DK Travel : Naples & the Amalfi Coast : History & Culture

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Norman Conquest

In 1140 the Norman king Roger II made his triumphant entry into Naples – the Normans had already gained possession of Sicily and most of southern Italy. The once proudly autonomous city now had to take a back seat to Palermo – although wellbeing continued to rise, thanks to the Normans’ stability and efficiency.
Orto Botanico

Created in 1807, this botanical garden remains one of Italy’s most important, both in size and in its collections. Given Naples’ climate it has been possible to cultivate examples of nearly all of the world’s plants and flowers here. Historic structures include the Neo-Classical Serra Temperata, built in 1807 by the same architect who designed the double stairway entrance to the grounds.
Paestum

Three intact Greek temples standing on a tranquil plain are one of the chief pleasures of the area.
Paestum

These ancient Greek temples are among the most complete – and most evocative – to have survived into modern times, even taking into account those in Greece itself. Besides the beauty and majesty of these timeless structures, this site has offered up countless other treasures, the remains of the Greco-Roman city that thrived here for some 1,000 years. The wonderful on-site museum is the repository of many unique finds, including the only known Greek paintings to have survived the ages. Taken from a tomb found nearby, the frescoes include a depiction of a joyous banquet of lovers, and a renowned diver – possibly a metaphor for the Greek conception of the afterlife.
Palazzo dello Spagnolo

Dating from 1728, this palace offers a fine example of a well-known Neapolitan architectural element, the so-called staircase “ad ali di falco” (with falcon wings). Separating two courtyards, the external stairway consists of double flights of steps with tiers of archways, a theatrical feature that became the trademark of its designer, Ferdinando Sanfelice. The palace was owned by a Spanish nobleman, hence the nickname.
Palazzo Reale

The Royal Palace is largely 18th-century in character, with its vast layout, imposing façade and important rooms such as the ballroom and the chapel. However, later embellishments took a Neo-Classical turn, in particular the marvellous grand staircase. Under Napoleonic rule many of the rooms received a thorough makeover, which dominates the decor today. Don’t miss the fine Renaissance and Baroque paintings from the royal collection, including works by Guercino, Spadarino and several Flemish masters (see Palazzo Reale, Naples).
Parco Archeologico e Monumentale di Baia

Arranged in terraces, this excavated area includes an ancient spa and a Temple of Diana. The spa complex comprises baths named after Venus and Mercury, the latter a large swimming pool once covered with a dome.
Parco Virgiliano

Occupying the summit of a large hill overlooking the sea, this park offers spectacular views on all sides. To the left, the Bay of Naples, Vesuvius and the Sorrentine Peninsula; to the right, the Bay of Pozzuoli and the Phlegrean Fields. Down below lies the little island of Nisida, formed from an ancient volcanic crater. The tomb of the epic poet Virgil is said to be here in the ruins of a columbarium (sepulchre) used by ancient Romans to house the ashes of the dead.
Parthenope

The siren spurned by Ulysses gave her name to the first Greek colony, in 680 BC, now Pizzofalcone.
Petrarch

The great lyric poet and scholar (1304–74) often visited the court of Robert of Anjou in Naples.