Campania, Italy

Interactive Map of Campania, Italy

Campania, Italy Map Links:

When you think of Italy, you might envision rolling hills with Italian villas that sit on the side of the hills, facing the emerald green sea. If this is what comes to mind, then you are thinking of the region of Campania, Italy.

Campania, Italy sits on the southwestern coast of Italy and is home to the popular city of Naples. Campania, Italy, covers a total area of approximately 5,247 square miles, making it one of the average-sized regions of Italy; however, the population of Campania is larger than the rest. It is the third-largest region in Italy, with over 5 million residents.

Cities as Seen on a Map of Campania, Italy:

Naples
Pompei
Pozzuoli
Benevento
Sorrento
Avellino
Salerno
Giugliano in Campania
Torre del Greco
Casoria
Caserta
Castellammare di Stabia
Afragola
Marano di Napoli
Accera
Portici
Ercolano
Eboli
Quarto
Villaricca
Sarno
Angri
Nola
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Sant’Antimo

Quick Facts:

Population = 5.8 million

Language = Italian, Latin, Greek
Ethnicities = Greek (Greco-Roman), Roman, Lucanian, Oscan, French, Spanish, Norman, Aragonese
Capital = Naples

The History of Campania

The region in which Campania lies was first inhabited by the Osci, an Italic tribe that spoke the native Indo-European language called Oscan. When the Roman Empire entered the area, they took control of many regions in the area, including Campania.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Campania became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1282, it became part of the Kingdom of Naples until it was reunited with the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

During World War II, Campania suffered extensive damage during what was known as Operation Avalanche in September of 1943. Operation Avalanche was the code name for the Allied invasion of southern Italy. During the Allied invasion, the port city of Salerno was the target the Allied powers chose for the invasion, which was one of the main cities in Campania.

During the invasion, the Allied powers were met with forces from Germany, which caused extensive damage to the area. In 1944, Salerno became the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Language

The primary language of Campania is Italian, but Latin and Greek are also spoken. During the Roman Empire, Latin was the official language of the Campania region, with Naples being the only city that kept Greek as its official language. As Campania became part of the Kingdom of Sicily, the Kingdom of Naples, and then finally the Kingdom of Italy, Italian became the official language of the region.

Religion

Campanians practice Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism. The Christian belief that Campanians are most known for is Marianism. Marianism is the Christian practice of devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus. There are many rituals and festivals that are held in Campania that are centered around Marianism.

Geography

Campania is an extremely coastal region with many ports and waterways that the area has used to its advantage over time. The land has hills from the southern region of three mountain ranges, and those hills turn into plains and a coastline. The geography gave way to agriculture that the people of Campania used to make a living. Today, Campania is a moderately-sized region with the third-largest population.

The Campania region is in the South of Italy and stretches along the Tyrrhenian sea from the mouth of the Garigliano River to the Gulf of Policastro. This region along the Tyrrhenian coast is widely celebrated for its climate, the fertile land, spectacular views, and beautiful landscapes.

The Amalfi Coast is a 50-kilometer stretch along the coastline of this southern city in the Campania region as well and has cliffs, a rugged shoreline, small fishing villages, and small beaches.

Culture

Naples had deep connections to the Greeks, which led to the first evidence of the Greco-Roman culture, a culture in which both Greek and Roman influences were used for language, lifestyle, and beliefs.

During the Middle Ages, when the Kingdom of Naples was formed, there were many components of French and Spanish culture that entered Campania.

Today, it is common for Campania to have connections with Greek, French, Roman, and Spanish cultures.

Migration Patterns

The Italian Diaspora describes the emigration of Italians to other countries in search of work. There are two recorded Italia Diaspora that were recorded. The first one began in 1860 during the Italian Unification. Italy was in turmoil, and the economy had plummetted in the area, causing millions of Italian emigrants to leave the area and find work. The second Italian Diaspora began at the end of World War II when Italy was left in shambles from the war. It is estimated that approximately 4 million emigrants that left Italy were from the Campania region.

Since the 1950s, Campanians who stayed in the area have migrated to different regions in Italy, as central and northern Italy presented more opportunities to Italians than regions in the south. Milan was one of the most sought regions in Italy for southern Italians who did not want to leave the country to find work. Some emigrants who left Campania repatriated after making money in other areas.

Today, immigration to Campania is low. Most immigrants who migrate to Italy seek employment and asylum in northern Italy than southern.

Genealogy

Campania possesses a wide variety of heritage, culture, and lineage. Before Ancient Rome gained control over Campania, the region was inhabited by people with Greek lineage. When the Roman Empire fell, Campania became part of the Kingdom of Sicily and then the Kingdom of Naples. After the Kingdom of Naples was formed, the Spanish and French cultures entered the region.

Genealogy linked to Campanian people can include a variety of Spanish, French, Greek, and Roman cultures.

List of Itlay Regions

About the author

Caleb Pike is an avid hiker and nature lover, with a passion for exploring the great outdoors. He's a writer, photographer, and adventurer, always seeking new trails to blaze and peaks to conquer.