ABSTRACT
The Neapolitan urban region shows evident traces of its geological and anthropological history. In many narratives, Naples is a city adrift, a land of active volcanoes, devastated by structural, environmental and sociopolitical crises. In the 1700s, Naples was one of the capitals of Europe and played an international role, in certain ways. In the innermost suburban rings of Naples, and in other areas as well, increasing lotting out of land has led to the formation of residential aggregates destined for various social classes. The urban region of Naples combines a deeply rooted backwardness with typical dynamics of late modernity. Compared with other large and mid-sized Italian towns, the Neapolitan area is marked by an unwillingness to accept urban transformation and modern architectural planning. In the Neapolitan area, social hierarchies are apparently less steep than elsewhere and their geographical distribution appears confusing not only to the casual observer but also to the analyst.
