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Welcome to Naples!
Capital of the Campania region, gateway to the Amalfi Coast, the Isle of Capri (pronounced CAH-pree!)
and the land of mozzarella, Naples is Italy distilled, Italy on steroids, Italy to the nth degree.
The city sits on one of the world's most gorgeous bays, dominated by Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed
Pompeii
The heart of the city is its 13th-century castle,
surrounded by a moat and protected by five towers
Nearby is the church of S. Francesco di Paola,
in Piazza Plebiscito
Just around the corner is Teatro San Carlo,
one of Italy's most extravagant theatres
where you can attend an opera performance today
Across the street is the Galleria,
Naples' chicest meeting place since 1890
From here we head into the religious part of the city where we see countless ornate churches and monuments
such as this one erected to celebrate the end of the plague in 1656
The Bourbons' church, Santa Chiara, boasts a hand-painted majolica cloister
considered one of the city's greatest treasures
Another local treasure is San Gennaro,
a Christian martyr who is the city's patron saint.
Legend has it that after he was decapitated, a pious woman collected some drops of his blood in two ampules.
Every year in May, September and December, the "miracle of San Gennaro"
sees this blood liquify. If it doesn't, it's a very bad sign and the whole city is on tenterhooks
The place where you'd feel this most is Spaccanapoli, the populous neighborhood seen in many old Sophia Loren
films
Perhaps the most spectacular symbol of the city is Castel dell'Ovo, the bastion that was first built in the
12th century and then rebuilt by every king the city ever had
The Neapolitans love their history, but they love their fun too!
After this family finishes their daughter's holy communion photos, they'll strip to their bathers and jump
in the water with everyone else
To see more pictures of Naples,
click here.
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