Tourist information on Naples, Italy

Naples is the capital of the Campania region of Italy and is known locally as Napoli. It is situated on the west coast of southern Italy by the Gulf of Naples, midway between Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields. By population, it is the third largest city in Italy (after Rome and Milan). A busy seaport with a remarkable history behind it, Naples is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, renowned for its historic buildings, culture and cuisine (including the pizza, which was invented here). Although the city was heavily bombed during WWII, its historic centre is largely preserved and offers a wealth of architecture from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Naples' many green open spaces offer a welcome escape from the crowded city centre, whilst its museums and galleries provide a veritable feast for any culture vulture.

One of the oldest cities in the world, Naples was founded by the inhabitants of the Greek colony Cumae in around the 8th century BC and was named Neapolis (meaning New City). In Roman times, it retained its Greek language and customs and became a centre of Hellenistic culture, whilst also serving as a favoured holiday resort for the great and the good of imperial Roman society. The Duchy of Naples was created in the 7th century (from coastal lands that had not been conquered by the Lombards in the previous century) and effectively existed as an independent state for the next five hundred years. When the Kingdom of Naples was established in 1282, stretching across the whole of the southern part of the Italian peninsula, Naples was chosen as its capital. The kingdom endured until 1816, when it allied itself with Sicily to form the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This was the largest and wealthiest of Italy's states, until the country was unified in 1861. For much of its history, Naples has been an important centre of culture, attracting some of Italy's finest painters, writers and philosophers throughout the Renaissance. Caravaggio produced some of his finest work during his time in the city. Naples University, founded in 1224, is among Europe's earliest universities. Naples suffered extensive damage through Allied bombing during World War II, although its inhabitants were the first Italians to rise up and expel their German occupiers, in October 1943.

Naples' ancient castles are perhaps its best-known landmarks. The most prominent of these is the Castel Nuovo, a huge sandstone fortress that dates back to the late 13th century. The only part of the original castle still standing is its small Palentine Chapel; the rest is a 15th century renovation. The most important castle prior to this was the Castel dell'Ovo, built by the Normans in the 12th century on the small island of Megaride; today this is used for exhibitions and concerts. The Certosa di San Martino is the most visible landmark on the Naples skyline, sited on top of the Vomero hill. Originally, this was a Carthusian monastery, founded in the mid-14th century, although today it is a museum with a large collection of artefacts from the time when Naples was under the control of the Spaniards and the Bourbons. Its exhibitions include a famous display of Neopolitan nativity scenes.

The city's main square is the Piazza del Plebiscito, situated at the heart of modern Naples. On its east side is the supremely opulent Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and to its west is the domed church of San Francesco di Paola. Nearby is the Galleria Umberto, a large shopping centre and social hub, across from the Teatro di San Carlo, the world's oldest opera house. The latter was founded in 1737 by the Bourbon King Charles VII of Naples. When it was built, this was the largest opera house in the world, with a capacity of 3,300. With its perfect acoustics, there is no better place in southern Italy to hear opera.

The Duomo di Napoli is a huge Gothic cathedral that is also known as Cattedrale di San Gennaro (in honour of the city's patron saint, Saint Januarius). Commissioned by King Charles I of Anjou, it was completed early in the 14th century. Its main feature is the Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius, which is richly decorated in frescos, by Domenichino and Lanfranco, and other artwork. The Archbishop's Palace is adjacent to the cathedral. Santa Chiara is a large religious complex that comprises a church, a monastery, tombs and an archaeological museum. Dating from the 14th century, the church was originally of provençal Gothic design, but was decorated in the mid-1700s in the Baroque style. It houses the tombs of several Neopolitan monarchs whilst fragments of frescoes by Giotto can be seen in the Nuns' Choir houses.

The city's wealth of museums bears testimony to its importance as one of the great historical and cultural centres of Europe. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples National Archaeological Museum) is the most important archaeological museum in Italy and houses one the largest collections of Roman artefacts in the world (including sculptures, mosaics and silverware), as well as precious objects from the Greek and Renaissance eras. Housed in the Reggia di Capodimonte (Palace of Capodimonte), a grand Bourbon palace, is Naples' finest art gallery, the Museo di Capodimonte. This exhibits paintings from the 13th to the 18th century, including work by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and El Greco, and several ancient Roman sculptures.

Naples' main park is the Villa Comunale, which stretches along the coast, from the west of the city centre to the small port of Mergellina. Competing with the exotic plants for our attention are several neoclassic sculptures, fountains and buildings, such as the Casina Pompeiana and Circolo della Stampa. At the centre of the park there is the Zoologic Station Anton Dohrn, a zoological research centre which contains the oldest aquarium in Europe. The city's other large park is Parco Virgiliano, named after the Roman poet Virgil. This was formerly known as the Park of Remembrance (Parco delle Rimembranze), in honour of those who died in the First World War. A large scenic park, it offers some stunning views of the Gulf of Naples.

Naples is served by Naples Airport, situated about 6 km north of the city centre in the Capodichino district. There is no train service from the airport to the city centre; instead you must take a bus or a taxi. The city's main train station is Napoli Centrale (on Piazza Garibaldi), which connects to the Naples underground rail system. The public transport system also includes buses, cable cars and trams. From the dock at Stazione Marittima, there are ferry services to Sardinia, Corsica, Tunisia and the Aeolian Islands.