Naples (from Ancient Greek is translated as"New Town") is located in the south of Italy. In size, it is in third place after Rome and Milan. Naples has a kind of history, culture, even here people speak a special dialect that you will not find anywhere else. This city represents both joy and pain, which is experienced from time to time by Italy. Naples is also called the "theater of life", because from time to time events that have serious historical and political significance are played out. And this magical city is a favorite destination for millions of tourists. Annually to the south of Italy travelers come from all over the world to enjoy hospitality, warmth and local flavor.
History of Naples
Today, the southern Italian city is a largethe administrative center of the Campania region, where more than 3 million people live (if counted with the suburbs). The history of Naples begins in the VIII century BC. E., when the ancient Greeks founded the settlement of Parthenopeia. To the Romans it passed in 327 BC. They owned the city until the 6th century, until Byzantium attacked him. In the period from VII to XII century, Naples developed at an accelerated pace. Initially, he became the capital of the Duchy of Naples, then part, and eventually the capital of the Sicilian kingdom. In 1224, Naples acquired its own university. In the 17th century Italy boasted the second largest city in Europe. Naples has grown to an unprecedented extent, it was inhabited by 300,000 inhabitants.
How to get to the resort?
You can reach Naples in any formtransport. It is a bright, lively city, easily accessible for travelers by sea, air and land. Napoli Airport "Capodichino" is one of the largest in Italy, it is of great importance for all the southern resorts of the country. Every day it takes a huge number of regional, national and international flights. Amateurs of navigation are invited to use the services of a ferry or ship. From the port of Naples, you can go to Olbia, Cagliari, Sorrento, Palermo and other cities.
Through the resort passes the railway line,connecting the south and north of Italy. By train, you can reach Naples from any major city in the country. The trains run between popular resorts. Naples is connected by bus to many Italian and even European cities. On the square of Garibaldi there is a bus station. The bus is one of the most convenient and economical ways to get to cities such as Rome, Salerno, Lecce, Bari, Milan, Pompei, Taranto and others. The most convenient way to travel is to travel around Italy in a rented car. What transport to choose - it depends on the preferences of the tourist.
Hotels in Naples
At any time of the year, eagerly awaits guestssunny Italy. Naples offers a wide range of hotels and hostels. Depending on their location, the price changes. For example, the most expensive apartments are on the waterfront, and the cheapest - in the historic part of the city. In Naples, there are almost no 3-star hotels, mostly only 1-2 and 4-5 stars. If you want to relax inexpensively and with comfort, it is better to rent accommodation in the historic area. From here it is convenient to get to the embankment, go on excursions and to other cities. Travelers recommend the Hotel Partenope Relais, located on the waterfront. Also very popular is the UNA Hotel Napoli, located in the heart of the city. The Hotel Piazza Bellini has a good reputation, which can be found in the historical part.
Cuisine of Naples
Italian dishes find their admirers inall over the world. Therefore, it is simply inexcusable to go to Naples and not taste all the most popular culinary masterpieces of this wonderful country. Pizza is the passion of the Italians. Each chef prepares it in his own way, bringing his traditional flavor to the traditional recipe. Pizzerias, restaurants, cafes are scattered throughout the city. In these cozy institutions for a relatively small amount of money, nourishing and tasty will feed even the most fastidious visitors.
Italian chefs offer a great selection of dishesfrom seafood. Absolutely everyone likes local sandwiches, which can be taken with soft drinks for a light snack. Also worth paying attention to the wines, their divine taste will not leave anyone indifferent. Sweet creatures will be amazed with delicious sweets and ice cream. The city of Naples is absolutely unforgettable for everyone with original dishes, a cozy atmosphere of restaurants and cafes. Italians are able not only to cook delicious food, but it is also interesting to present it.
