• Naples (Italian Napoli, Neapolitan Napule, from Greek - Néa Pólis - meaning "New City"; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest city in southern Italy and capital of Campania Region and the Province of Naples. The city has a population of about 1 million, and together with its suburbs, the urban area has 4.4 million inhabitants (Neapolitans, Napoletani or poetically Partenopei in Italian). It is located just halfway between the Vesuvius volcano and a separate volcanic area, the Campi Flegrei, all part of the Campanian volcanic arc.
  It is rich in historical, artistic and cultural traditions and gastronomy. Neapolitan is a colourful, rich italian dialect- known in Naples as Napulitano.
  The metropolitan area of Naples is second in Italy by population, with over 4,400,000 inhabitants.
  The city is served by Naples International Airport.
  Naples is by tradition the home of pizza. It is the birthplace of the Pizza Margherita, which traditionally is made with mozzarella cheese, pomodoro (tomato) and basil - each representing the red, white, and green of the Italian flag. The pizza was named after it was served to Queen Margherita when she visited the city. La vera pizza ("true pizza") should be made in a wood-burning oven similar to a Tandoori oven, and there is a certification body that issues recognition to pizza places around the world that have been deemed to make true Neapolitan pizza. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Santa Lucia is a patron saint in Naples, and it has been believed in as sailors' protective god. Naples is counted one of the world three major beauty ports which are Hong Kong and Rio de Janeiro. And this beautiful scenery generated the saying "Never die until Naples is seen."

• Castel dell'Ovo built in the beginning of the 1100s by the Normans
  First settled by the ancient Greeks who went on to found the city of Partenope, the tiny island of Megaride is home to the city's oldest castle. Many believe the name, Castel dell'Ovo, is due to its unusual shape (‘ovo' meaning ‘egg'); however, others maintain that the name is linked to medieval legend. Apparently the poet Virgil hid an egg in an iron cage and left it to hang from a rafter in a secret place within the castle; if the egg is broken, both the castle and the city are doomed to destruction.
  Open Hours: 9am-5pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun Source: Area Guides Net

• You will find the Fontana dell'Immacolatella on the seafront, where Via(Road) Nazario Sauro and Via(Road) Partenope meet. It was constructed by Michelangelo Naccherino and Pietro Bernini in 1601. The fountain was originally in Largo di Palazzo (now the Piazza Plebiscito) and was then moved beside the Stazione Marittima dell'Immacolatella(Maritime station) from which it took its name. The name has stuck, even after 1906, when the fountain was moved to where it is now.
  The fountain has been constructed from white and grey marble and has a basin with a curvilinear rim decorated with eagles and coats of arms and friezes on the outside. Three arches supported by columns define the structure of the fountain - the central one houses the fountain itself which is in the form of a chalice held up by sea creatures. The water in the fountain flows through two newts on the arches at the sides - these were done by Bernini while the caryatids bearing a cornucopia of fruit are the work of Naccherino. The high cornice of the three barrel-vaults are decorated with three coats of arms and the central one is supported by two little angels.
  The enchantng view of the gulf of Naples, dominated by the Vesuvius, with the Lattari Mountains beneath, completes the magnficent panorama around this pretty fountain.Source: Area Guides Net

• The construction of the Maschio Angioino castle, designed by the French architect Pierre de Chauie, started in 1279, during the reign of Charles lof Anjou. Because of its strategic position, the castle was used both as a royal residence and a fortress. From the beginning, it was called << Castrum Novum >>, << Castel Nuovo >>, (New Castle), in order to distinguish it from the older << 0vo >> and << Capuan >> castles.
  During the reign of Robert of Anjou, the Castle became a centre of culture, where famous artists, doctors and men of letters, such as Giotto, Petrarch and Boccaccio, stayed.
  The Angevins were followed by Alphonse I of Aragon, who, in line with his predecessors, established his residence in the Castel Nuovo. He rebuilt the Castle and erected, between the Middle Tower and the Guard Tower, the grand Triumphal Arch, commemorating his victorious entrance in the city of Naples.
  The Aragonese domination marked the transition from the medieval castle/palace to a modern fortress, more suitable to the new military needs, while the area surrounding the castle was no longer residential as it used to be under the Angevins.
  The structure of the Aragonese building was definitively more massive and was very similar to the one we can admire today, which is the outcome of redevelopment works carried out at the beginning of the 20th century.
  The castle is built to a trapezoidal plan composed of tufa walls with five cylindrical towers inserted four made of the Neapolitan volcanic stone called piperno and one of tufa). At the base of each tower there are the << rounds >>, or cammini di ronda. The courtyard, based on the original Angevin, shows some typical catalan features, such as the lowered arcades and the external grand staircase made of piperno.
  Designed by the Majorcan architect Sagrera, the courtyard leads to the Hall of the Barons, with a typical Spanish patio entrance.
  At the end of the 15th century' the French took over from the Aragonese, but their presence in Naples did not last long, as they were relatively soon replaced by the Spanish and Austrian Viceroys. During the vice-royal period (1503-1734), the defensive structure of the castle, which was by then only used for military purposes, underwent further changes.
  After the defeat of the emperor Charles VI by Charles III of Bourbon in 1734, the castle was surrounded by warehouses, workshops and residences.
  During the first two decades of the 20th century, the municipal administration started works to detach the castle from the adjacent buildings, thus recognizing the artistic and historic value of the fortress, in an attempt to redevelop the whole square.
  The castle is now a cultural venue and also the suite of the Civic Museum. The itinerary of the museum is composed of the Palafine or Saint Barbara Chapel, the first and second floor of the south wing, and the Charles V and the Loggia Rooms where exhibitions and other cultural events are mounted.

