Neapel

Title

Neapel

Total view of Naples with the Bay of Naples and the Vesuv in the background.

dated 1893

Artist

Paulussen/ Berninger

Historical Description

The original Greek settlement was called Neapolis ("New City"). It later came under Roman rule. From the Late Middle Ages until the 18th century, Naples was one of the largest cities in Europe. Originally founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, Neapolis became a cultural center with strong Greek influence, and during Roman times it was a popular retreat for wealthy Romans. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Naples became part of the Byzantine Empire and later developed into a relatively independent Duchy of Naples. In the 12th century, it was conquered by the Normans and became part of the Kingdom of Sicily, which later split into the Kingdom of Naples and the Kingdom of Sicily. From the 16th century, Naples was a key city under Spanish rule. It was later governed by the Bourbons and became the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1861, Naples became part of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy during the process of Italian unification (Risorgimento). Before that, it was one of Europe's most important and culturally rich cities.