Naples, Italy

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Visit Naples

The city of Naples is found on the coast of south-western Italy, at the northern end of the Bay of Naples. The city is located in a natural amphitheater in the hills and along the coast: from Campi Flegrei the urban agglomeration goes down to the sea and the bay which takes its name from the city, and extends between San Giovanni a Teduccio and Capo Posillipo along the two parts of the coast, divided by the tip of Saint Lucia.

Like all cities that have had a significant population increase over the centuries, Naples has made significant changes to its original map. The older neighbourhoods have narrow streets, although with beautiful wide streets through the heart of the old medieval city. The surrounding city, including the hill of Vomero, the Riviera di Chiaia, and the areas of Posillipo, Margellina and Saint Lucia have all been partly renewed and changed over the years.

Many of the highlights in Naples are in the region south and south-west of the cathedral, along the Via dei Tribulani and in the streets to the south of that thoroughfare.

The architecture and art treasures of Naples have been enriched over the centuries making it now a city of great interest to tourists. From the first centuries AD Naples still has traces of painting in the Catacombs of San Gennaro; while in architecture some traces of this period are most evident in the Basilica del Salvatore (perhaps dating from the age of Constantine, and then joined in the fifth century with the nearby Santa Stefania, and then radically transformed in the eighteenth century).

The less ancient churches of San Giorgio Maggiore, the Holy Apostles and of Santa Maria Maggiore are adorned with frescoes in the Byzantine style. The bell-tower of Santa Maria Maggiore is in the Roman style, with the sculptures belonging to the same period.

The Castel dellOvo dates from 1128, and is so-called for its ovoid shape. The fortress was later expanded by both the Normans and the Aragonese. It was destroyed in 1503 and then rebuilt in 1691.

Centuries of art and architecture in Naples

From the 14th century onwards, when Naples became the capital of the noble family of Anjou, the city became a world-class arts centre. We can do little more than present a roll-call of the great and the good who helped shape the city, and whose work you will see adorning the churches and building across Naples:

Some famous examples are the church of San Domenico, the Cathedral and San Lorenzo, where the greatest Italian artists of the time all worked, including Pietro Cavallini, Giotto, and Simone Martini. The following century, during the Renaissance, some very highly regarded architects, sculptors and painters worked in Naples. In the seventeenth century Naples had its own school of art, which was strongly influenced by the realism of Caravaggio and included Jusepe de Ribera (aka Spagnoletto), Salvator Rosa, Luca Giordano and Artemisia Gentileschi.

Some of the highlights you will see include the magnificent facade of the church of Santa Maria della Sapienza; the Palazzo degli Studi; the church of Santa Maria della Sanità, the church and cloister of San Martino; and Palazzo Carafa. A particular jewel of architecture is the Royal Palace, built between 1600 and 1602 by Domenico Fontana (1543-1607).

Naples: From renaissance to neoclassical

By the 18th century the buried towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were starting to be unearthed near Naples which had the effect of bringing an end to the Renaissance period and ushering the neo-classical period. Under the rule of Charles of Bourbon many magnificent works were built in Naples, including the Royal Palace of Portici; the Reggia di Capodimonte; the Albergo dei Poveri; the Foro Carolino; and the Church of the Annunziata, by Luigi Vanvitelli. (Note: Vanvitelli is also responsible for the beautiful Royal Palace of Caserta.)

In the nineteenth century two Neapolitan architects in particular, Antonio Piccolini and Pietro Bianchi, were responsible for many fine buildings including the Villa Floridiana, the facade of the Teatro San Carlo and the Basilica of San Francesco da Paola.

Naples museums

For those who love the arts, Naples has about 30 museums. Among the highlights are the Museum of Capodimonte (antique furnitures, jewellery, porcelains and earthenwares), the Art Museum of the Pagliata foundation with paintings by El Greco, Giuseppe Bonito, Corot andVan Laer; and the Civic Museum, with works by Bernardino Luini, Jusepe de Ribera, Luca Giordano and Francesco Solimena.

Places to visit near Naples

Landscape highlights near Naples include Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei, to which Vesuvius is closely connected. This area, with 19 craters concentrated in an area of about 60 square kilometres, is unique. Some of the craters now hold lakes, while the lake at Agnano was drained and in its place a racecourse was built.

When we think of Vesuvius we also think of Pompeii. The famous eruption of Vesuvius took place on the night of 24 August 79 A.D. and the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were completely buried. Pompeii was covered by a layer of ash about 8 meters high, while Herculaneum was buried under a flow of mud and lava 20 meters thick.

Naples cuisine - and pizzas

The typical Neapolitan cuisine is varied, with the pizza being the best known local speciality. Try also the 'Crostoni napoletani', the 'mozzarella in carrozza', the spaghetti with clam sauce, meatloaf, wraps, the struffoli, and countless other local dishes. For wines we suggest a taste of the white and red wines known as the Campi Flegrei.

Related article: learn of the the history of Naples, Italy

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Naples, Italy

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