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naples: general info
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NAPLES
Calling Code: +39
Naples is the capital of the Campania region in Italy and the largest city in Southern Italy. It was founded between the 7th and 6th centuries BC by the Greeks and was named Neapolis, which means new city. Because of its vast artistic heritage, the historic centre of Naples has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination. Its territory, particularly the iconic sight of the gulf of Naples, along with the colorful folklore (the pizza, the celebrated Mount Vesuvius, the music) is recognized abroad as on of the most powerful symbolic images of Italy. However, many Neapolitans do reject such stereotypical portrayal.
Both Naples and the locally Italian Napoli are acceptable; either way, it's a derivative of the ancient Greek name Neapolis, which means new city. The Greeks first established the city and inhabited the region long before Roman times.
The most widely spoken language in Naples is a mixture of Italian and Napulitano (Neapolitan). Neapolitan is sometimes described as an Italian dialect, but may be considered a separate and sometime unintelligible language. Neapolitan does not enjoy any official status, but it does have a rich literary tradition and it is still thriving in Campania and adjacent parts of Lazio, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Molise and Calabria. This said, the official language of Naples (as of all of Italy) is Italian and practically everyone speaks it. Neapolitan has strong Spanish and French influences originating from the their occupation in the area. Therefore, some Spanish and French words may be understood by the locals, more so than in other parts of Italy. English is the most commonly spoken foreign language, although the average knowledge of English is extremely low.
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