Naples is a southern Italian city. The city is the capital of the Campania region and ranks third among Italian municipalities. As one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, it was built by the Greeks. It is known for its thriving and mixed culture, with influences from the Roman Empire, the Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical periods. Naples is also a major economic centre in the region, home to many historical sites. Naples is one of Italy’s busiest tourist attractions. The city is also eminent for its culinary traditions, including pizza and its unique style of espresso coffee. The city also has a lively nightlife, with many bars and clubs entertaining. Naples is also known for its colourful street art and passionate football fans.
The origins: Among the most famous legends about Naples are those of Parthenope, the siren who committed suicide after failing to use her siren songs appropriately, and her body would have drowned. Initially, people settled in coastal areas to honour her death.
But in mythology, Parthenope was the daughter of Eumelo Falevo, a Greek leader who travelled to the coast of Campania to establish a new colony. However, when he lost his daughter in a storm, a new city was constructed near the beach and named Neapolis( meaning new city) in honour of her death. And from that, living started with Greek settlers and was conquered by the Romans.
History | Naples Italy
Greek settlers settled the city in the 7th century BC. Naples’ seaside location made Naples a vital port. Later, the Romans seized control of the town and built summer houses on the coast in 326 BC. Sulla and his army took Naples during the Roman civil war in 882 BC and slaughtered many civilians. After peace was restored, Naples resumed routine activities. Because of political concerns, the Roman Empire was evenly split, and Germans occupied western Italy. The eastern part of the city was transferred to the Byzantine Empire. During the Byzantine period, southern Italy desperately needed reclaiming. The Romans recaptured Naples in 536 AD and made it a duchy with a Duke as its ruler. Basilio, a local Neapolitan, rose to Duke of Naples during the Byzantine reign. Over the next several decades, Naples grew and traded with other Mediterranean cities. A portion of Naples was annexed to Sicily in 1139. The Spanish Empire controlled Naples in the 16th century.
Naples was wealthy and rapidly growing at its beginning. 1734 marked the separation of Sicily from Italy. In the 1790s, Italy was under French dominance, and a republic was proclaimed in 1799. The city underwent successive changes following Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, resulting in immense damage following the Second World War. Naples was re-energized in the 1990s after stagnation. Naples no longer has foreign influence.
Authenticity
To the greatest extent possible, the current city plan incorporates architectural elements such as volumetric, structural, and ornamental elements of private and public buildings. Many layers of history have been preserved in the city’s layout, such as the Greco-Roman city and the grid layout of the 16th-century “Spanish quarters.” All materials utilised are local; aesthetic and textural elements such as the yellow tufa stone and white marble are identifiable. Skills developed for using these materials have significantly survived and are used in restorative and conservation programs.
Architecturally Cultivated Land
As archaeologists and urban planners have pointed out, urban settlements are closely connected to their geological and geomorphic surroundings, primarily building stones, their most required structural components. Naples’ architecture and building stones are closely related, which may be described as the ‘architectural cultivation of land’. Architectural balance is often credited to the peculiar yellowish-grey stone used in their construction. Over the centuries, Napoletano Tufo Giallo (Neapolitan Yellow Tuff stone) has contributed to city construction.
Neapolitan Yellow Tuff Stone
In Naples, this is the most common volcano byproduct. Due to its colour, lightweight, and insulation properties, its lithified facies have been used as a construction material since ancient times. Despite its weight, it is light and easy to see in dimension stones. They use these stones as road pavement, not just for buildings.
Modern Naples | Naples Italy
Naples lost much of its former prestige during the Italian alliance. Cholera outbreaks in the 19th century and industrialisation spurred everyday endeavours. However, several upheavals in the early 20th century ravaged the city: World War I, fascism’s rise in Italy, and the financial collapse of the 1930s severely affected it. Naples fought the Nazi military reign during World War II and escaped German assault. Even though there was a widespread rebellion in the city, it was heavily bombed. The government’s attempts to recover were hindered and distressing. In 1944, Mount Vesuvius again erupted, worsening things. In the 20th century, Naples was plagued by mass unemployment and underground criminal networks, and a strong earthquake in 1980 aggravated matters. The city has recently been revitalised and is now a bustling hub of heritage and culture, with several splendid landmarks finding out its mythic origin.
