CAMPANIA, Italy, an ancient province of the Roman republic and empire, and a depart ment of the modern kingdom of Italy, lying along the Tyrrhenian Sea and bounded on the land side by Latium, Samnium and Lucania, which, partly on account of its natural curi osities, including Vesuvius, the Phlegrman fields, the Lake of Avernus, and. partly for its re markable fertility, was a favorite resort of the distinguished Romans, who built there mag nificent country houses. Cumw, Puteoli, Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Baim, Stabiz, Salernum, Nola, Teanum, Venaf rum and Capua, the principal cities of Campania, are names rich in classical associations. The Appian and Latin ways led into the interior of this charming prov ince. The early inhabitants were of the Oscan race, who were displaced by the Greeks; the latter founding the cities of Cumn and Neapolis. The Etruscans later obtained possestion of it, but the Oscan element was still considerable and so remained until the country was entirely Romanized about 90 B.C. Cicero had a villa at
Pompeii and under Augustus, Campania and Latium formed the first district of Italy. The vineyards of Mons Massicus and Ager Falernus were famous at an early period, as also the olives of Venafrum. Even now Campania is the most beautiful and fruitful part of Italy, and no traveler can wish for a more delightful country than the fields of Campania, filled in the month of April with barley four feet high, and adorned with lofty poplars, which are connected by luxuriant vines, forming a canopy over the fields. says Goethe, 'it is worth while to till the The modern department of Campania includes the provinces of Avellina, Benevento, Caserta, Napoli and Salerno, covering an area of 6,227 square miles. Pop. (1 Jan. 1915) 3,426,754.