Naples Top Visits: History And Tourism In Verona, Italy
Naples is a city of history and art, along with a soul-stirring beauty. Naples has an unparalleled array of cultural resources. There are royal palaces, castles, and ancient remnants, as well as some of Christianity’s oldest frescoes. Thanks to its rich history, Naples today is one of the most interesting cities in the world. Curious to know more about this Italian pearl? Continue reading… Get our free Travel Checklist
Ancient Naples
The first Greek village that was established in Italy is Cumae around the 8th century BCE, and then Cumae was renamed Neapolis (or “the new city) to become later one of the most flourished cities and a major cultural center of Ancient Greece. Even after it was conquered by the Romans, who exploited it as a resort, the city kept its Hellenistic culture and attracted great historical figures such as the poet Virgil.
Ancient Neapolis, as Gibbon says, “long cherished the language and manners of a Grecian colony; and the choice of Virgil had ennobled this elegant retreat, which attracted the lovers of repose and study from the noise, the smoke, and the laborious opulence of Rome.”
Until the 5th century, Neapolis succeeded to maintain peace over its territory, but soon after the decline of the Roman Empire it had witnessed a period of conflict as the Byzantines and the Germanics took command of Italy.
Even during world war II (1940-1944), Naples was strategically relevant in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern front of the War, as well as the Italian campaign.
Medieval And Renaissance Naples
Naples was then handed from empire to empire throughout the Middle Ages: it remained rich during Norman domination in the 12th century; a German emperor ruled for a brief while and oversaw the foundation of Naples University in 1224. In 1265, it was seized by the French Angevins, who erected the grandiose Castel Nuovo.
After nearly two centuries of French domination, it was time for the Spanish Empire to seize power. Naples flourished as a result of Spain’s immense colonial wealth, becoming Europe’s largest city, with a population of about 300,000 people, and a center for Baroque art and architecture.
Despite being crushed by the plague in 1656 and suffering unrest due to high taxes and economic distress, Naples managed to flourish, eventually falling into the hands of the Bourbons, who built famous landmarks such as the Real Teatro di San Carlo and the Reggia di Caserta palace.
Sicily, Naples, and the rest of Southern Italy regained their independence and prospered until the 1790s, when, like the rest of Europe, Italy saw the effects of the French Revolution.
Napoleon’s soldiers arrived in Naples in 1799, establishing the brief-lived Parthenopean Republic.
The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had revolutions and returns to the monarchy during the 1800s, but when Italy was unified in 1860, the people of Naples opted to join the country, and thus the Kingdom of Italy was formed in 1861.
Modern Naples
Following the unification of Italy, Naples lost much of its former importance. A cholera outbreak and industrialization inspired modernizing changes in the late nineteenth century, but events in the early twentieth century would take their toll: World War I, the advent of Fascism in Italy, and the Great Depression of the 1930s all had a significant impact on the city.
During WWII, Naples was the first Italian city to revolt against Nazi military occupation, and it was triumphantly liberated from invading German soldiers. Contrary to the popular rebellion, the city was heavily bombed, and rehabilitation was long and tough, exacerbated by another explosion in 1944 (Mount Vesuvius eruption).
Throughout the twentieth century, Naples struggled with significant unemployment and deep-rooted organized crime, which was exacerbated by a devastating earthquake in 1980.
However, in recent decades, the city has been entirely revitalized and is now a flourishing hub of culture and history, with a plethora of stunning monuments to prove its famous past.
Interesting Facts about Naples (that you probably don’t know!)
Pizza Margherita was born here in Naples and was named after Queen Margherita
The city is currently under the threat of Mount Vesuvius Volcano
The port of Naples is one of the largest ports in Europe
There is a pizza festival in Naples, known as Pizza Village, which hosts around 1 million visitors every year.
Do you know the “O Sole Mio” song? It was actually written in Naples
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