Napoli- Land Of History And Heritage

By Author: Robert Thomson
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Naples (Napoli) is the capital of the Campania province in southern Italy. This city with its rich heritage was founded by the Greeks more than 2500 years ago. Today, the city has been declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO.

The history of Napoli earlier called Neopolis goes way back to the sixth and seventh century B.C when it was founded by the Greek colonists. As time went by, this city came under the control of various nationalities ranging from French to Germans. The biggest city in Europe was Naples at one point of time, and later in 1860, it became a part of Italy.

A tour of Napoli can be started underground where there is a long run of profound Greco-Roman tunnels and reservoirs. Much of Naples is built from stones taken from these tunnels when they were excavated during the World War II.

One of the astounding attractions that lures tourists to Naples is its rich architecture evident in the beautiful castles.

The Castel Nuovo, also called the New Castle was built by Angevins during the 13th century. The castle's attraction is the arch symbolizing a Spanish king. Talking about the specialty ...
... of this arch, it is made completely of marble. It also has many frescoes dating back to the 14th and 15th century. You can also see a Palatine Chapel in the vicinity, which has a hall known as Sala dei Baroni. It is now used for council meetings.
Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle) built in the 12th century over the Roman Villa's ruins in the Naples Harbour.
The Palazzo Reale also called the Royal Palace used to be one of the four bur bourn palaces of Naples. It was built in the early 17th century and was home to Napoleon's younger sister and the King of Naples who was her husband.
Castel Sant'Elmo (Saint Elmo Castle) is another magnificent piece of architecture belonging to the 14th century. It was built in the honor of Saint Erasmoso. The castle was rebuilt by the Spaniards to handle the artillery fire in the 16th century. Till date, it is used for various military activities and for art exhibitions.

A tour of Napoli is not complete without visiting its famous volcano sites, such as Mount Vesuvius. Located nine kms from Naples in the east of the city, it is a world famous tourist attraction. The volcano's eruption in 79 AD destroyed the settlement of Pompeii. Pompeii, the town was destroyed by volcanic ash and it remained buried with the ashes till the 18th century. The city was preserved for over 2000 years and visitors can now get the feel of Roman life dating back to the 1st century.

Naples' excellent museums are something that should not to be missed:

The Museo di Capodimonte is one of the famous museums exhibiting a large variety of paintings and sculptures beautifully carved out by renowned Italian and European artists.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale, also popularly known as National Archaeological Museum has a vast collection of Greek and Roman antiques.
Museo d'Arte di Donna Regina, also popularly known as Donna Regina Art Museum, is totally dedicated to modern art.
Tasting a variety of cuisines and drinks is another luscious experience to enjoy while in Naples. Pizzas are the specialty of this place and are said to have originated here back in the 16th century. One of the most famous pizzas is the Neapolitan Pizza Marinara baked with tomatoes, oregano, garlic, olive oil and basil. Other famous pizzas include Pizza Margherita and Pizza Marinara. For desserts, you can enjoy Pasteria Napoletana with cheese and grain pie. To add a rich taste to your meals, do not forget to try out local vines.
Naples is really a lovely place to spend a nice relaxing romantic holiday. Living a city full of passion and life, the people here are also very expressive and friendly. You will be able to enjoy to the hilt while in Naples.