On the most beautiful site in Europe stands Naples, the Neapolis of the Athenian colonists. After the Romans conquered it, it still retained Greek culture and institutions. It became the favorite summer resort of the Romans, and the delight of the poets Horace, Ovid, and Virgil. It was when living in Naples that Virgil wrote his famous verses on agriculture, the “Georgics.” After many vicissitudes Roger de Hauteville formed the kingdom of Naples in 1130. Medieval Naples is traceable in its walls and great gates. The Porta Capuana is one of the best preserved. [Illustration: NAPLES _The market street in the old quarter._] After the young Conradin (kon´-rah-deen), the last of the Norman dynasty in Naples, was executed, the country was ruled by the house of Anjou (English, an´-jo; French, ong-zho´), then by the French (Louis XII), and then by Ferdinand of Spain. Don Carlos improved the city and surrounding country. In 1806 the city was invaded by Napoleon, who established his government there for a short time. The Bourbon (boor-bong´) rule came to an end in 1860, when Frances II was dethroned by Garibaldi. From the time it was founded till the present day poor Naples has been so torn to pieces by the many nations contesting for it that there is but little left of its ancient beauty or grandeur, and it now depends upon its wonderful situation, which, with the beautiful places about it, holds the visitor enchanted. THE BEAUTY OF NAPLES [Illustration: PORTA CAPUANA, NAPLES _Capua Gate, one of the finest of Renaissance gateways, was built by the Florentine Giuliano da Maiano, with sculptures by Giovanni da Nola._] There are travelers of years of experience who have declared that the site and surroundings of Naples are not excelled in beauty anywhere in the world. You enter the Bay of Naples with the island of Ischia (es´-kee-ah) on one side and on the other the island of Capri (kah´-pree). Immediately before you lies Naples, stretching out from the water’s edge up the hills beyond; the second largest city in Italy, with a population of over five hundred thousand. Back of it and to the southeast is Vesuvius. History has taught us to look with feelings of respect and awe upon that smoke-crowned cone. On the shore, to the south, Herculaneum (her-kew-lay´-nee-um) and Pompeii (pom-pay´-yee) are to be seen, and as the coast curves out to the peninsula you come to Sorrento (sore-ren´-to) and the road along the mountainside that takes you on a scenic tour of matchless beauty, including Amalfi (ah-mahl´-fee), Vietri (vee-ay´-tree), and Salerno (sah-ler´-no).