In the city of Naples, on the west coast of the Italian peninsula

 "Rome is stately and impressive; Florence is all beauty and enchantment; Genoa is picturesque; Venice is a dream city; but Naples is simply fascinating." -- Lilian Whiting

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() Naples, capital of Naples province, is found 120 miles (190 km) southeast of Rome. On its celebrated bay (flanked to the west by the smaller Gulf of Pozzuoli and to the southeast by the Gulf of Salerno), the city lies between two areas of volcanic activity -- Mount Vesuvius to the east and the Phlegraean Fields to the northwest. Southern Italy’s biggest city, Naples is known for its mesmerizing mix of Old World charm and modern grit. One of the oldest cities in Europe, with lots of art, architecture, and archeology, its wood-fired pizzas also please the crowds. The historic center of Naples, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers many more attractions: Check out the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno, a 16th-century Baroque masterpiece, and the Duomo, a 13th-century Roman Catholic cathedral. Explore objects from Pompeii at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, or revel in the Rococo glory of Museo Cappella Sansevero, built in the late 1500s. End the day as locals do -- by taking a promenade while the sun sets over the lovely Bay of Naples.