• Basilica of San Francesco di Paola was built as an offering from Ferdinando di Borbone after his return from exile in Palermo during the French occupation. The project was drawn up by the architect Pietro Bianchi in 1816. The church, inaugurated in 1816 was given the title of Papal Basilica by Pope Gregory XVI. The Basilica itself is preceded by a pronaos comprising ten columns which hold up a tympanum at the top of which a statue of Religion rests. The church is circular in shape and it is covered by an impressive dome which is styled on the Pantheon, with lacunars and rosettes carved from limestone. The internal perimeter is ringed by 32 fluted columns with Corinthian capitols through which six side chapels can be seen. On the walls of the apse one can enjoy a painting by Vincenzo Camuccini depicting San Francesco di Paola tending to young Alessandro. It was painted in 1830 at the request of Francesco I.
  Open: 7.30am-midday, 3.30pm-6pm weekdays; 8.30am-12.30pm holidays. Source: Area Guides Net

• Opposite the basilica is the 17th century facade of Palazzo Reale. Palazzo Salerno and the Prefecture complete the piazza. In the center of the piazza stand two equestrian monuments dedicated to the Bourbon kings Ferdinand I and Charles III.
  This palazzo was built in the period of the viceroy Conte di Lemos. The palazzo has been home to La Reale Stamperia, la Reale Arazzeria, the 17th-century Palatine Academy, the King's Gabinetto Fisico - filled with rare instruments, the Palatine Library, The Bourbon Archive and the musical archives of the Royal chapel; it has also been the seat of power of the Neapolitan monarchy and that of South Italy. If you pass through the Cortile d'Onore you will reach the museum of the Palazzo Reale which contains the furnishings and decorations of the noble apartment: thirty rooms where state functions and gatherings would take place, an 18th-century theatre and a chapel dedicated to the Assunta.
  Open Hours: 9.00-14.00 Mon-Sat; closed Wed Source: Area Guides Net

"Castle of Egg" or Castel dell'Ovo built in the beginning of the 1100s by the Normans.
Poet Virgil hid an egg in an iron cage and left it to hang from a rafter in a secret place in the castle.
If the egg will be broken, both the castle and the city are doomed to destruction.
Human horse statue.	Direction for Naples at the floor before rooftop.		Direction to Mt Vesuvius.
Santa Maria port and yachts, looked from Egg castle.		Scenery from iron window.	Dazzling sun, Gulf Napoli.
Golfo di Napoli and Naples town seen from rooftop of Egg castle. Saying that it is better to die after seeing Naples is said to be the scenery from Egg castle.
Descend again. There are restaurants today, too. Dinner can be possible while looking at Golfo di Napoli.
Yachts in S.Lucia port in Egg castle.		Approach to Egg castle is on the bedrock.
Egg castle and approach.	The third street from the coast is called S. Lucia. Buildings of the street.
Fountain of the immacolatella with white marble. It was constructed by Michelangelo Naccherino and Pietro Bernini in 1601. Beautifully harmonized with Golfo di Napoli and Mt Vesuvius on the background.
Looking at Golfo di Napoli	Mt Vesuvius from Naples.	New Castel over the flag	Newer than Egg caslte
Castel Nuovo construction started in 1279 as Caltel Maschio Angioino. The castle is now a cultural venue and also the suite of the Civic Museum.
Used as the Teatro San Carlo.		Galleria Umberto was built in 1885. Glass ceiling of 58m hight.
Square Plebiscito (Piazza Plebiscito) was built by Ferdinand I of the Bourbon Dynasty.
Basillica of San Francesco di Paola was built in 1846.	Royal palace of King Naples. Built in 1600-02, expanded in 1838-42. Royal family furniture and paintings are exhibited in the museum now.		Evening is comming on the Egg Castle.
The night view of Naples.	Yahats are illuminated.	Egg castle is beautifully illuminated at night.

2007/02/01