Region Campania, Italy

The Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples is one of the very few still active volcanoes in Europe. The two beautiful gulfs of Naples and Salerno with the Amalfi coast, separated by the Sorrento peninsula, are world famous for the high cliffs, sandy bays, grottoes and islands (Ischia, Procida, Capri).

Each view is an enchanting postcard picture, and such a great experience for the senses, with the feel of the air, the odours of the pine trees, lemons and oranges, which is why the ancients called this region "felix ager", a happy land.

The population, over 5,700,000 inhabitants in 551 municipalities, is concentrated around Naples and Salerno, while the mountainous hinterland is very low populated.

Agriculture is mostly intensive, cattle raising and fishing are declining, industries are mostly concentrated in the Neapolitan area, and crafts based on coral and ceramics are still quite important. But the greatest resource is probably tourism, since Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Pompei, Paestum, Positano, Amalfi, Caserta and its Royal Palace - just to mention a very few - are world-famous destinations.

Originally inhabited by the Ausoni (or Aurunci) and Opici, In the 8th century BC the region was colonized by the Greeks who founded the city of Cuma. In the 6th century BC the Etruscans established around Capua a federation of twelve towns, which fought and defeated the Greeks in 524 and 474 BC. Then in the 5th century BC both Capua and Cuma were conquered by the warlike Samnites.

Between 343 and 290 BC three wars were fought between Samnites and Romans, who finally occupied the region. Rich Roman families built villas and gardens in the beautiful Neapolitan Gulf, until the ominous Vesuvius eruption in 89 AD covered in lava the Roman cities of Pompei and Ercolanus.

After the fall of the roman Empire Campania was alternatively under the Goths and the Byzanthines, then it was conquered by the Lombards in 570 AD who established here the Dukedom of Benevento, while Amalfi became a rich independent sea trade center. In 1139 the region was conquered by the Normans, then became part of the Kingdom of Sicily under the Anjou (13th century) and Aragonese (15th century). The Spaniards (1503-1707) were followed by the Austrians (1707 to 1734) until Charles VII Bourbon (1734) became King of Naples.

After the unity to Italy in 1860 there arose serious economic problems, among them a tragical cholera epidemic in 1884, events which started a massive exodus of the population to the North of Italy and abroad. During WW2 the Allied Anglo-American forces landed at on 9 September 1943 and the bombings that followed, as well as the destruction caused by the retreating Germans caused innumerable victims among the population.