Naples

"Naples is the flower of paradise. The last adventure of my life."

"I won't say another word about the beauties of the city and its situation, which have been described and praised often. As they say here, "Vedi Napoli e poi muori! — See Naples and die!" One can't blame the Neapolitan for never wanting to leave his city, nor its poets singing its praises in lofty hyperboles: it would be wonderful even if a few more Vesuviuses were to rise in the neighbourhood."

"A Mediterranean Paris. Such is Naples."

"All things in Naples are arranged with as much civility as possible."

"Naples is not a city, it is a world. Naples is not only in Naples, you can find it everywhere, even in Germany. The ‘Neapolitan spirit’ is unique. It is clear that every city has its own warmth, Naples has it but in a different way, this city experiences things passionately, with a love that is different from all others. I cannot say whether it is better or worse than other places, but Naples is certainly different."

"The turmoil and the daily come and go made Naples a populated and fibrillating city like Paris."

"Naples and Paris: the two only capitals."

"Naples sitteth by the sea, keystone of an arch of azure, Crowned by consenting nations peerless queen of gayety: She laugheth at the wrath of Ocean, she mocketh the fury of Vesuvius, She spurneth disease, and misery, and famine, that crowd her sunny streets."

"O fair, false city, thou gay and gilded harlot! Wo for thy wanton heart, wo for thy wicked hardness! Wo unto thee, that the lightsomeness of life, beneath Italian suns, Should meet the solemnity of death, in a sepulchre so foul and fearful!"

"Another revolution! Naples free and all of Italy in insurrection! How wonderful has been the march of the human mind in these last thirty years … so may it be till the last link of the chains of slavery is broken and the banner of freedom waves over the whole earth!"

"Naples, moreover, remained essentially impervious to Fascism. The same was true of the notables who, even in 1922, on the eve of the March on Rome, had applauded Mussolini at the San Carlo Theatre until their hands were sore. The people were equally indifferent to Mussolini's slogans, due to their atavistic scepticism (a flaw that can sometimes become a virtue)."