Naples

Naples is the main city of Campania, Italy. It is the biggest city in southern Italy and the third-largest city in the country, after Rome and Milan. About 900,000 people live in Naples, making it a lively and important place. The city plays a role in international affairs, hosting groups like NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Naples has a long history, started by Greeks many years ago. It has been a place where Greek and Roman cultures came together. Over time, Naples has been a capital for different kingdoms and a center for art, music, and learning. After facing damage during World War II, the city was rebuilt and has grown a lot.

Today, Naples is known for its rich culture and history. Its old city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is near famous places like the Royal Palace of Caserta and the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is famous for its music, opera, and special foods, especially pizza, which is popular around the world. The city is home to some of the oldest universities in Europe, including the University of Naples Federico II, which was founded in 1224.

History

Main article: History of Naples

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Naples history

Greek birth and Roman acquisition

See also: Magna Graecia and Ancient Rome

Naples has been a home for people for a very long time. Long ago, people from Rhodes made a small port called Parthenope on an island. Later, people from Cumae made the town bigger. The city grew and became an important place.

The Romans liked Naples and built many nice things there, like homes, water systems, and public baths. Famous people, including emperors, visited and enjoyed the city. Christianity also started there during this time.

Duchy of Naples

Main articles: Duchy of Naples and List of Dukes of Naples

After the Roman Empire, Naples was taken over by different groups. Finally, it became its own duchy and ruled itself for a time. Leaders changed, and sometimes Naples worked with other groups for safety.

As part of the Kingdom of Sicily

Main article: Kingdom of Sicily

Later, Naples became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. A university started there, making it a place for learning. New rulers came, bringing changes and new buildings to the city.

Kingdom of Naples

The city grew and attracted artists and merchants. It became an important place in Europe. Over time, different rulers controlled Naples, bringing their own styles and changes to the city.

Aragonese and Spanish

Sicily and Naples were separated but both were ruled by Aragon. Later, Spain took control. Spanish leaders made many changes to help the city and its people.

By the 1600s, Naples was one of the biggest cities in Europe. Artists and thinkers lived there, making it a cultural center. There were times of trouble, but the city kept growing.

Italian unification to the present day

After Italy unified, Naples became part of the new country. The city faced many challenges, like health problems and money difficulties. During World War II, Naples was bombed but showed great bravery.

Today, Naples continues to grow and face new challenges, but it remains an important and lively city.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Naples

See also: Buildings and structures in Naples and Archaeological sites in Naples

Naples has a long history of over 2,800 years with many beautiful buildings and important places. Nearby, you can visit the grand Palace of Caserta and the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

The buildings in Naples today mostly date from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Naples has many churches, making it one of the cities with the most places of worship.

The main square in Naples is the Piazza del Plebiscito. It was started by a king named Joachim Murat and finished by another king, Ferdinand IV. On one side is a big palace, and on the other side is a beautiful church. Nearby is an old theatre called the Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest opera house in Italy.

Naples is known for its castles. One of the oldest is Castel dell'Ovo, built on a small island. Another important castle is Castel Nuovo.

The city has many museums. The Naples National Archaeological Museum has treasures from ancient Roman times. The Museo di Capodimonte is a museum and art gallery with paintings from famous artists.

Naples has many churches, with the Cathedral of Naples being the most important.

Besides the Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples has two other big squares: Piazza Dante and Piazza dei Martiri. The city also has beautiful parks, such as Villa Comunale, and many fountains and stairways, like the Fountain of Neptune.

Geography

The city of Naples is on the Gulf of Naples, along the western coast of southern Italy. It stretches from sea level up to 450 metres high. Small rivers that once flowed through the city are now covered by buildings. Naples sits between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields. Campi Flegrei is thought to be a supervolcano. You can reach the islands of Procida, Capri, and Ischia from Naples using hydrofoils and ferries. The beautiful Amalfi Coast and the town of Sorrento lie south of the city. Nearby, you can also find the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, and Stabiae, which were covered by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The port towns of Pozzuoli and Baia, once part of a Roman naval base called Portus Julius, are west of the city.

Quarters

Main article: Quarters of Naples

The city of Naples has thirty different areas, called quarters (quartieri). The city groups these thirty areas into ten larger community boards.

