Region (pop., 2001 prelim.: 5,652,492), southern Italy.
It is located on the Tyrrhenian Sea and occupies 5,249 sq mi (13,595 sq km). Its capital is Naples . Occupied successively by Greeks, Etruscans, and Samnite s, Campania became an ally of Rome с 350 BC. It was a favourite resort of the Romans, and it is noted for its natural beauty and famous old towns, including Cumae , Pompeii , Capua, Salernum, and Neapolis (Naples). After the fall of Rome, Campania was ruled by Gaul, Byzantium, and the Normans; it became part of the Kingdom of Naples in 1282. It was united with Italy in 1861. Its economy is bolstered by agriculture, the industrial area around Naples, and tourism.