Torre Annunziata

Infobox CityIT
name = Torre Annunziata
official_name = Comune di Torre Annunziata
img_coa = TorreAnnunziata-Stemma.gif
region = Campania
province = Naples (NA)
mayor = Giosuè Starita
elevation_m = 9
area_total_km2 = 7.33
population_as_of = 2004-12-31
population_total = 48720
population_density_km2 = 6960
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|40|45|N|14|27|E|
gentilic = Oplontini or Torresi
telephone = 081
postalcode = 80058
frazioni = Rovigliano
saint = Madonna of the Snow
day = October 22 Fact|date=March 2008
mapx = 40.72
mapy = 14.46
website = [http://www.comune.torreannunziata.na.it/ www.comune.torreannunziata.na.it]

Infobox World Heritage Site
Name = Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata
infoboxwidth= 250px


State Party = ITA
Type = Cultural
Criteria = iii, iv, v
ID = 829
Region = Europe and North America
Year = 1997
Session = 21st

Torre Annunziata is a city and commune in the province of Naples, region of Campania in Italy. It is located at the Gulf of Naples at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. The city was destroyed in the Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD and in 1631.

The city was once the seat of important ironwork (Deriver, Dalmine) food processing and pasta industries. Today industries still active include naval, armament and pharmaceutical ones.

The archaeological site of Oplonti is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

In spite of its position overlooking the bay of Naples, its volcanic black sand beaches and the wonderfully preserved Villa Poppaea, Torre Annunziata is rarely visited by tourists, who are frightened by its connections with the Camorra, and its reputation as a centre for extortion, murder, drug-dealing and corruption.

Main sights

On the Tabula Peutingeriana Torre Annunziata is called "Oplonti".

In the communal territory, one of the richest Roman villas has been excavated. Dating to the 1st century BCE, it probably belonged to the "gens" Poppaea, and is known as Villa Poppaea.

Dialect

Although a comparatively small town, essentially a suburb of Naples, Torre Annunziata has its own unique dialect, a variation of Neapolitan, quite distinct, particularly in pronunciation, which is known as Torrese.