ESL, Napredni nivo

Naples, Italy

Naples, Italy is situated at the foot of a range of hills on the west coast of southern Italy. It is considered a ......... of European history as a result of being governed by so many different cultures, including the Goths, Normans, Spanish and Germans.
The city of Naples was established by Greek colonists in the 7th century B.C. It was originally known as Palaepolis and was later named Neopolis, meaning "new city." By 326 B.C., it was under Roman leadership and became a favorite resort for ......... Romans.
After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D., ......... populations fought for control of Naples; the Byzantines, Lombards and others controlled the city for short periods of time during the Middle Ages.
In 1442, Naples came under the control of Spain, making the Spanish language dominant for the next 250 years. For a brief period of time, Naples became the capital of an independent country. Later, during the Napoleonic Wars of 1799-1814, Napoleon ......... his brother Joseph as King of Naples.
After Napoleon's defeat, the city returned to Bourbon rule until 1860 and then became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. With this ........., yet another language would flourish alongside Spanish and French.
During World War II, the city suffered tremendous destruction. Although Naples went through a prolonged period of rebuilding, an earthquake in 1980 ......... most of the restoration.
After the war, Naples continued the enormous undertaking of recreating the city, successfully making it a(n) ......... industrial and commercial center. The Bay of Naples is Italy's second most important seaport, delivering hundreds of cruise ships and tourists to its shores every day.
Naples is a ......... of how well modern highrise offices and apartments can seamlessly blend with ancient monuments. Fountains thousands of years oldstand majestically in front of modern glass and steel edifices.
The music of Naples is well known throughout the worldfrom such ......... songs as "Santa Lucia", "O Sole Mio", and the spirited " Funiculi, Funicula." The famous tenor Enrico Caruso was born in Naples.
Naples continues to attract a great diversity of visitors; tourists, artists and archaeologists are fascinated with the beauty of the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri as well as with the ......... monuments.