Campania in Italy
Campania is located on the west coast of Italy. The capital of the region is Naples. The territory of Campania is made up of the provinces of Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples and Salerno together.
In total, the region covers an area of over 13,500 square kilometers. About 5.8 million people live here, who have settled mainly in and around Naples. This makes Campania one of the most densely populated regions in Italy.
The history of Campania
The name of the region comes from Roman times, the people living there at that time gave the fertile soil the name Campania felix, which translated in German means something like happy landscape. So later the name Campania became from this name. The French region of Champagne also refers to this language root. So these two areas practically share a name.
At the beginning of the history of the region of Campania, the residents of the area were the Oscars. This was followed in the 8th century BC. Christ founded several colonies by the Greeks. In 424 the Samnites conquered the area and occupied it. Incidentally, Naples only became the capital of Campania much later. For example, in the time of the Samnites, the center was concentrated on Capua. This place was very central in the historical area of the Campanian plain and was therefore a focal point of the people who lived there. Capua was the largest city in Italy after Rome in the 4th century.
The fertile land was mainly used for agriculture. As with Hannibal the Carthaginian army went to the famous looting through southern Italy from 216 to 203 BC, the Second Punic War was triggered. This caused a serious agricultural crisis in the entire region of Campania. Many of the citizens living there were drafted into the war and could no longer supply their fields and their cattle. Agriculture was only able to recover in this area after the end of the war.
In general, Campania has often been the scene of acts of war in the course of its history and fell victim to numerous looting. So between 882 and 915 AD, Campania was plundered and conquered. This time by the Saracens. These established one in central Italy islamic emirate. The Italian population withdrew and emigrated to other areas.
But in 1091 the Norman warriors conquered the island of Sicily, which was meanwhile also ruled by the Saracens. The Normans united Sicily with their already conquered areas around Naples. Other regions all over southern Italy followed until they owned the entire region. About 100 years later the Hohenstaufen took over the entire kingdom under Henry IV. This happened peacefully, however, since Henry IV had married the daughter of the Norman King Wilhelm II. So Konstanze brought this country into the marriage. When her husband Heinrich IV died at the age of 32, she took over the scepter and ruled the region. Your son Friedrich II. Was crowned king and emperor when he was only 2 years old. However, until he could actually take office, his mother took over these duties for him.
Today there are no longer any kings in Italy, but the historical landscapes and, above all, numerous ruins from those times have been preserved. Many of the palaces and castles were lavishly expanded in the glorious times and still show their glamor and charm today.
Capri in Italy
Capri is a rocky island in the Gulf of Naples that has been widely celebrated and is one of the most beautiful islands in Italy. The island is only about 10.4 square kilometers and yet it is home to a variety of different animals and plants. They are right by the sea famous Capri Caves. The sunset at Capri is also a particularly beautiful sight and often serves as an inspiration for artists and musicians. The most famous sightseeing on Capri is the Blue Grotto. The small island also has a mountain. This is 589 meters high and is called Monte Solaro. The island of Capri itself is part of the Province of Naples and thus belongs to the Campania region.
The story of Capri
Small island really big, that’s how you could describe the years from 26 AD for Capri. Because from this point on it was the seat of government of Emperor Tiberius. He lived on the island until he died in 37 AD. The Villa Jovis served as his main residence, which was located directly above a very steep rocky ledge. Thus Capri can claim to have been the seat of government of the world empire of the Roman Empire for 11 years. Incidentally, Tiberius is said to have built and lived in around 12 villas on Capri. It is assumed that the Villa Jovis, Villa Damecuta and the Palazzo al Mare date from this period and are therefore considered to be Tiberian villas.
Of course, Villa Jovis in particular is one of the island’s main attractions. Unfortunately, it was looted and cleared out after its rediscovery in the 18th century. The parts of the villa are now scattered around the world. The floor is, for example, in the Museo die Capodimonte in Naples. The Capri Altar has covered a further path and is now in the British Museum in London. But many of the valuable items have disappeared to this day.
Even artists called Capri her muse. From 1850, the island was a popular retreat in the European winter. Many famous artists, musicians and writers spent their holidays and winter days here. Among them were, for example, Rainer Maria Rilke, Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach, Norman Douglas and Friedrich Alfred Krupp.
This “tourism” expanded so that the Germans built their own church on Capri at the end of the 19th century. The German Evangelical Church can still be found here today. A cemetery for non-Catholics was also laid out on Capri.
Sights on Capri
In addition to the Protestant church and the villas, there are a few other sights on Capri. The Arco Naturale is one of them. Furthermore, the Grotta Matermania, Faraglionhi, Giardini Augusto and the serpentine path Via Krupp are famous sights of Capri.
6,554 people live in Anacapri. The famous Blue Grotto, Le Boffe and Monte Solaro are in the vicinity. The house of the writer and doctor Axel Munthe, the Villa San Michele, is also in this place.
It is important to know that in the period between spring and late autumn only Capresen on Capri car can drive. Tourists are not allowed to enter the island here. Numerous taxis or the funicular and buses are available for this purpose during this period. Incidentally, you can “climb” Monte Solaro very comfortably with a chair lift. So you don’t have to cover the sometimes arduous path on foot and reach the summit in a relaxed manner. There are of course also hiking trails available for all hikers.
