Naples was originally founded, and called Neapolis, by the Greeks in 750 BC. It was occupied by the Samnites and then the Romans until the 6th century, then the Byzantines, independent for two centuries, then occupied by the Normans in the 12th century. The French, the Germans and the Spanish later had a stake in it, then after the unification of Italy, only then did it become Italian.
The island below is where it all started: Partenope.
This is the New Fortress, just inland from the port, and the 200-year-old civic buildings can be seen on the right.
It is the done thing to get married and have your photos taken in the New Fortress garden, which shows the date: 2nd June 2004
Another side of the Fortress:
This is the Piazza del Plebiscito, where there was firstly a celebration of the liberation of Italy from the Germans in 1944, and today a demonstration against President Bush sending forces into Iraq. It was nearly over when we got there, but a few people in red t-shirts holding red balloons were around, and the place was crawling with police and soldiers.
At the other side of the Piazza was the Royal Palace, with statues of past Italian kings:
This is the Teatro San Carlo, built in 1737 by the ruling monarch of the Borbon dynasty. It was destroyed by fire in 1816, but rebuilt afterwards
Below, the main shopping street in Napoli, where all the designer shops such as Prada and Gucci are:
Off to the right of the previous picture, this is the Galleria Umberto I, built in 1887. We had lunch at the trattoria shown, having no alternative as it was the only place open.
The Neapolitans are not keen on this Galleria for some reason, and it is peopled by mainly African hawkers selling fake designer handbags and watches, and beggar children like this little girl here, who came up to you with a plastic cup, and prodded you to give her money. Tell the police..... what police?
Back out towards the port again, another fortress, did not get the name or description written down at the time.
Various views of Naples as we worked our way back through to come home.
