Naples is located in a lovely bay, filled by a sea of dark blue, a horizon bounded by Posillipo, the Islands, the Sorrento Peninsula and the Vesuvious. The noisiness and vivacity of the people make this town “the permanent play house in Italy”.

Historical Notes
Naples is called the Parthenopaen City because according to legend the Siren Parthenope gave her name to the town. In fact, its origins are greek: It was conquered by the Romans in the 4th century B.C. Rich inhabitants of Rome like Virgil, Augustus, Tiberius, Nero used to spend the winter there, but the Neapolitans themselves retained the Greek language and customs until the decline of Empire.
The French Revolution brought here troops and a Parthenopaen Republic was set up. A French kingdom was created next under Napoleon’s brother Joseph Bonaparte. Later Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law, promoted excellent reforms.
The French Pope Clement VI called Charles I of Anjou to the throne of Naples. His son, Charles II and is grandson, Robert I, succeeded him. Robert the Wise, whose brother Louis became Bishop of Toulouse and was canonised, attracted poets, scholars and artists to this court. Boccaccio and Petrarch spent years at this court.

Art of the City
MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
Under the princes of the House of Anjou architecture borrowed from France its Gothic style. Sculpture was influenced chiefly by Tuscans.
As painters of mural frescoes the Florentine Giotto and Pietro Cavallini, a Roman artist, still under Byzantine influence were outstanding.
In the 17-18th century the Neapolitan School of Painting sprang up and it was originated with Spanish and Bolognese masters influenced by Caravaggio.
This school had a style of its own in the form of realism in warm colours on a basis of chiaroscuro.

THE NEAPOLITANS
The Neapolitans speak the dialect of Naples: They fear the jettatura (the Evil Eye), from which the protect themselves by touching a little bone or coral horn they carry in their pockets.

TRADITIONS AND FESTIVALS
On 8 September the sumptuous religious festival of Madonna di Piedigrotta and on 16 July Santa Maria del Carmine take place in the town.
Twice a year, on the first Saturday in May and on 19 September, at the Cathedral, the Feast of the Miracle of St. Januarius (San Gennaro) is held. The saint’s blood, kept dry in a flask, is supposed to liquefy.

GASTRONOMY
The restaurants and the pizza shops of the towns serve Neapolitan dishes.
It would be nice to have a taste of the “zuppa di pesce” – fish stew -, of spaghetti served with fresh tomatoes and lightly cooked do not forget is the pasta mixed with shell-fish and especially the “pizza”, a cheese tart with tomato sauce, sometimes auchary, capers and wild marjoram. All is accompanied by the white wine of Capri or Ischia, the wine of Vesuvius or Lacryma Christi (Tear of Christ), which have a delicate taste.

A LOOK AT THE STREETS AND THE QUARTERS
Naples is a world of contrasts: disturbing but familiar, fascinating but full of noise. The traffic is heavy here and tourists need determination to venture across the roads.
In the port tourists embark for Capri, Ischia and Sorrento at the Beverello jetty.
The heart of the city is the Piazza del Plebiscito, near which is the Galleria with its shops and cafes.

MAIN SIGHTS
New Castle: the castle, built in 1282 by Pierre d’Agincourt, the architect of Charles I of Anjou, it is also called the Maschio Angioino.
St. Charles’ Theatre: it is grey and white and it is a good example of a classic 18th century Italian theatre built under Charles of Bourbon in 1737.
Piazza del Plebiscito: it is a semicircular “square” and it was laid out in the reign of Murat. In the center you can admire the equestrian statues by Canova of Ferdinand and Charles III of Bourbon.
Royal Palace: the palace was built at the beginning of the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana and was remodelled several times.
Port of Santa Lucia: Santa Lucia is the name of the small port from where people can watch splendid sunsets. Here the typical restaurants and the austere Egg Castle make a picturesque scene.
Aquarium: The aquarium in the Villa Comunale gardens shows 200 species of sea creatures from the Bay of Naples together with marine flora.
Mergellina: Mergellina with the small port of Sannazzaro is one of the few places around Naples for a stroll.

MUSEUMS
National Archaelogical Museum: it is one of the most famous museum in the world with works of art belonging to the Greco-Roman Antiquity, to the Farnese family and treasures discovered at Pompei and Herculaneum.
Carthusian Monastery of St. Martin: it is situated on a spur of the Vomero hill. The monastery was founded by the Anjou dynasty and was almost completely remodelled in the 16th and 17th century. Near there is the Castel Sant’Elmo, a massive structure with bastions. A museum was installed inside the monastery in 1866. It includes historical and artistic collections. The monumental section is a curious example of the Neapolitan Baroque style.
Capodimonte Palace and National Galleries: it is a royal estate and includes a palace, a landscape garden, a hamlet, Casino della Regina and the remains of a porcelain factory famous in the 18th century.
The palace, built between 1738 and 1838, is a severe structure. Different pictures displayed in groups illustrate the varius artistic movements.
The royal apartments contain fine furniture and a porcelain museum.

SPACCANAPOLI QUARTER
This is the heart of old Naples. With its churches and its ancient streets it is the most engaging part of the town.
Via Benedetto Croce, San Biagio dei Librai and Vicaria Vecchia bejond the Via del Duomo form the maix axis of Naples, which follows the corse of the Roman Decumanus Maximus.

CATHEDRAL
It was built in 14th century Gothic and its façade of 19th century still has its 15th century doorways.
In the south aisle the Chapel of St. Januarius is a rich 17th century Baroque style. On the end wall, a reliquary placed below the statue of St. Januarius holds two glass phials containing the Saint’s blood.

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