THE GULF OF NAPLES

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• THE GULF OF NAPLES
• AND ITS BEAUTIES

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SORRENTO
About the origin of Sorrento the historian
Diodoro Siculo, relating to a legend, asserted
that the town was founded by Liparos, son of
Ausone, who was the king of the Ausoni and son of
Ulysses and of the witch Circe. According to this
legend, the origin of the town dates back to an
ancient Italic population, that of the Ausoni,
which accounted for one of the most ancient
ethnic groups. However the town in pre-Roman age
was subjected to a certain influence on the part
of the Greek culture, whose traces can be easily
found in its urbanistic settlement, the remains
of the Parsano Gate, Marina Grande Gate, let
alone the presence at the headland of the
peninsula called Punta Campanella, of the
Athenaion. All these elements could lead us to
think of a Greek presence in the period between
474 and 420 b.C., when Sorrento was conquered by
the Samniti. Following this Sorrento entered
under the Roman's sphere of influence, against
which it rebelled in the course of the social war
when after joining the 'nucerina alliance' it was
reconquered, together with Stabia, by Papius
Multius in 90 b.C. and then the following year it
was reduced once again to a state of submission
by Silla. After the peace Silla sent a colony of
veterans there. The Sorrentine peninsula boasts
a secular tradition in the art of marquetry. From
the first half of 800, talented Sorrentine
artisans were the first to acquire such
technique, which spread extensively all over the
Neapolitan territory. Thanks to the fame which
Sorrento enjoyed as a holiday resort, many
important people from the world of politics and
international culture fame, had the opportunity
to appreciate the skill of our master
cabinet-makers, enough to be engaged by Francesco
I of Bourbon for the restoration of furniture in
the Royal Palace.
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A source of pride for the city of Sorrento is the
art of marquetry, an ancient art that
processes fine woods skilfully worked by
craftsmen that are real artists - into objects
unique in th world.
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Naples
Vesuvius
Pompeii
GULF OF NAPLES
Sorrento
Capri
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Mt. Vesuvius is the only active volcano in the
continental Europe. It is a typical example of a
volcano in a volcano, made by an outer broken
cone, Mt. Somma (1133 metres). In it there is a
smaller cone, the Mt. Vesuvius (1281 metres),
divided by a lowering named Valle del Gigante
(Giants Valley), a part of the ancient caldron
where, in a later period, the Gran Cono (Great
Cone) or Mt. Vesuvius arose. Mt. Vesuvius is a
characteristic polygenic mixed volcano, meaning
that it is constituted by lava of different
chemical composition and formed either by casting
of lava or pyroclastic deposits. The high
embankments are formed by piles of lavic scoriae,
which precipitated in incandescent state and
spread towards the low slopes, proving precious
for the vegetation thanks to their fertile
material, rich in silicon and potassium. After
the 79 A.D. eruption, that destroyed Pompeii, the
Vesuvius erupted several times, the latest one in
1944. At present it is still.
Proceeding along the rim of the
crater, one can observe the whole extent of the
southern part of the volcano and, during days
with good visibility, it is possible to see the
entire gulf of Naples, from the Sorrento
peninsula to Cape Miseno, Procida and Ischia. It
is also possible to note the large number of
buildings which have been built on the vulnerable
flanks of the mountain.  
VESUVIUS
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CAPRI
THE ISLAND
THE DREAM
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The isle of Capri has two towns Capri and
Anacapri.  It is sourrounded e bathed from the
Tyrrhenian sea, 35 km far away from the
Neapolitan coasts and connected to the Sorrento
peninsula from a submarine rocks extension along
5 Km. With its limestone cliff covers a territory
of 10,36 Kmq, whose rocky coast is moslty high
and offers many grottoes. In Capri the weather
is moderated and humid, therefore the many
species of plants and above all Mediterranean
spot.
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Capri is a sea of emotions,  a dream, a million
charming secrets to discover. During a tour of
the island you can go shopping in the most
elegant and exclusive boutiques, you can swim in
one of the most beautiful sea, you can go for
natural or cultural trails. In Capri there are
some classical archaeological ruins Villa
Augusto and the Villa Jovis, or famous venues
like La Piazzetta. Its also possible to visit
the Charterhouse of Saint Giacomo or the Augustan
Park with a nice terrace on the sea. The
