Naples (Napoli), the vibrant capital of the Campania region, is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Founded by Greek settlers in the 6th century BC as Neapolis ("New City"), its history is a dizzying tapestry woven by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons. This complex history has left the city with a unique layering of architecture, art, and traditions, earning its historic center a designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Naples served as the capital of the Kingdom of Naples and later the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, wielding significant cultural and political power across Southern Italy and leaving behind a legacy of grand palaces and fortifications.
Visiting Naples is a journey through time, blending ancient ruins, world-class art, and breathtaking natural scenery. Some of the attractions that you can visit are: the Naples National Archaeological Museum (MANN), one of the world's most important museums for classical antiquity, Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples), the vast network of tunnels, cisterns, and ancient aqueducts that lie beneath the modern city, the Piazza del Plebiscito and the Historic Center (Centro Storico), where you can find the Duomo di San Gennaro (Cathedral of Naples) and the famous street of nativity scene makers, Via San Gregorio Armeno.
While technically outside the city, Mount Vesuvius, the active volcano that famously destroyed Pompeii dominates the skyline. Visitors can take a bus or hike up to the crater rim for panoramic views of the entire Bay of Naples.
Naples is the undisputed birthplace of modern pizza. A visit is incomplete without trying the authentic Pizza Margherita in one of the historic pizzerias. Furthermore, the city is globally renowned for its passion for coffee, pastries like the sfogliatella, and a vibrant street life that is unlike anywhere else in Italy.