Already a Greek colony in the 6th-5th century BC., known as Partenope, later Neapolis, it was fully Romanized during the 4th century BC. and became the principal town in Campania.
After the fall of the Empire, it submitted to the Goths, then to Byzantium, until 1139, when it was conquered by the Normans led by Ruggero II. With the rise of the House of Anjou, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Naples in 1266, and in 1442 passed to the Aragons (Alphonse I, King of the Two Sicilies), then to the Spanish in 1504, becoming of increasing economic, cultural and artistic importance. The Kingdom remained a Hapsburg possession from 1707 till 1734, the year of the start of Bourbon domination which lasted, except during the Republican period (1799) and rule by Murat (1806-1815), until the unification of southern Italy with the rest of the country in 1860.
Over the centuries, the city has spread from its original nucleus beside the Pizzofalcone promontory, on an orthogonal layout, along the narrow littoral belt and the high ground behind, exploiting to the full every piece of land suitable for building. The congestion of buildings became worse after 1566, when the city was surrounded by walls, and more so in the present century, with the construction of industrial factories.
It is not easy to list in so little space all the attractive sights of Naples. Those of exceptional interest include Castel Nuovo or Maschio Angioino (13th century), a majestic trapezoidal structure and a symbol of Naples, embellished by the monumental Arch of Triumph (15th century); Palazzo Reale (17th-18th century, neoclassical), the Duomo (13th century, originally Gothic) and the Baroque chapel of S. Gennaro, the city's greatly venerated patron saint; S. Lorenzo Maggiore church (13th century, Gothic-Provençal), the Certosa di S. Martino (16th-17th century, Baroque, built over a preexisting building), the church of S. Chiara (14th century, Gothic-Provençal) with the fine adjacent cloisters of the Clarissa nuns; the church of S. Domenico Maggiore (13th-14th century), the S. Gennaro catacombs (2nd century, with interesting old painted ornamentation); Castel Capuano (founded by the Normans, 12th century, now the Law Courts); Palazzo Gravina and Palazzo Cuomo (Renaissance).
Other sights include those typical of the city's classical structure: central and thronged Via Toledo, built by the Spanish in the 16th century, scenic Via Caracciolo, with the delightful Mar gellina cove; this is the beginning of the Via Posillipo, which winds through the parks of ornate villas and leads to the pretty seaside village of Marechiaro, high above the sea, and the beautiful Parco di Capodimonte round the Royal Palace that bears its name, dominating the whole Gulf of Naples.
Commerce is the great mainstay of the city's economy, though often disorganized, and port activities centre on what is one of Italy's most important passenger ports. The industrial sector is well developed and extends to a number of suburban centres. Metalworking, engineering, chemicals, petrochemicals, shipbuilding, food (pasta, food processing) and construction materials (cement) are the largest industries, but textiles, footwear, leatherworking and garment manufacturing are organized on a semi-craft scale. Naples is, however, unable to reduce unemployment, which is the cause of serious problems related to crime, the `black economy' and the emargination of young people.
Events: Festa di S. Gennaro (the blood miracle, first Saturday in May, 19 september), Festa di Piedigrotta (8 september), Festa della Madonna dell'Arco (Easter Monday), Festa di S. Vincenzo (1st July).
Famous People: Salvatore di Giacomo (poet, 1860-1934), Lorenzo Bernini (sculptor and architect, 1598-1680), Gaetano Filangieri (philosopher, 1752-1788), Enrico De Nicola (politician, 1877-1959), Enrico Caruso (opera singer, 1873-1921), Domenico Scarlatti (composer, 1685-1757), Giovan Battista Vico (philosopher, 1688-1744), Eduardo De Filippo (actor and playwright, 1900-1984), Luigi Vanvitelli (architect, 1700-1773).
Cultural Institutions: the University, Accademia di Belle Arti, Conservatory, Vittorio Emanuele National Library, National Archeological Museum (finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman art and sculpture), Museo e Gallerie di Capodimonte (museum and art), Museo Nazionale della Ceramica (pottery), Museo Filangieri, Museo Nazionale di S. Martino, Museo di Mineralogia, Aquarium, Botanic Gardens.