landscape offers some beauties like the Natural
Arch washed away by the waves of the sea, the
Grotto of Matromania also called Punta Tragara
which offers a wonderful view on the Faraglioni
rocks and the very famous Blue Grotto.
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No doubt the Blue Grotto is the greatest tourist
attraction on the isle of Capri, but is above all
a magic place.
The three big ochre rocks coming out from the sea
called Faraglioni are the emblem of the island.
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The Matermania Grotto is an impressive natural
cavern transformed during the Roman period into a
luxurious Nymphaeum
This bold arch is what remains of a large grotto
that penetraded the mountain.
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Even today, what remains of Villa Jovis, the
most outstanding of all the Tiberian villas,
continues to evoke the strange personality of its
author. The most important of the islands
twelve imperial villas, was built in the first
century AD and covers an area of 7000 square
metres.
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A short and easy itinerary takes you through
the centre of Capri, the famous boutiques and the
augustan gardens, where another imperial villa
should arise.
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The Athenaion, the big sanctuary, where the
worshipping of Athens was celebrated, according
to the legend, was founded by Ulysses and, in a
first moment, consecrated to the worship of the
Sirens. This sanctuary look at the enchanting
sea protected area of Punta Campanella, nearby
the headland that divides the Gulf of Naples from
the Gulf of Salerno. The area is surrounded by a
landscape with high biodiversity, where barren
sides alternate with deep valleys.
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Naples, city of art, is opened to amphitheater
shape on the sea and is delimited from the
Vesuvio, Mounts of the coast and the islands of
Capri, Ischia and Procida and from Miseno Head.
Placed in the center of the Mediterranean,
principal city of the Campania Region and of the
Southern Italy, Naples today covers a 117,27
surface of Km2 with a population of approximately
1.020.120 inhabitants.
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THE CITY
THE HISTORY
CLASSICAL NAPLES
YOUNG NAPLES
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The first colonization of the territory goes back
to the IX a.C., nearly 3000 years ago, when
"anatolici and achei merchants and travellers
reached the Gulf to go towards the centres of
minerals trade in the northern Tyrrhenian sea"
where they founded Partenope, todays
DellOvo Castle. After, Partenope was abandoned
and called " Palepolis, mening old city. In
475 A.D. thanks to the inhabitants of Cuma, was
found Neapolis,the new city, in the eastern
part of the old one. Neapolis was build following
a plan called Ioppomadeo or per strigas a
net of orthogonal roads that are still visible in
the modern city.
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It is in the piazzas and historic streets that
you can get to know the dynamism and culture of
Naples, its literary cafes, and its art and
music. And from its promontories you discover
unforgettable views over the city's monuments and
the enchanting Bay of Naples. Then there are the
green areas of the city, walks along the
seafront, exclusive and original shopping and the
flavours of the excellent Partenopean cuisine.

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The aristocratic spirit of the city of the French and Spanish monarchs which you encounter in the palaces, castles and nobles villas fuses with the carefree spirit of the lanes in the lower class residential districts. Set between the sea and the hills, Naples never ceases to amaze with its artistic and cultural heritage, to be discovered in the museums, and its religious fervour, which is to be seen in the numerous basilicas, baroque church and old cloisters, as the famous one in Santa Chiara. And to cap it all, there are the unmistakable flavours of a gastronomic tradition to be tasted in the historic cafes and restaurants.


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Danae Tiziano, Capodimonte Museum
Cloister of Santa Chiara
Flora, National Archaeological Museum
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Dell Ovo Castle
Royal Palace
Sant Elmo Castle
Maschio Angioino Castle
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With its excavated area, extending for
approximately 44 ha, and the preservation state
of its buildings, due to the particular burial
(under a blanket of 6 meter of ash and rock)
caused by the eruption of the Vesuvius in 79 AD,
Pompeii can be considered the only archaelogical
site which gives the real image of roman city.
And the image is similar to cities, not
preserved, of the same period.