Neapel, Italien
The ancient Neapolis (Greek Néa Pólis 'New City') was originally a Greek colony, later conquered by the Romans in the 4th cent B.C. (an example of the Roman domination are the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum (destroyed in the A.D. 79 eruption of Vesuvius). Naples is the largest city in southern Italy and it is marvelously located on the slopes and at the base and of the hills bordering the Bay of Naples, an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The bay, dominated by Mt. Vesuvius (volcano), extends from Cape Misena in the north to the Sorrento peninsula in the south and is dotted with towns and villas. Near its entrance are the fabulous islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Naples is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and it is rich in historical, artistic and cultural traditions and gastronomy. It is the birthplace of the Pizza Margherita –so named when it was served to Queen Margherita during a visit to the city- made with mozzarella, tomato and basil representing, respectively, the red, white, and green of the Italian flag. Besides the food (which forms the basis for much Italian-American cuisine), the city is famous also for its colourful street life, its gaiety, its songs, particularly in the bel canto style and its festivals. It is also a very important commercial and industrial centre and a major seaport with shipyards and diversified industries. Among the city's attractions are medieval castles, churches, and a university. In 1995 the Historic Centre of Naples was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Don’t miss to visit also the so-called “Subterranean Naples” many kilometers of tunnels under the city that were originally the old Greco-Roman reservoirs dug out from the soft tufo stone on which, and from which, the city is built.