Climate

Naples has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa), which is very close to a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa). The warm weather and fertile land around the Gulf of Naples made this place well-known long ago, when important Roman leaders like Claudius and Tiberius used to spend their holidays nearby. The sea helps keep the winters mild but can sometimes bring a lot of rain, especially in autumn and winter. Summers are hot and humid. Winters in Naples are gentle, and snow is uncommon in the city but often falls on Mount Vesuvius. November is usually the rainiest month, while July is the driest.

Demographics

As of September 2025, Naples has about 905,000 people. The larger area around Naples, called Greater Naples, has around 4.4 million people. Naples has more young people than the rest of Italy, with 19% under age 14, and fewer older people, with 13% over 65.

Many people moved from the city to live in the suburbs, so Naples is very crowded. About 8,182 people live in each square kilometre. Most people in Naples are from Italy, with a few from other countries like Sri Lanka, China, and Ukraine.

Education

Naples has many schools and research centers. The city is home to the oldest university in the world, the University of Naples Federico II, which was founded in 1224. This university has many students and teachers.

The city also has the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, which opened in 1989, and the University of Naples "L'Orientale", which focuses on learning about cultures from faraway places and started in 1732. Naples has many other important schools, including music and art schools, as well as science research centers like the Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Campania, List of mayors of Naples, and Elections in Naples

Governance

In Italy, each local area is led by a group called a city council. This group is led by a mayor, who is chosen by the people. This way of governing has been used for a long time.

Since 2021, the mayor of Naples has been Gaetano Manfredi. He was chosen by people who share similar ideas about how the city should be run.

Administrative subdivisions

Economy

Main article: Economy of Naples

Naples is an important city for Italy and the world. It has a big economy. The city has a busy port and has grown a lot since World War II.

Many people visit Naples as tourists. It is one of Italy’s top places to see, along with Florence, Rome, Venice, and Milan. Tourism is helping the city’s economy grow.

Transport

Naples has many ways to get around. There are big roads called motorways. The Autostrada A1 connects Naples to Milan, and the A3 goes south to Salerno. You can also take trains, with Napoli Centrale as the main station. The city has narrow streets, so many people ride small cars or scooters.

Naples has buses, trams, and a metro to help people travel. There are special funiculars and elevators to make moving around easier. The city’s airport is busy, and the port has ferry services to nearby islands.

Culture

Art

Naples has been an important place for art and buildings, with many churches, castles, and palaces from the Medieval, Baroque, and Renaissance periods. In 1606, the artist Caravaggio arrived and helped shape painting in Naples. In the 18th century, Naples embraced neoclassicism after finding ancient Roman ruins in Herculaneum and Pompeii.

The Neapolitan Academy of Fine Arts, started in 1752, became a key place for artists like Domenico Morelli and Giacomo Di Chirico. The academy still teaches painting, sculpture, design, and more. Naples is famous for its old theatres, such as the Teatro di San Carlo opera house from the 18th century.

Naples is also known for Capodimonte porcelain, which began in 1743. Many of its artworks are shown in the Museum of Capodimonte.

Cuisine

Main articles: Neapolitan cuisine, Neapolitan ice cream, Neapolitan pizza, and Neapolitan ragù

Naples is famous around the world for its food and wine, influenced by many cultures over time. Neapolitan cuisine became its own style in the 18th century, using rich but affordable ingredients.

Naples is known as the home of pizza, which began as simple food for poor people. The Margherita pizza was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy in the 18th century. Traditional Neapolitan pizza has specific ingredients and must be cooked in a wood-burning oven.

Other popular foods in Naples include spaghetti with clams, eggplant dishes, and seafood. The city is also famous for sweets like ice cream, zeppole, and struffoli, as well as strong coffee.

Wineries around Vesuvius produce wines like Lacryma Christi, and Naples is the home of limoncello, a lemon liqueur.

In May 2024, Naples was named the best city for food by Time Out.

Festivals

The culture of Naples is shown through many festivals. Some of these include:

• Festa di Piedigrotta – A musical event in September honoring the Madonna of Piedigrotta, with workshops, concerts, and family activities.
• Pizzafest – An eleven-day festival celebrating pizza, with tasting stations and entertainment.
• Maggio dei Monumenti – A May event featuring art and music from the 18th century, with special openings of buildings.
• Il Ritorno della festa di San Gennaro – A three-day celebration for Saint Gennaro, with parades and religious processions. There is also a celebration in "Little Italy" in Manhattan.

