Naples became a "Southern" city (as you describe South Italy above) only after the Napoleonic wars, and some would say as a consequence of Napoleon's meddling in Italy. Prior to that, Naples was one of the most important cities in Europe, a Renaissance and Enlightenment center, a major commercial port, and the birthplace of modern opera. And prior to the Middle Ages, Campania, along with Latium (modern Lazio), was region 1 of Roman Italy, the heart of the Western Empire. And prior to the Roman imperial era, Naples was the capital of Hellenistic culture in Italy.
So, I do not think it's fair to judge Naples without considering the immense cultural influence it's had for thousands of years. The fact is, much of what the rest of the world associates with Italy -pizza, coffee, the Colosseum etc -is either Roman or Neapolitan.
Naples became a "Southern" city (as you describe South Italy above) only after the Napoleonic wars, and some would say as a consequence of Napoleon's meddling in Italy. Prior to that, Naples was one of the most important cities in Europe, a Renaissance and Enlightenment center, a major commercial port, and the birthplace of modern opera. And prior to the Middle Ages, Campania, along with Latium (modern Lazio), was region 1 of Roman Italy, the heart of the Western Empire. And prior to the Roman imperial era, Naples was the capital of Hellenistic culture in Italy.
So, I do not think it's fair to judge Naples without considering the immense cultural influence it's had for thousands of years. The fact is, much of what the rest of the world associates with Italy -pizza, coffee, the Colosseum etc -is either Roman or Neapolitan.