š®š¹ 22 Amazing Facts about Naples
SituatedĀ on the Gulf of Naples, on the western coast of southern Italy, NaplesĀ is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest municipality in Italy, after Rome and Milan.
If you want to take a glimpse into Naplesā rich history, beautiful sights, or taste the unique food Neapolitans enjoy every day, start planning your trip today! But before you pack your bags, letās listen to the timeless āO Sole Mioā and enjoy this stack of fun facts about Naplesā¦
1. How big is Naples, actually?
The city covers aĀ total areaĀ ofĀ 119 square kilometersĀ (46 square miles) with a population of around 1 million.
2. Its name isnāt Italian.
The name of the city comes from ancientĀ GreekĀ ĪεάĻολιĻ, or Neapolis meaning āNew Cityā.
3. The Greeks got here first.
First settled by the Greeks in the second millennium BC,Ā Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world.
4. It rises from the depths!
Naples risesĀ fromĀ sea levelĀ to an elevation ofĀ 450 metersĀ (1,480 feet).
5. Naples is in a real hot spot.
The city isĀ situated between two areas of volcanic activity:Ā MountĀ VesuviusĀ (the volcano that erupted in 79 AD and destroyed the city ofĀ PompeiiĀ and Herculaneum) to the east and theĀ Campi FlegreiĀ (Phlegraean Fields) to the northwest.
6. Eruptions are more recent than you might think.
The most recent eruption of Vesuvius occurred in 1944.
7. The Romans made a big deal out of Naples.
When the city became part of theĀ RomanĀ RepublicĀ in the central province of the Empire, it was a major cultural centre.
Naples is aĀ microcosm of European historyĀ because it saw several civilizations come and go, each leaving traces in its art and architecture.
8. The area expanded pre-war.
Between 1925 andĀ 1936, Naples wasĀ expanded and upgraded by Benito Mussoliniās government.
9. However, much of that work fell during bombings.
The city sustained severe damage fromĀ Allied bombing during WWII, which led to extensive post-1945 reconstruction work.
10. Naples is UNESCO recognised.
Naplesā historic city centreĀ is the largest inĀ EuropeĀ and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
11. Whatās the main square in the city called?
TheĀ Piazza del Plebiscito is the cityās main square. It is named after the plebiscite taken on 2ndĀ October, 1860, that brought Naples into the unified Kingdom ofĀ ItalyĀ under the House of Savoy, the royal dynasty that was established in 1003 in the historicalĀ SavoyĀ region.
12. There are dragon eggs here⦠supposedly!
The magnificentĀ Castel dellā OvoĀ is locatedĀ directly on the sea. Itās aĀ beautiful place to explore. Itās called āEggāsĀ Castleā because there is a legend that tells about aĀ DragonāsĀ eggsĀ hidden in the dungeons of the castle. The area is windy, so take a jacket!
13. There are amazing sights from castle turrets.
Castel SantāElmo is the highest castle in the city. From there you can seeĀ the entire city and takeĀ amazingĀ photos. The museum āCertosaā, near the castle,Ā often hosts wonderful art exhibitions.
14. The castles keep on coming!
Castel NuovoĀ is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall in central Naples. Founded in 1279 itās one of the main architectural landmarks of the city. It was a royal seat for kings of Naples, Aragon, and Spain until 1815.
15. One castle stands the proudest.
Probably the most famous castleĀ in the city is Maschio Angioino. It was built byĀ Carlo dāAngiò in 1282. The castle is magnificent and has a panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples.
16. Archaeology is hugely important here.
The National Archaeological Museum of Naples is an important Italian archaeological museum. Its collection includes works from Greek, Roman, and Renaissance times, and many Roman artifacts from nearby Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum.
17. Artās a big deal, too.
TheĀ chapel Cappella Sansevero, also known as the Chapel of Santa Maria della PietĆ isĀ located in the centre of Naples. It contains works of art by some of the leading Italian artists of the 18thĀ Century.
18. Ever visited the Valley of the Dead?
TheĀ Catacombs of San GennaroĀ sometimes called theĀ āValley of the DeadāĀ are underground paleo-Christian burial and worship sites in Naples, carved out of tuff, a porous stone. Situated in the northern part of the city theyāre consisted out of two levels, San Gennaro Superiore, and San Gennaro Inferiore.

Pompeii
19. Itās a highly intelligent city.
Naples has numerous higher education institutes and research centers. Itās the home of what is thought to be theĀ oldest state university in the world, theĀ University of Naples Federico II, which was founded by Frederick II in 1224.
20. And itās big on pizza, too!
Feeling hungry from all that sightseeing? Try one of the most famous pizzas Margherita created in Naples and named after Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni, following her visit to Naples in 1889. The Italian flag colors represented this patrioticĀ pizza: basil for the green,Ā cheeseĀ for the white, and tomato sauce for the red.
TheĀ Pizza fest, also known as Pizza Village, happens every year, and itās the largest celebration of pizza in the world, sometimes with more than 1 million visitors!
21. Fine cuisine isnāt hard to find.
Naples is the place to go if youāre a food lover. Itās the Italian city with the most Michelin Star restaurants, 17 of them currently.

Margherita Pizza
22. Itās also a coffee capital.
If youāre more into straight shots ofĀ coffee, you might be pleased to find out that the traditional Neapolitan flip coffee pot (known as the cuccuma or the cuccumella) was the basis for the invention of the espresso machine.
FAQs About Naples
Is Naples a safe city to visit?
On the whole, Naples is fairly safe to visit - itās rated safer than Rome, for example - but keep a close eye on your possessions just in case.
Is Naples cheap to visit?
Naples is generally cheaper to visit than many Italian cities - especially Rome - so you might be surprised.
How much money am I likely to spend per day in Naples?
On the whole, you can expect to spend around $120 a day in Naples - so start saving!
Do you know any fun facts about Naples ? Ā Share them in the comments below!
This page was last modified on November 17, 2021. Suggest an edit