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Naples
The charming capital of the Campania region, Naples is a city rich in historical, artistic and cultural tradition expressed in its architecture and cuisine.
Located halfway between the volcano, Vesuvius and a separate volcanic area, the Campi Flegrei, all part of the Campanian volcanic arc, Naples has a typical Mediterranean climate—sunny in summers and mild during winter. The cool climates especially with the breezes from the Gulf of Naples made it an undisputed holiday spot for Roman royalty. This history, coupled with its size, has given Naples the unofficial status of being the Capital of the South (in Italy).
The locals of the city are called Neapolitans with their dialect Neapolitan ('o napulitano) which has part of the tradition of southern Italy ever since the period of the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies.
In 1995 the Historic Centre of Naples was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Naples' known port with the Egg Castle on a small half island currently houses the Museum of Prehistory. Castelnuovo (Maschio Angionino) is another huge castle at the shore which houses a museum.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples Archeological Museum) houses wall paintings and artidfacts from the Pompeii and Herculaneum excavation sites including Roman scuptures from the famed Caracala Baths.
The traditional birthplace of pizza, Naples is also the home to its famous variant the Margherita named after the queen with mozzarella cheese, pomodoro (tomato) and basil representing the colours of the Italian flag.
Neapolitan cuisine generally is laden with the freshest seafood as a seaport, and enjoys the use of garlic in olive oil, rich Campanian San Marzano tomatoes and local red wines to create sun-ripen tastes of its pasta dishes.