Historical Centre
SPACCANAPOLI: As seen above, the term “split Naples” becomes more evident as a solid black line separates the historical centre from the modern part of the city. Since it connects the city’s most popular attractions and activities, this lengthy route is popular with locals and tourists. Along Spaccanapoli Street, visitors can see artists’ workshops, protruding balconies, and narrow alleyways. At the intersection of Via Duomo, tourists will find excellent local shops, cafes, restaurants, and shopping boutiques.
PIAZZA SAN DOMENICO MAGGIORE – Located in Naples, the Church of San Domenico Maggiore is extravagant. This church is rich. It is a small plaza with an obelisk, one of several raised to commemorate the plague’s end. Since 1227, the church has been layered, giving it its grand dimensions. There are four royal sepulchres, Giotto-esque frescoes illustrating the 14th century, 16th century Neapolitan sculptures, a high altar by Cosimo Fanzago (1652), a Baroque ceiling and 24 side chapels, each a work of art. There are many historical and residential structures surrounding the site.
BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA DELLA SANITÀ – The Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità replaced a former church dedicated to Saint Gaudioso. An icon of the Holy Mother dating back to the 5th or 6th century was discovered in the ancient church. Father Joseph Nuvolo, a Dominican monk and painter, designed it. Its interior features Greek cross designs with many columns and modest cupolas. It features religious art by Agostino Beltrano, Luca Giordano, and Andrea Vaccaro. Marble and stucco masterpieces are also on display. Accessing the old church and catacombs under the basilica’s chapel is possible. There is something peculiar about the cloister’s shape. In the remaining abbey, murals depict the Dominican order’s origins and existence. Santa Maria della Sanità, one of the district’s neuralgic centers, is home to the city’s second-largest early Christian cemetery.
Piazza Del Plebiscito and Surroundings
Naples’ largest people’s square (plebiscito) is home to two of the city’s most famous landmarks: the Naples Royal Palace and the Church of San Francesco Di Paola. A replica of the pantheon Rome can be found on the church’s dome. Initially used as a parking lot, it is now used for gathering large crowds for concert events, festival activities, etc., opposite the church where we could see the royal palace of Naples. And a nearby shopping complex of Galleria Umberto I.
Duomo Di Naples
The Duomo is Naples’ main Roman Catholic church. It is famed for its church dedicated to San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, which was built in 1315. This church is rich in Baroque art and architecture, with frescoes by Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco dating back to the 17th century. Devotees attend a holy liturgy three times yearly to witness the miraculous liquefaction of the saint’s blood. It is said that the urns containing San Gennaro’s blood are placed near a bust featuring his skull, allowing the dried blood to evolve into liquid. Naples’ patron saint is honoured in this chapel.
The Lungomare Caracciolo
A seafront and promenade overlooking the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius are the Lungomare Caracciolo. A seafront and promenade overlooking the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius are the Lungomare Caracciolo. There are old king’s castles along the promenade of lungomare, a good view of Mount Vesuvius, and a large community park called villa comunale. The promenade is a traffic-free road where people jog in the mornings and evenings, and cyclers and skaters can enjoy their evenings here.
Napoli Sotterranea | Naples Italy
The ancient Romans and Greeks sculpted avenues and plazas from tuff beneath Naples’ vibrant old core. Naples has a vast underground network of underpasses, passageways, and catacombs. The underground network extends 40 meters below street level and is well-preserved for hundreds of kilometres. Caves, underpasses, and subsurface pathways can be seen along the walk. It is easy to access subsurface routes, and they are often well-lit.
References: Naples Italy
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