| Naples of modern day shows all of the signs of it's | | | | and given the tremendous climate it also served as an |
| long history. Listening to the language and looking at the | | | | ancient holiday resort. Rome improved the city |
| remnants of lost civilizations, the buildings and | | | | immeasurably with road systems, baths, aqueducts |
| architecture, remind you of the long traditional history of | | | | and enlarging the port. The number of visitors to |
| this city. | | | | Naples grew and trade with overseas countries |
| Naples was originally a Greek colony founded by | | | | expanded too. It became a place well known for it's |
| sailors coming from Rhodos. It was a merchant colony | | | | feasts and public spectacles. |
| which they called Parthenope and was situated on the | | | | There are miles of underground catacombs beneath |
| island of Megaride. | | | | Naples and these have a part in the Christian history |
| The name of Naples actually has it's roots in the 5th | | | | of the city. In the latter years of the Roman Empire |
| century BC when new Greek colonists displaced the | | | | many people came to preach Christianity, including, it is |
| original settlers and founded "Neapolis", Greek for | | | | said, St Paul and St Peter. The early Christian basilicas |
| "New City". From then on, Naples was born. The old | | | | were built next to the catacomb entrances. The patron |
| city of Parthenope gradually became part of the new | | | | saint of Naples is San Gennaro, decapitated in 305 AD, |
| city and Neapolis itself became a thriving place with a | | | | and the Cathedral of Naples is dedicated to his life and |
| range of powerful wall defences which manage to | | | | works. |
| withstand Hannibal. | | | | Later years saw Naples suffer in the Gothic Wars |
| Rome conquered Neapolis in the 4th century BC but | | | | between Ostrogoths and Byzantines, and it fell in 542 |
| the city retained much of it's Greek culture which is still | | | | AD to the troops of Totila. Shortly afterwards it |
| very evident today. Great buildings were built including | | | | became Greek again. Although now established as |
| the Odeon, a theatre and the temple of Castor and | | | | part of Italy, Naples will always be faithful to it's Greek |
| Pollux. It became a place for affluent Romans to visit | | | | traditions and history. |
| to increase their understanding of the Greek culture | | | | |