shopping streets.
  • New Church of the Gesù/Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo: Gesù Nuovo is a Jesuit church housed in a 15th-century residence palace. Behind the characteristic and austere exterior is a baroque church with beautiful decorations.

San Carlo Theater, Naples

  • St Charles Theater/Teatro San Carlo: San Carlo Theater is the oldest, still active opera house in Europe. It was inaugurated on November 4, 1737 with a staging of Domenico Sarro’s Achille in Sciro.
  • Plebiscite Square/Piazza del Plebiscito: This is one of Naples’ largest squares, and the city’s royal palace is located here. The square was conceived by Napoleon’s King Joachim Murat in the early 1800s..

San Franceso di Paola, Naples

  • St Francis of Paola Basilica/Basilica di San Francesco di Paola: This church was built in connection with the construction of Plebiscite Square in the early 1800s. The church was completed in 1816. The inspiration came from the Pantheon in Rome.
  • The Royal Palace/Palazzo Reale: Palazzo Reale was the royal palace of central Naples for the House of Bourbon, which ruled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in the years 1730-1860. Today, the castle is a museum with several sights and exhibitions.

St Elmo Fort, Naples

  • St Elmo Fort/Castel Sant’Elmo: Fort Sant Elmo is located above Naples on the ridge of the same name. From Castel Sant’Elmo you can see the iconic view of the city and the Gulf of Naples with Mount Vesuvius as the great backdrop.

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