Naples, Italy is a city that has a reputation of being overpopulated, polluted, dirty, noisy, crumbling and unorganized. Yet, Naples is still considered one of the most tourist-driven, fun, industrial, interesting, famous and beautiful cities in all of Italy.

Napoli, Italia, as the Italians refer to it, is a city located in central Italy on the arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Naples is beautifully situated on the Bay of Naples. The bay, which is considered one of the most lovely in all of Europe, extends from Cape Misena in the north to the Sorrento peninsula in the south. Near the Bay are the famous and beautiful islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. Naples is Italy’s third largest city and is one of the major seaports in Italy. Naples has an area of 117 sq km and a big population of over 1 million.

Once an ancient Greek colony, Naples has a very diverse history. In the 4th century, it was conquered by the Romans, who favored Naples for its Greek culture and its beauty. In the 6th century, Naples passed under Byzantine rule and in the 8th century it became an independent duchy. In 1139 was added to the kingdom of Sicily. In 1282, Sicily passed to the house of Aragon, and the Italian peninsula became known as the kingdom of Naples. In 1860 Naples was annexed to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Today, Naples is a thriving industrial city.

Naples is often referred to as a crowded and noisy city that is well known for its festivals, events, attractions and its citizen’s love of life. The most interesting parts of Naples are the Old Spacca Quarter, which translates as the heart of Old Naples, and the seaside Santa Lucia sector. Among many attractions, there is the Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore, a beautiful Gothic church that was completed in 1324. There is the famous Duomo, which is one of Naples most beautiful and historic buildings. There is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, a museum that holds some of the most precious archaeological treasures in the world.  There is also the Palazzo Reale, a magnificent and beautiful palace that was built around 1600.  If one wishes to discover some of the lesser-known secrets of Naples, try visiting the Catacomba di San Gennaro, Palazzo Reale di Capodimonte or the Solfatara crater, all of which are interesting and historical sites that will help you escape the crowds and get a taste of the real Naples. Naples is a city that holds many treasures that are just waiting to be discovered.