Phenomenological Case Study of Naples - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages According to Levitt & Melideo (2008: p41), Naples, extending more than 720 hectares, is probably Europe’s largest historic center, including evidence and testimony from diverse periods and styles beginning with the foundation of the city as Neapolis in the 8th century B.C. It also evidences its subsequent Roman domination, it's period under the Aragonese Empire, the French Kings, and unification into the Kingdom of Italy by Garibaldi (Levitt & Melideo, 2008: p41). Visiting Naples today, there is little evidence of Neapolis, the ancient city of the Greeks, although there are still traces of the city’s north-eastern section with its defensive walls, as well as the Via Mezzocannone. Evidence from the Roman Age in terms of archaeological finds is more evident, especially the new Neapolis built next to the old ruins. Some of the areas that give one a feeling of old Roman existence include; the catacombs, the Paleopolis, as well as various archaeological sites like the San Lorenzo Maggiore. One can almost consciously perceive the end of this Roman era as one takes in the imposing churches, such as the San Gennaro Basilica in the Sanita neighborhood, which is full of color.
The Swabian-Norman period, on the other hand, also produced famous structures like the Castello dell’ Ovo, which comes off as majestic in its position atop a previous Villa from the Roman era, the Lucio Licinio Lucullo, which, for the people of Naples, indicates the takeover from the Romans (Levitt & Melideo, 2008: p43). This castle, today, hosts various important cultural events and expositions, while also offering a splendid view of the Gulf of Naples, which is dominated in the background by Mount Vesuvius. Castle Sant’Elmo, considered to be the child of the four castles of Naples, has a star-shaped military perception perched on the Vomero Hill, and it dominates the skyline in Naples. Castle Sant’Elmo is perceived as the yin to the yang of Mount Vesuvius, especially as it looms large over the San Martino Charterhouse located below it. Mount Vesuvius and Castle Sant’Elmo combine to create formed a formidable Vista that greets those arriving from the sea and has done so for centuries (Levitt & Melideo, 2008: p44). ...Download file to see next pages Read More