Language

Main article: Neapolitan language

The Neapolitan language is spoken in Naples and the surrounding area of Campania. It has spread to other parts of southern Italy and the world through migration. In 2008, a regional law helped protect the use of the Neapolitan language.

Many famous Italian songs are written in Neapolitan, such as 'O sole mio' and 'Funiculì, Funiculà'.

Literature and philosophy

Naples is a major center for Italian literature. The history of the Neapolitan language is linked to the Tuscan dialect, which became the basis of modern Italian. Important writers and philosophers like Giovanni Boccaccio, Jacopo Sannazzaro, and Giordano Bruno lived and worked in Naples.

The Accademia Pontaniana, founded in 1458, was one of the first academies in Italy. Later, Naples became a key place for philosophy and historical studies, with thinkers like Giambattista Vico and Benedetto Croce.

Writers such as Matilde Serao, Salvatore Di Giacomo, and Roberto Saviano have made big contributions to Neapolitan literature.

Theatre

Naples helped shape modern theatre, beginning with the 16th-century commedia dell'arte. The famous character Pulcinella is known worldwide.

The music genre of opera buffa began in Naples in the 18th century. Naples also has a popular tradition of sceneggiata, a form of folk theatre that tells stories of love, humor, and everyday life.

Music

Main articles: Music of Naples, Canzone Napoletana, and Music conservatories of Naples

Naples has been important for Western music for over four centuries. The first music conservatories were started there in the 16th century. The San Pietro a Majella conservatory, founded in 1826, is still a top place for music education and has a museum.

During the late Baroque period, Alessandro Scarlatti helped start the Neapolitan school of opera. Naples is also where opera buffa began, a style of comic opera. The Teatro di San Carlo, built in 1737, is the oldest working theatre in Europe.

The six-string guitar was invented in Naples in 1779. Famous musicians from Naples include Enrico Caruso, one of the greatest opera tenors.

The Tarantella is a popular dance from southern Italy, performed by couples with lively music. The Canzone Napoletana is a traditional music style with many folk songs, some dating back to the 13th century.

Cinema and television

See also: Cinema of Naples and Category:Films set in Naples

Naples has greatly influenced Italian cinema. Many films and TV shows are set there, and many famous actors and directors come from Naples.

Early Italian cinema masterpieces were filmed in Naples. Well-known movies set in Naples include Shoeshine, Hands over the City, and The Hand of God. Naples was also the location for one of the first Italian color films, Toto in Color.

Some famous comedies set in Naples include Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and Adelina of Naples. Dramatic films like Scent of a Woman and war movies like The Four Days of Naples also feature the city.

Naples has appeared in TV shows like The Sopranos and The Count of Monte Cristo. The animated series Tom and Jerry also includes references to Naples.

Tailoring

Neapolitan tailoring began as a way to make clothing more comfortable for the local lifestyle. The Neapolitan jacket is shorter, lighter, and has less padding than traditional styles.

Sport

Football is the most popular sport in Naples. It was brought to the city by the British in the early 1900s and is loved by everyone. The city's most famous football club is SSC Napoli, which plays at the Stadio Maradona in Fuorigrotta. The team plays in Serie A and has won many important prizes.

Naples has produced many great football players, including Ciro Ferrara and Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro helped Italy's national team win the 2006 World Cup. The city also has teams in other sports such as basketball, rugby, futsal, water polo, and boxing.

People

Naples has been home to many talented people. Some famous names include singers, actors, and musicians. For example, there are singers like Settembre and Antonia, actors such as Angela Luce and Luisa Ranieri, and musicians like Edoardo Bennato and Fabio Cannavaro. Many of these people have helped make Naples a rich place for art.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy

Twin towns and sister cities

Naples has friendly connections with several cities around the world. Some of these cities are:

• Gafsa, Tunisia
• Kragujevac, Serbia
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain
• Athens, Greece
• Santiago de Cuba and Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba
• Marseille, France
• Nosy Be, Madagascar
• Nablus, Palestine
• Limerick, Ireland
• Sassari, Italy
• Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Partnerships

Naples also works closely with these cities:

• Sighetu Marmației, Romania
• Călărași, Romania
• Budapest, Hungary
• Kagoshima, Japan
• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Tripoli, Lebanon
• Kolkata, India
• Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 1964)
• Yerevan, Armenia