Naples

Naples (Napoli) is the capital of Italy's Campania region and one of southern Italy's most vibrant, historically layered cities. Set on the Bay of Naples beneath Mount Vesuvius, it combines a UNESCO-listed historic centre with a busy port, grand piazzas and famously lively street culture.

The city's long history stretches from Greek settlement through its role as a Bourbon capital, leaving landmarks such as the Royal Palace, Castel Nuovo, Castel dell'Ovo and the San Carlo Theatre. Its dense historic core is packed with churches, palazzi and the narrow, laundry-hung lanes of Spaccanapoli.

Visitors can explore the Naples National Archaeological Museum, which holds many treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the Cappella Sansevero with its remarkable Veiled Christ sculpture. Neighbourhoods such as Chiaia, Vomero, the Spanish Quarters and the seafront Santa Lucia and Posillipo areas each offer a different pace and character.

Naples is also an important port, university and business centre, with conferences, food events and a full cultural calendar. It is the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, and its cafés, pizzerias, markets and street food give the city one of Italy's strongest food identities.

For travellers, Naples works both as a destination in its own right and as a gateway to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius, Capri and the Amalfi Coast, making it a practical base for leisure and business visits alike.