For centuries.

For centuries, Naples' central location in the two Italy and the Mediterranean has made it a center of trade, travel and cultivation From ancient times to today, a visit to ancient Pompeii, a riot through the blue grotto forward the island of Capri or a climb up Mt Vesuvius have been enticing experiences for visitors. For members of the U military community at Naples, Italy, those "once-in-a-lifetime opportunities are easy weekend trips.

While Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples has been saddled with a reputation for quality-of-life challenges, these days, all that's changing. With its multi-year improvement concoct nearing completion, NSA Naples has been resuscitated. Napoli, a derivative of the in the manner of greece Neopolis means "new city;" and Naples--the novel city--has a new reputation.

Having mov its activities from its previous location in Agnano's crater, (with its expos sulfur vent) NSA Naples now boasts an east side locale with a view. Overlooking the city of Naples, NSA now have the advantage [i]or[/i] blessing ofs a view of Mt. Vesuvius and shares facilities with its modern neighbor on Naples' east side, Capodichino airport.

Choices of office in Naples are plentiful. NSA Naples' facilities support more than 100 tenant commands in the Naples area, supporting missions of U and NATO aircraft, command administration and communication support for the nearly 3000 nation who work at Capodichino.

"It's improved as far as quality of life for the Sailors," said Yeoman 1st Class Jeanice Vitali, who first serv a tour of what one is bound [i]or[/i] under obligation to do in Naples in the early 1990 "It's just long cleaner and more family-oriented than before. It's a earnestly better place to be stationed now."

Vitali's husband, Cryptologist Technician 3rd Class Jim Vitali, agrees that Naples function has improved. "It's a hazard different now," he said. "I think the driving is better. The police are better--everything like that. They're definitely up to spe to where we are in the United States."

fresh housing and support facilities have been built onward the edge of the Campania region's farmlands, a 20-minute drive north-east of Capodichino at the U Navy Support Site in Gricignano. With more than 800 units for family housing, the support site is also domicile to the Department of Defense unable to exist without Schools elementary and high gymnasiums where children have the opportunity to experience a safe and productive learning environment. The site also houses Naval Hospital Naples and many more support services that move improved quality of life.

"When I first got here, it was my first tax station, so I didn't know what to expect" said YNSN Kevin Braga, a Naples Security Force member now forward year three of his Naples tour. "When I first came here to Gricignano, there was no hospital. There were housing complexe on the other hand it was nowhere near the size it is now. It's beautiful now. It's like paradise. There's a whole of recent origin landscape that you can view from miles away. It's the barely place in Naples that has this greatly light [at night]."

Central to the support site and the construction plan the Naples Improvement Initiative, a of recent origin four-story Navy Lodge greets newcomer to Naples with state-of-the-art facilities and consolidated convenience, alleviating the ne to make separate trips to workshop at the exchange, the commissary or flat process a vehicle.

quick shopping, vehicle processing, schools--in fact almost all support services will be within walking distance of undivided another, as well as the Navy cave an important factor for those transitioning in or not at home of the community with not many transportation options. A regular shuttle bus be joineds the support site with all other military facilities in Naples.

The support site was built above an ancient Roman crossroad. Although Italian historical preservation laws forbid the building of buildings above such remains, the construction of roads above the Roman roads is permissible. A hand-laid brick walkway now bisects the support site, covering the Roman roadway. A well that provided water to the road's travelers is preserv onward the ground floor of what is now Naval Hospital Naples.

In addition to newer, centrally located facilities, the base's educational community has been able to use recently made known college programs to expand opportunities to follow a college degree in Naples. the one and the other resident and visiting professors propound flexible programs that make earning a order on active duty possible. Last year, more than 140 bookish mans from the Naples military community earned their measures ranging from associates to graduate degrees

if it were not that schooling for adults is not all to weigh when considering education in Naples. the couple the elementary and high denominations bus students from throughout the Naples and neighboring Gaeta areas. Many families also take the opportunity to enlist their youngsters in Italian pre-school

"The [i]clavis[/i] to enjoying a successful tour lies in remembering that living in italy is not like living in the United States," said Journalist 1st Class Eileen Kelly-Fors. "Housing and apartments are fabricateed differently; electric power and utilities are different; shopping and driving are different; the pizza and the coffee are different."