Naples History, Italy

Have you heard of a city in Italy that is considered unique and special in its own right? This is the city of Naples. Naples is basically a port town that is strategically located to serve as a functional gateway to the surrounding islands. It is the capital of the Campania region in the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. The city of Naples is very rich in historical, cultural and traditional ‘facts and figures’ that makes it one of the important players in the history of Italy. This city has its own story to tell that can spread from the origin of the delectable pizza to imprisonment of a Roman Emperor.

The beginning of the city of Naples is credited to the early Greek settlers that occupied the vicinity. Through time, the settlement evolved to be a stable city state. When the war broke out between Carthage and Rome, Naples allied with Rome and was incorporated in the Roman Republic as one of its provinces. During its incorporation as a colony in an expanding Roman Empire, Naples was given tolerance to practice the Greek culture of the original founders and settlers. The city was even considered as a center of Hellenistic culture during that time.

During the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Naples experienced a dark time in its history with the onset of foreign invasion and influences. Some of the most visible are the Ostrogoths, the Norman rule and the Angevin dynasty. When the division of the kingdom of Sicily occurred during the Norman rule in the year 1284, a number of foreign invasions have also exerted their influences over Naples until its inclusion as part of United Italy in 1860.

The evolution of Naples as a city, known today for its modern and classical knick knacks, is a product of a process that is over two millenniums in the making. The life and culture of Naples is basically on its streets and alleys as evidenced by the busy and casual trades.

 To date, the ongoing Diaspora of the younger generations from the quiet suburbs of Naples to settle in the city played a vital role in the development of the city’s new identity. Nevertheless, despite this uniqueness in the set up and culture of Naples that sets it apart from all the other cities in Italy, it has proved self sufficient and special among the rest so much, that one can generally feel the essence of reality and no pretensions of life.

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• A weekend in Naples
  review by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
  Naples itself isn't a very beautiful city, in my oppinion. In its outskirts often look spoiled and dirty. The city center looks better, but cant compete with the centers of other big cities. Besides that, Naples has got an exceptional archelogical museum, you really should visit, if you're...

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Read our members' travel tips about Naples

• Visit Pompeii
  travel tip by Anonymous posted more then 30 days ago
  While in Naples, you have to make sure that you visit Pompeii. It might be the most important Roman/Greek archeological site out there. Pompeii was buried during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvio in 79AD. Today it is excavated and visitors can...
• Museo Cappella Sansevero
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  The Sansevero museum is located in a former chapel in the old town of Naples. Inside there is one of the city's main attractions: the statue of the veiled Christ. The statue was created by the artist Giuseppe di SanMartino and represents...
• National Museum of Naples
  travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
  If you are interested in greek and roman culture, you should definitely visit the national museum of Naples. There you can see excellent findings for example from Pompeii or other ancient digging sites.

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