Naples and Campania: Greco-Roman Unity

The bustling, energetic, sometimes lawless city of Naples is still regarded as the capital of the south of Italy. Naples was probably founded by the Greeks in the 8th century BCE, a few kilometres from the older town of Partenope, when Campania was part of the Magna Gracia. This new town or ‘neapolis’ (from where it got its name) has been absorbing the influences of its settlers and invaders ever since.

Campania was part of the Roman Empire by the 4th century AD, although its inhabitants still spoke Greek; it was a centre of Greco-Roman culture. Its fertile landscape and elegant Greek architecture made it an important region. Campania changed hands many times in the next few centuries, and became part of Italy as we know it in October 1860.