Naples

Many years ago (around 1870) promoters likened the seven-mile stretch of sugar sand beach in Naples, FL to that of the beautiful Italian peninsula of Naples, Italy. The area was originally the native home to the Calusa Indians, and the first white settlers arrived in about 1887.

Walter N. Haldeman—the owner of the Louisville Courier-Journal—purchased land, and founded Naples. He was the first to protrude a 600-foot fishing pier out into the Gulf of Mexico. In 1905, one could purchase a beach lot for just $125!

Needless to say, prices have increased since then, but Naples is still the best deal if you’re looking to settle into a pristine paradise that is world-renowned for its beaches, golf courses, restaurants and lifestyle. Today, Naples is the crown jewel of Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast and is visited by people from all over the world.