In the Province: Torre del Greco (Coral Museum), Nola (Antiquarium), Sorrento (Museo `Correale di Terranova'), Torre Annunziata, Portici (Botanic Gardens), Pozzuoli, Casoria, Vico Equense, Massa Lubrense, Ischia, Capri, Pompeii (Museo Vesuviano).
Throughout its history, the town has been plagued by terrible earthquakes, the last of which, in November 1980, caused severe damage to the town centre. As a result, there are now few ancient monuments. These are the Duomo, of Romanesque origins, with later additions, the Palazzo della Dogana, medieval, reconstructed in the Seicento, and the 17th century Palazzo Caracciolo. The nearby Montevergine Sanctuary attracts large numbers of visitors.
The economy of the town is still based on agricultural activities and livestock, for which it is a busy marketing centre. In the service sector, public administration offers considerable employment, but industry is still underdeveloped. Small factories produce foods, textiles and furniture.
Events: Concorso della Zeza (masked groups at Carnival time), Concert at the Cimarose Conservatory, in spring.
Famous People: Guido Dorso (expert on southern Italy, 1892-1947), Augusto Guerriero-Ricciardetto (journalist, 1893-1981).
Cultural Institutions: State Archives, Provincial Library, Museo Irpino (archeological and modern art sections, Museo del Risorgimento), Guido Dorso Research Centre, Cimarose Conservatory.
In the Province: Ariano Irpino (holiday resort, agricultural and industrial centre), Solofra (of environmental interest), Bagnoli Irpino (holiday resort, ski facilities at Piano Laceno), Avella (famous for its hazel nuts, Roman remains), Mercogliano (Museo del Santuario).
This ancient Samnite town was the scene of the Roman victory (275 BC.) over Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, and the Romans changed its name from Maleventum to Beneventum (Lat. bene-good). A few years later it was a Roman colony and the town, lying at the crossroads of important consular ways, grew rapidly in size. The Goths and Byzantines fought over it after the fall of the Empire, but (in 571) it was seized by the Lombards, who made it capital of an important duchy. Under Arechi II, who gave himself a princely title, Benevento reached its greatest splendour. In 839, the principality was split with the creation of that of Salerno. At the beginning of the 11th century, after the death of the last prince, Landolfo V, the Church and the Normans struggled for possession of the town which, together with a small part of the surrounding territory, became part of the Papal States in 1077 and remained under Papal rule until the unification of Italy in 1860.
Its monuments include: Trajan's Arch (114 AD.), one of the best conserved Roman triumphal arches, the Roman theatre (2nd century AD.), Duomo (of medieval origin, 13th century façade), S. Sofia church (8th century, coeval frescoes), and adjacent cloisters (12th century), Rocca dei Rettori (14th century).
The economy of Benevento, chief town of a depressed province, is still partly based on agriculture, animal husbandry and related activities. The industrial sector consists of food (liqueurs, cakes), engineering, construction materials, wood and leather processing.
Events: Festa della Madonna delle Grazie (2-6 July), Opera and theatre season (in the Roman theatre), Rassegna Città-spettacolo (September).
Famous People: Filippo Raguzzini (architect, c. 1680-1771), Emanuele Caggiano (sculptor, 1837-1905), Clemente Romano (surgeon, 1847-1927), Angelo Catone (doctor and philosopher, 1440-1496), San Gennaro (3rd-4th centuries, bishop and patron saint of Naples).
Cultural Institutions: State Archives, Catholic University Cultural Centre, Vittorio Emanuele Theatre, Museo del Sannio (archeological, medieval and modern art, numismatics, history sections, art gallery), Art school.
In the Province: Guardia Sanframondi (Procession of the Flagellants every seven years), Telese (spa, remains of Roman city, Telesia), Sant'Agata dei Goti (Holy Week Procession).