Shopping in Naples
The resort is famous not only for its natural beauty andarchitectural monuments of antiquity, but also shopping areas. Here are concentrated both the shops of world brands - Gucci, Armani, Ferragamo, and ordinary shops, where you can buy inexpensive, but very high quality and beautiful clothes and shoes. The starting point of all shopaholics is the Umberto Gallery, where the largest number of souvenir stalls and boutiques is located. Also worth a stroll along such shopping streets as Via Chiaia (famous for its relatively inexpensive goods), Via Calabritto - a cluster of representations of world brands, Via Roma - a 3-kilometer commercial artery of Naples. In the vicinity of the city there are several outlets, in them at the expense of discounts you can buy branded things at affordable prices.
Catacombs - "the kingdom of Hades"
Time in Naples flies by unnoticed, if seriouslyto study the local sights. Catacombs are a place where silence reigns, peace, an atmosphere of secrets and mysteries. Under the houses and streets of the city there are more than 700 caves, tunnels and galleries, for many centuries townspeople extracted from them tuff for the construction of fortress walls, squares, churches. In the catacombs you can see ancient underground sanctuaries, ritual crypts, aqueducts of ancient Romans, caves of ancient Greeks, underground passages, secret passages of the Bourbons. Archaeologists found excavations here items that age more than 5 thousand years. In the catacombs of San Gennaro are the tombs of bishops belonging to early Christianity. Also, tourists are invited to look at the numerous frescos and steles.
Tour of the Archaeological Museum
Lovers of history and antiquities will also conquermany faces of Naples. Photos of the National Archaeological Museum and its exhibits will not leave indifferent not only ordinary tourists, but also professional researchers. It is an important cultural center not only in Italy, but in the whole world. The museum contains a huge number of collections of Roman and ancient Greek exhibits. The building itself also represents an architectural value. It was built in 1586. On the first floor collected sculptures of ancient times. Between the first and second floors are mosaics found during excavations in Pompeii. Absolutely all visitors are impressed by the second floor, where the hall of the temple of Isis and the hall of frescoes are located.
Castles of Naples
Very interesting attraction of the cityis Castle Eggs, or Castel del Ovo. According to legend, the poet Virgil spoke an egg, placed it in an amphora, and the vessel in an iron cage, which he buried on the islet of Magarida, where he built an impregnable castle. The city will not be destroyed as long as the egg remains safe and sound. It is because of this legend that the castle got its name. Today Castel del Ovo is a complex of towers of different eras. The castle was built in 1139, in the XVII century it turned into a prison, and now it is open to tourists.
Castel Nuovo, or the Anjou Donjon, is consideredanother architectural masterpiece that Italy can boast of. Naples was once the capital of the Sicilian kingdom, so Charles of Anjou built a residence here. The castle was built over five years, from 1279 to 1284. It is a trapezoid fortress with powerful round-shaped towers at the corners. There is a portal of marble, it is decorated with bas-reliefs and statues.
Other sights of the city
Religious people are advised to visit the CathedralSt. Januarius. The church was laid by Carl of Anjou, dedicating it to the heavenly patron of the city. The consecration of the building took place already with the grandson of the king - Robert. The cathedral impresses visitors with its decoration and wealth. Famous Italian masters were engaged in its decoration. The main attraction of the temple - a vessel with the blood of the saint, which was sealed 17 centuries ago.
Another interesting place to visitis the royal palace, which was built over half a century. This is a huge three-story building, made in the style of the late Renaissance. The palace is decorated with equestrian statues and sculptures of Neapolitan kings. Opposite the building is the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, built on the model of the Roman pantheon. The interior of the temple is decorated with numerous paintings, frescoes, statues. It is also recommended to visit the gallery of Umberto I. This is a huge shopping arcade of the XIX century, built in neoclassical style. Naples on the map of Italy should be found at least in order to enjoy the local sights, to plunge into the culture and history of the mysterious many-sided country.
What to do in Naples?
In the south of Italy is not to be bored, sunnywarm weather has to active pastime. Travelers are offered a huge selection of excursions, among which there are interesting, informative and even extreme. In Italy, there is where to go and what to see, because this is a country with a century-old history, culture, and peculiar traditions. In Naples, you can just wander through the historic center, look at the life of the locals, admire the narrow streets. Here you can also go shopping, tasting pizza and other traditional dishes. What to see in Naples, will find absolutely all categories of tourists. Visiting the city once, you will definitely want to come here more than once.
