The
city of Naples was probably founded by the Greeks around the eighth century BC, just
kilometres from the older town of Partenope, it was called "Neapolis" (new
town). Under the rule of the Roman Empire, the city of Naples enjoyed economic and
cultural prosperity. The area became popular for holidays due to its beautiful coastline.
Romulus Augustulus, last emperor of the Roman Empire, was imprisoned here after being
overthrown in 476. In the sixth century, Naples was conquered by the Byzantines and became
an independent Duchy of Byzantium (763 A.D.).
It was one of the last duchies to fall to
the Normans in 1039, as they founded the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1266 Naples and the kingdom
of Sicily were given by Pope Clement IV to Charles of Anjou, who moved the capital from
Palermo to Naples. Charles lost Sicily in 1282. Naples enjoyed one of its most wonderful
periods of artistic and cultural splendor under Aragon rule: churches and monuments were
built and the city became a central meeting point for many foreign artists. The
Treaties of Blois (1504-5) gave Naples and Sicily to Spain, which for two centuries ruled
the two kingdoms through viceroys one at Palermo, one at Naples. In the War of the Spanish
Succession the kingdom was occupied (1707) by Austria, which kept it by the terms of the
Peace of Utrecht. During the War of the Polish Succession , however, Don Carlos of Bourbon
(later Charles III of Spain) reconquered Naples and Sicily. The Treaty of Vienna (1738)
confirmed the conquest, and the two kingdoms became subsidiary to the Spanish crown, ruled
in personal union by a cadet branch of the Spanish line of Bourbon. Finally, in October
1860, it became part of the new Italy.
Gulf of Naples seen from the Space
Shuttle. Are clearly visible the islands of Ischia (on the extreme left), Procida (on the
right of Ischia) and Capri (in the south), on the right of Capri is the Sorrentina
Peninsula and the Amalfi coast. The Vesuvio volcano is the big structure to the right of
the photo.
ISS004-E-8667
"Image courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space
Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Napoli.
Castel Nuovo Maschio Angioino, Napoli.
Vesuvio volcano seen from the Space
Shuttle.
ISS004-E-5344
"Image courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space
Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Pozzuoli and the Campi Flegrei seen
from the Space Shuttle.
ISS004-E-5376
"Image courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space
Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