Caserta's greatest attraction is the majestic Palazzo Reale, built for King Charles of Bourbon by the great architect Luigi Vanvitelli. The colossal work, begun in 1752, was finished in 1774 by Vanvitelli's son Carlo. The Palace (247 m.×184 m., 41 m. in height) has 1,200 rooms and a richly decorated interior. Its immense park (120 hectares) has a wealth of artistic fountains ornamented with splendid statuary and waterfalls that gently ripple down the hill. Especially beautiful is the Grande Cascata, a 78 m. high cascade. Important in Caserta Vecchia are the cathedral (12th century, Siculo-Norman style) with its 13th century campanile (Gothic), and the little church of the Annunziata (12th century, Gothic).
In the neighbourhood, the village of S. Leucio, built by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon as a silkmaking centre, has an interesting structure.
Caserta's economy is still based on agriculture and allied activities, and on an industrial sector operating at little more than craft level, in food (oil mills, pasta, canning), textile, engineering, tobacco, wood and glass manufacturing.
Events: Festa di S. Sebastiano (20 January), Concerts at the Royal Palace.
Famous People: Leonardo Santoro (storiographer, 1474-1569), Pasquale Battistessa (politician, 1769-1799), Francesco Saverio Correro (jurist, 1812-1895).
Cultural Institutions: Centro internazionale di studi vanvitelliani, Centro Studi Castellologici, Museo Vanvitelliano, at the Royal Palace, Teatro Comunale.
In the Province: Aversa (Museo di San Francesco), Mondragone (seaside resort, spa), Baia Domizia (seaside resort), Sessa Aurunca (environmental interest, historical parade, September), Capua (Museo Campano), S. Maria Capua Vetere (Antiquarium, Museo del Risorgimento), Roccamonfina (nearby Sanctuary of S. Maria dei Lattani, fine cloisters).
Probably of Etruscan origin, it was a Roman colony in 197 BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was conquered by the Goths, Byzantines and, in 646, by the Lombards, who annexed it to the duchy of Benevento. In 839 it became the capital of an independent Lombard principality and later raided by the Saracens. Robert Guiscard, the Norman ruler, conquered Salerno in 1077, making it the capital of his dominions; the foundation of the famous Scuola Medica Salernitana (school of medicine) enhanced its importance. Under the Swabian rulers, it declined with the growing importance of Naples, and in the 15th century the Angevins granted it in feud to the Colonna family, then later to the Orsinis, Sanseverinos and Grimaldis. It shared the fortunes of Naples after 1590 until the unification of Italy.
The city is structured in three distinct nuclei: the medieval part, on the slopes behind the coast, characterized by narrow winding streets, the eighteenth century area beyond the old walls, and the modern town, built after the Second World War, mainly towards the south, often in a haphazard sprawl.
The monuments include the Duomo (11th century) built by Robert Guiscard, beside the fine Romanesque campanile, inside are two outstanding magnificently mosaiced ambos (pulpits) dating to the 12th and 13th centuries; the Romanesque portal, known as the `Porta dei Leoni' (11th century) is also of interest; the church of S. Maria delle Grazie (end 15th century), church of S. Giorgio (Baroque), Palazzo Pinto (12th century), the medieval aqueduct, Arechi Castle (Byzantine), with a fine view of the city.
Salerno's economy, facilitated by the lines of communication, is based on the marketing of provincial agricultural products, on maritime activities and on banking. Industry has developed in the food, engineering, textiles and ceramics sectors. There is a high proportion of tourist trade.
Events: Festa di S. Matteo (21 september), Concert Season at the Teatro Verdi, Estate Musicale (with ballet) at the Torre Acornale.
Famous People: Tommaso Guardati, `Masuccio Salernitano' (novelist, 15th century), Andrea Sabatini, `Andrea da Salerno' (artist, c. 1480-1530), Giovanni Amendola (politician, 1886-1926).
Cultural Institutions: Conservatorio, Accademia Musicale Salernitana, Provincial Archeological Museum, Museo del Duomo (valuable 12th century ivory altar front, 13th century illuminated parchment of the Exultet, Art Gallery).
In the Province: Battipaglia (agricultural and industrial centre), Cava de' Tirreni (Disfida dei Trombonieri, Corpus Domini, nearby Trinity Abbey), Nocera Inferiore (Archeological Museum), Amalfi (Museo della Carta), Ravello, Positano, Bagni Contursi (spa), Padula (Archeological Museum of west Lucania), Vietri (Museo della Ceramica).