Neapolis

Neapolis, from the Greek Neápolis meaning “new city,” is the ancient name given to a settlement that is today part of Naples, in Campania, Italy. The toponym was used for several Greek and Hellenistic towns, but the best known is the Neapolis that developed at the site of present-day Naples.

The Neapolis of Campania was founded in the 6th century BCE by Greek colonists and lay to the east of the earlier settlement of Parthenope, near the Gulf of Naples. It grew into a major urban center of Magna Graecia, fostering trade and culture and maintaining links with other Greek cities in southern Italy and beyond. Over time, the area interacted with Parthenope, and the combined urban fabric formed the basis of the later Roman city.

Under Roman rule, Neapolis remained an active center, with its ruins later enhanced by Roman buildings and infrastructure. In the medieval and modern periods, the area became the core of Naples, and the name Neapolis continued to be used in historical contexts to refer to the ancient urban core.

Archaeological remains attributed to Neapolis include public buildings and theatres uncovered by excavations, as well as extensive subterranean features that reveal the complexity of urban life in the ancient city. The site is today part of the broader Naples historical area and is studied within the Neapolis Archaeological Park, which preserves elements of the ancient urban plan.

The name Neapolis survives in scholarly and historical usage as the classical designation for Naples, reflecting the city’s layered ancient origins alongside the later Parthenopean and Napolitan development.