In the city of Naples, in Italy's Campania region, on the west coast of the Italian peninsula

 "...Beside the sea in dear old Napoli...." -- Dean Martin, Napoli Lyrics

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(in southern Italy) The city of Naples, in Italy's Campania region, lies on the west coast of the Italian peninsula, 120 miles (190 km) southeast of Rome. On its celebrated Bay of Naples -- flanked to the west by the smaller Gulf of Pozzuoli and to the southeast by the more extended indentation of the Gulf of Salerno -- the city is situated between two areas of volcanic activity: Mount Vesuvius to the east and the Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields) to the northwest. To the south of the bay’s entrance to the Tyrrhenian Sea, the island of Capri forms a partial breakwater, visible from the city in clear weather.

+ Located on the northern side of the Bay of Naples, the city was founded around 600 BCE by refugees from an ancient Greek colony and was conquered by the Romans in the 4th century BCE. It became part of the realms of the Byzantines and Saracens. In the 11th century it was conquered by the Norman ruler of Sicily, and through the 19th century it was the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Kingdom of Naples. Since World War II, during which Naples suffered severe bombardment, modernization has increasingly altered the city’s setting and character, and a measure of prosperity is reflected in new suburbs now proliferating in once-rural surroundings. However, Naples remains arcane and compelling, a city whose richness requires from the visitor time, accessibility, and some knowledge of the Neapolitan past.

+ Today, Naples exudes raw, high-octane energy; it is a place of soul-stirring art and panoramas, spontaneous conversations and unexpected, inimitable elegance. The city's wealth of cultural assets is also quite extraordinary; here, you'll find two royal palaces, three castles, and ancient ruins that include some of Christianity's oldest frescoes. The city's Museo Archeologico Nazionale claims the world's finest collection of Pompeiian frescoes and mosaics, while its Cappella Sansevero holds Italy's most extraordinary marble sculpture. You'll find Caravaggio masterpieces in the Pio Monte della Misericordia, Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano, and Museo di Capodimonte, the latter palace home to countless masterpieces.

+ Naples' historic city center is the largest of its kind in Europe and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A wide range of culturally and historically significant sites are nearby, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is also known for its natural beauties, such as Posillipo, Phlegraean Fields, Nisida, and Vesuvius. 
+ Neapolitan cuisine is noted for its association with pizza, which originated in the city, as well as many other local dishes. (Restaurants in the Naples' area have earned the most stars from the Michelin Guide of any Italian province.)

+ A view of the Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius, a short distance from the shore, in the background: