Naples, a short history

The Partenope siren

According to legend, the mermaid Partenope was buried between the islet of Megaride and the height of Pizzofalcone and in those places some Greek colonists founded their own settlements. This original nucleus was later called Palepolis (the old city) by the Cumans, who gave birth to Neapolis (the new city), a new and very important commercial centre, which preserved the Greek language and customs even when it became an elitist meeting place for the aristocracy of Rome.

Greco-Roman Naples

The greek-Roman is the heart and life of the city, which has developed over the centuries keeping intact its ancient urban fabric: three decumani, higher (Anticaglia), medium (via the courts) and lower (Spaccanapoli) main arteries and distinguishing feature of urban greek-roman, still run parallel, cut at right angles by the ancient cardines.Dopo the fall of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions, the city experienced a period of great civil renewal under the hegemony of Byzantium.

Naples capital

But the splendor worthy of a "capital gentle", inspired by artists and patrons came to Naples with the Angevin and Aragonese, and found renewed vitality from 1734 with the beginning of the Bourbon kingdom. Napoli had the character and appearance of a great capital. For happy blend of natural beauty, rich historical and artistic traditions, the intensity of his life was one of the most interesting cities in Italy and the world.

The beauties of Naples

The beauty of the bay, the history and culture of Naples made ​​Naples a must and essential part of the journey of the spirit, of that education was the sentimental Grand Tour: "You say or stories or paint what you want, but here each wait is over. these shores, bays, inlets, Vesuvius, the city and its surroundings, castles, villas! ... be forgiven all those who come to Naples out of his mind. "

(J.W.Goethe)