Naples, Italy
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Most photos by Gertrude Meyer
on a trip to Naples.
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City of Naples with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
Napoli, is the capital of Campania and of Naples province, on the Bay of Naples, south of Rome. It is a major seaport, with shipyards, and a commercial, industrial, and tourist center. Italy's third largest city, Naples is troubled by overpopulation, high unemployment, a low per capita income, and income inequalities. Manufactures include iron and steel, petroleum, textiles, food products, chemicals, electronics, porcelain ware, and machinery.
It is beautifully situated at the base and on the slopes of the hills enclosing the Bay of Naples. The bay, dominated by Mt. Vesuvius, extends from Cape Misena in the north to the Sorrento peninsula in the south and is dotted with towns and villas. Near its entrance are the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Naples is a crowded and noisy city, famous for its songs, festivals, and gaiety.
About Mount Vesuvius
Today two million people live in the immediate vicinity of Mount Vesuvius. This mountain has erupted more than 50 times since the eruption in 79 A.D., when it buried Pompeii and its sister city, Herculaneum. After Pompeii was buried and lost to history, the volcano continued to erupt every 100 years until about 1037 A.D., when it entered a 600-year period of quiescence. In 1631, the volcano killed an additional 4000 unsuspecting inhabitants. It was during the restoration after this eruption that workers discovered the ruins of Pompeii, buried and forgotten for nearly 1600 years.
Sunrise on the Bay of Naples
These pictures were taken from the same place on a hill overlooking the city and bay of Naples with the sun rising from behind the volcano in the second picture.
Naples has a long history.
An ancient Greek colony, Naples was mentioned as Parthenope, Palaepolis, and Neapolis. It was conquered (4th cent. BC) by the Romans, who favored it because of its Greek culture, its scenic beauty, and its baths. The Roman poet Vergil, who often stayed there, is buried nearby. Naples has been annexed to several different kingdoms over the centuries, and it has been the seat of government in its own kingdom.
Pictures of a few of the points of interest were
contributed by Ernst & Gertrude Meyer and appear on these pages.
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