An active volcano of the Apennine Mountains system. In history, 80 eruptions of Vesuvius have been described, but the most destructive occurred in 79. As a result, several Roman cities were destroyed and buried under the ashes. In the XIX and XX centuries, several attempts were made to organize lifts to the volcano for tourists, but all structures were destroyed by another eruption. Nowadays, Vesuvius can be reached by a hiking trail.

An ancient Roman city founded in the VI century BC by the Italian people of glasses. In the I century BC Pompeii fell under the rule of Rome. In 79, as a result of the powerful eruption of Vesuvius, the city was completely buried under the ashes, several thousand inhabitants died. Excavations of the territory began in the XVIII century. As a result, Pompeii was literally "dug out" from under a thick layer of ash. Nowadays, a historical park-museum is open on the territory.

Another ancient city that suffered in 79 due to the volcanic activity of Vesuvius. It was not only covered with ash, but also flooded with lava flows and liquid mud that gushed from the sky along with the rain. Most of the population managed to escape. Organized excavations began in 1738 on the initiative of King Charles III. A museum was opened in the nearest city, where the found exhibits were delivered. The buildings and interiors of the houses of Herculaneum are well preserved thanks to the hardened lava.

The main city square of Naples, located near the port. Around it are the main attractions of the Middle Ages and Modern Times. The modern shape of the piazza acquired in the XVII century, when several palaces were built around it. The square was named in honor of the referendum of 1860, at which the inhabitants of Naples voted to become part of the Piedmont region.

The residence of the Spanish governor of Naples, Fernando Ruiz de Castro. Kings and other crowned heads used the palace during their visits to the city. The building was damaged in a fire in 1837, followed by a grandiose reconstruction. At the end of the XIX century, statues of famous Neapolitan rulers were installed on the facade. A separate wing of the palace houses the library of Victor Emmanuel III.

The church of the XIX century in the neoclassical style, built under the ruler Ferdinand I. The church is dedicated to St. Francis. The king believed that it was he who helped to win back the lands captured by the French and return the crown. The outlines of the building repeat the architecture of the Roman Pantheon, the cathedral altar of the basilica is lavishly decorated with precious stones, the floor is lined with marble slabs.

In the past, the chapel was a private church and the tomb of the noble family of San Severo. The first duke of this family, Giovanni Francesco Paolo di Sangro, built a temple in gratitude to the Madonna for a miraculous cure from a serious illness. Among the locals, it is believed that one of the dukes of San Severo was the Grand Master of the Neapolitan Masonic lodges, and the chapel was the temple of the "society of freemasons" until the middle of the XVIII century.

The temple dedicated to the patron saint of Naples St. Januaria. It was founded under King Charles I of Anjou in the XIII century. Unique paintings of the XIV century have been preserved in the cathedral chapel. The most important relic of the cathedral is a vessel of the XVII century with the blood of St. Januaria, which is in a frozen state. But three times a year, in the presence of a large number of believers, a religious "miracle" occurs, and the blood becomes liquid again.

A religious complex in honor of St. Clare of Assisi, which includes a monastery, a museum and tombs of rulers from the Angevin dynasty. The first temple appeared on this site at the beginning of the XIV century. In the middle of the XVIII century, reconstruction was carried out, and the prevailing style in the architecture of the complex became Baroque. In 1943, as a result of bombing, the church was destroyed, but in 1953 it was restored to its original appearance of the XIV century.

A 19th-century shopping arcade in neoclassical style with neo-Renaissance elements, a wonderful example of Modern urban architecture. When designing, the Victor Emmanuel Gallery in Milan was taken as a sample, but in the end the copy turned out to be more luxurious than the original itself. There are shops and restaurants inside, and piano concerts are held periodically.

The Neapolitan Museum of Fine Arts, where the most extensive collection of Titian is kept. Most of the exposition was assembled by representatives of the Farnese family, from which Pope Paul III came. The pontiff constantly ordered canvases from Michelangelo and Titian, who created portraits of almost all members of the Farnese family. In the XVIII century, a separate palace was built for the collection.

The museum where the finds from the excavations of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Stabia are kept. The exposition is located in the building of the XVI-XVII centuries. Initially, this building served as a university, then the private collection of Bourbons and Farnese, as well as the royal library, were moved here. The most valuable exhibits are works of art created by ancient masters. They were recovered from the rubble of cities destroyed during the eruption.

The theater was built under Charles III of Bourbon in the first half of the XVIII century. The building could accommodate more than 3 thousand spectators, which made the Neapolitan opera stage the largest in the world. The historical building has not survived to this day, as it was destroyed by a fire in 1816 and finished off by bombing in 1943. In addition to performances, tourists have the opportunity to visit the theater with an excursion.

Coastal fortification, whose powerful walls cut into the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The fortress stands on a small island and from a distance resembles a huge stone ship. The first building on this site was the villa of the Roman commander Lucullus. In the V century, the structure was fortified in case of an attack on the city from the sea. Monks lived on the island until the IX century. The castle expanded over the following centuries, in the XVII century it was adapted as a prison. The fortress, built at the beginning of the XII century, has reached our days.

The fortress is built on a hill and therefore dominates the urban landscape. The castle walls offer a fascinating panorama of Vesuvius and picturesque views of Naples. The castle was built on the site of a church of the X century. In the XVI century, the Spaniards rebuilt the fortress and since then its appearance has hardly changed. For centuries, the fortress has been repeatedly besieged and stormed because of its advantageous strategic position.

A palace built for Charles of Anjou in the XIII century. The monarch was never able to settle in it, as he was killed during the uprising. The structure combines the impregnability of formidable fortifications and the luxury of a royal residence. The castle was alternately owned by the French, Spaniards and Austrians. At the beginning of the XIX century, he even visited the hands of the Russian squadron. Nowadays, the territory houses a museum and the headquarters of the historical society.

The country palace of the Neapolitan rulers, built in the XVIII century. In size, it surpasses the French Versailles by 3.5 times. The palace was built according to the project of L. Vanvitelli. When planning, the architect took the Royal Palace of Madrid as a model. There is a court theater and a church on the territory. It was supposed to build a library and a university, but these plans remained on paper.

The ossuary (ossuary), located in caves on the slopes of the Motherday Hill. The first burials appeared here in the middle of the XVII century, when hundreds of people died every day as a result of the plague epidemic. Later, the remains of poor people who did not have enough money for burial began to be brought here. The last corpses were brought here in 1837. The cemetery began to be improved at the end of the XIX century. In the XXI century, the entrance for visitors was allowed.

A complex of underground labyrinths, which began to form from the II century A.D. The first Christians took refuge from persecution here. In the catacombs, the followers of Jesus buried the dead, held divine services, and organized underground temples. Ancient paintings and mosaics have been preserved on the walls. On one of the upper levels is the grave of the Neapolitan patron and defender of St. Januaria.

A bay on the Tyrrhenian Sea, washing the western coast of Italy. Thanks to the magnificent climate and excellent living conditions, these places have been inhabited since the earliest times. The islands of the Gulf of Capri and Ischia are considered an excellent place for a beach holiday. The shores of the Bay of Naples offer picturesque views of Mount Vesuvius, Naples and the vast expanses of the Tyrrhenian Sea.