Located in Southern Italy, Naples is the Capital of Campania, overlooking the gulf of the same name in the shadows of the Vesuvio volcano. Naples is one of the most important Italian cities and the most important in Southern Italy. Founded by the Greeks, and therefore with a millenary history, Naples was the Capital of Southern Italy and Sicily for many centuries. Its past is visible in its architecture (The center is on UNESCO's World Heritage list), but also in all its idioms, cuisine, music, handicrafts, theatre and life style. Many famous personalities lived in Naples, among which are worthy of note Enrico Caruso, Renato Carosone, the actors De Filippo brothers and Totò. The mask of Neapolitan Pulcinella has become a symbol of Italy abroad; just like tarantella, the typical Neapolitan dance.

The Mediterranean climate makes Naples pleasant in all seasons of the year, but Christmas is a magical time (in the San Gregorio Armeno district are the artisans' workshops specialising in realising cribs and small statues, tied both to traditions as well to current events, so much as to resemble famous personalities in sports, politics and entertainment. Springtime enchants people with the brightness of the colors of the gulf, and in summer, cultural visits can combined with trips to the nearby beaches and islands.
Naples town center is quite large and so rich (it is the city with the greatest number of monumental churches in the world), making it fascinating to get lost in it; people are enraptured by the alleys of its popular districts, the outlines of its historic palaces and the numerous signs of religious devotion, all in Baroque style.
If the Caracciolo seafront and Via Partenope are the main places people from Naples go for walks (up to Castel dell'Ovo), then Piazza Plebiscito is the throbbing hearth of the city and a place where locals gather: overlooking the square is the Royal Palace, the hearth of power in Naples since the 1600s. Behind there is the Maschio Angioino castle which dominates the Town Hall square. Behind is Via Toledo, to the west of which is the labyrinth of the "Quartieri Spagnoli" (Spanish districts), otherwise known as the "purest Neapolitan" areas in the city as well as "Spaccanapoli". Vomero hill dominates the city's historic districts from above. Certainly the museums enriching Naples cannot to be overlooked, starting with the National Archeological Museum and the Reggia di Capodimonte (Royal residence), on the hill, home to a wonderful collection of porcelaines. Visitors must also make a stop at Girolamini monastery, St. Peter's music conservatory in Maiella; Pio Monte della Misericordia (with its famous gallery), and the San Severo chapel in which the statue of the veiled christ is kept.

Don't miss to see the extraordinary but little known side of Naples. It is Naples underground. Starting  from Piazza San Gaetano you can walk about 1 km under Naples. The San Gennaro catacombs should also be visited, in the bowels of the city: this burial complex is the most important in Southern Italy for its age (2nd Century) and for its frescos (10th Century).
Neapolitan cuisine has influenced all Italian cuisine. The "Neapolitan Pizza" is now the symbol of all Italian cuisine. It is simply a focaccia topped with tomatoes, mozzarella and anchovies. Naples is also the spaghetti and tomato capital as well as macaroni with ragu' (tomato sauce with veal requiring 5/6 hours cooking time). And the soups are quite good too (the most famous is "maritata", with cabbage and pork). Fish-based dishes stand out among second courses while mozzarella is eaten "in carrozza" : breaded and fried. As for desserts, try the unique ricotta-based "Pastiera", the "Babà", which is a soft pastry soaked in a lemon and rum based syrup. Try also "Sfogliatella" , a pastry with a ricotta-based filling, semolina, candied fruit, vanilla and citron. Every meal is completed with a small cup of coffee. Among the wines: Vesuvio and Lacryma Christi.

There are always lots of interesting and captivating events going on in Naples: historical commemorations, concerts, competitions, and feasts where all the ebullience of the Neapolitan character is given free rein. For those who prefer a special evening with excellent food and good fun, local festivals and feasts are the answer. The smaller and less known villages offer very lively events where good food is accompanied by local bands or small orchestras that add to the fun. Of not e is the "Festa dei Gigli" in Nola, where people throngs of people carrying huge wooden and papier machè towers dance to folk music. The second one is the costume parade of Sant'Alessandro in Ischia and another is the "Sagra del Soffritto" in San Gennaro Vesuviano.

Trip: approx 15 km North of Naples is Pozzuoli, where the big Flavio amphitheater stands. Pozzuoli is also well-known for its "solfatara", an active volcanic crater that manifests itself with fumaroles and boiling mud lakes.