Naples

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Introduction; Economy; Points of Interest and Cultural Institutions; History

Introduction

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Naples (Italian Napoli; ancient Neapolis), city, southern Italy, capital of Naples Province and of Campania Region. An important seaport, Naples is built on the slopes and at the base of a range of hills bordering the Bay of Naples, an inlet of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Visible from the city is the volcano Mount Vesuvius.

Economy

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Naples has a large harbor for passenger and merchant vessels and several smaller harbors that accommodate fishing and pleasure craft. Among the chief industries are tourism, shipbuilding, and the manufacture of chemicals, foodstuffs, gloves, iron and steel, and machinery. The city is noted for its colorful street life, its food (spaghetti and pizza were developed here), and its songs, notably in the bel canto style.

III

Points of Interest and Cultural Institutions

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Naples is the site of numerous castles and other places of interest. On a rocky islet connected to the city by a causeway stands the 12th-century Castel dell'Ovo, the site of which was occupied by the villa of the Roman general Lucullus. Other Neapolitan castles are the 13th-century Castel Nuovo, situated on the harbor, and the 14th-century Castel Sant'Elmo, on a hill overlooking the city. The former royal palace in Naples, the Palazzo Reale, was built in the early 17th century; it houses the notable National Library, which has a large and valuable collection of books and manuscripts. Near the palace is the Teatro San Carlo (1737, rebuilt 1816), famed for its opera productions and one of the largest theaters in Europe. The National Museum in Naples is renowned for its vast collection of Greco-Roman paintings and sculpture found in Pompeii, Herculaneum, and elsewhere in the vicinity of the city. The museum also contains the celebrated Farnese collection of paintings. The city is the site of a university; Naples also has a naval institute, a school of foreign languages, a music conservatory, and an academy of fine arts.

Of the many ecclesiastical buildings in the city, the best known is the Cathedral of San Gennaro (begun 13th century, with many later additions, including a 19th-century facade). The cathedral contains the tomb of St. Januarius, the patron saint of the city; crowds fill the cathedral in May and September to witness what is believed to be the miraculous liquefaction of his blood. The Church of San Domenico Maggiore has a beautiful interior and is rich in sculpture and frescoes. Beside it stands the former Dominican monastery in which Saint Thomas Aquinas once lived and taught.

History

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The ancient Neapolis (Greek, “New City”) was originally a Greek settlement. Although conquered by the Romans in the 4th century bc, it long retained its Greek culture. The mild climate and the beauty of the site made the city a favorite resort of wealthy Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the city declined. In the 6th century Neapolis was captured by forces of the Byzantine Empire, and in the 8th century it became an independent duchy. In 1139 the Normans conquered the duchy, and it was subsequently incorporated into the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After the Sicilian Vespers of 1282 the city served as capital of the separate kingdom of Naples. In 1861 that kingdom became part of the modern state of Italy. The port of Naples was greatly improved in the late 19th century. The city, which had long been subject to epidemics of cholera, was provided with a pure supply of water in 1884 and a new sewage system.

During World War II Naples was bombed repeatedly by the Allies until its capture in 1943; it was heavily damaged also by the retreating Germans. The harbor and some sections were virtually demolished and many houses were rendered uninhabitable. Reconstruction was based on a plan designed to make Naples more sanitary and modern. Population (2005 estimate) 995,171.