5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Naples, Florida

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Naples, Florida

You may also know that the area is named after the sunny, beautiful peninsula of Naples, Italy. Below are five things you probably didn’t know about Naples, Florida, and a few just might surprise you.

You might already know that the city of Naples was established in 1886 by a former Kentucky senator and Confederate general named John Stuart Williams and his business partner, Walter N. Haldemann from Louisville, Kentucky. You may also know that the area is named after the sunny, beautiful peninsula of Naples, Italy. Below are five things you probably didn’t know about Naples, Florida, and a few just might surprise you. 

 

#1 - It’s Home to the Top Charity Wine Auction in the World

If you’re a fan of wine and fundraising, the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival is for you. Wine Spectator has rated it as the number one charity wine auction in the world due to the incredibly generous donations collected by its founders, the Naples Children & Education Foundation. The auction supports underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County, Florida. 

 

#2 - It’s the #1 Small Art Town in America

Naples is a small town with a population of just under 20,000 as of 2021. Despite this, the city is home to countless small art installations, including community art centers. Several annual art fairs and numerous art galleries dot the streets of Naples, and even the Philharmonic Center for the Arts built its complex there. 

 

#3 - It Has More Millionaires than Any Other Florida City

When you think of Florida, your mind is probably drawn to cities like Miami or Orlando. However, there is some evidence to suggest that more millionaires live in Naples than anywhere else in the state. Naples has built its reputation for tourism on luxury, and it certainly does not disappoint. Venetian Bay and the beautiful architecture is a testament to this fact - as are the homes  that cost tens of millions of dollars. 

 

#4 - It Has the Most Golf Holes Per Capita than Any US City

Fans of golf are sure to find Naples to be a paradise. According to the tourism website Florida’s Paradise Coast, there are about 80 golf courses in Greater Naples alone, with even more spread out in areas outside the city. Only about 30 of these are open to the general public, but that’s still more than many metropolitan areas across the nation combined. Visitors can ask their hotels’ concierge services for information about accessible courses for beginners, experts, and everyone in between. 

 

#5 - The Shopping Can’t be Beat

Naples may be a small town at heart, but it’s a tourist destination. In fact, at some times during the year, it’s estimated that the number of tourists exceeds the number of locals. More than 1.5 million unique visitors come to Naples every year, and while the pristine beaches and luxury experiences are the biggest draw, the shopping is in a class of its own. From unique resort wear boutiques frequented by tourists and locals alike to Ben & Jerry’s shops poised right over the water, if you want to find something, you’re sure to find it in Naples.


Naples has a reputation for luxury, and that reputation is well deserved. From multi-million-dollar homes to some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the nation, Naples has it all. 

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