The Naples area is truly the cultural center of southwest Florida. With over 35 arts organizations and more than 100 art galleries, Naples has some of the finest cultural offerings available anywhere. The cultural climate and diversity of the area attracts professional artists and musicians like a magnet. In fact, over 1,000 visual and performing artists call this area home.

From magnificent performance halls to unique art galleries, Naples has a rich variety of choices for cultural activities. We have literary societies, lecture series and excellent chamber music concerts. You can visit historic homes, working artistsí studios, outstanding community theatersÖ.even a teddy bear museum! There are street festivals, outdoor art fairs, performances by dance troupes and concert bands. Nature and art are brilliantly intertwined at a series of museums. Catch a free jazz concert in the park, or enjoy the magnificent Naples Philharmonic Orchestra.

For most of the past 20 years, Naples has hovered near the top of the list of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas of the country. Neapolitans are a happily prosperous and vital group. Their median age is 44.1 -- more than two years younger than even a year ago, reflecting the ongoing migration of working-age men and women. Naples enjoys the benefits of lying in a subtropical zone. Naples is known for its "Mediterranean" climate, one of long, sultry summers and dry cool winters. The average temperature is in the low 70s during peak season (Thanksgiving through Easter) and even during the summer months, Naples rarely goes much above 90 degrees.

Naples is a shopper's and diner's paradise. Naples' shoppers are a discerning group of residents and visitors from across the state and around the world. Day-trippers drive in with their decorators to search for antiques and custom-made furniture. Around Florida, Naples is known as the place to find superb jewelry, elegant resort wear, and special gifts and home furnishings, often made by local hands. And, no matter what's on the menu, no city in Florida offers more options for dining -- from an al fresco meal at a waterside restaurant to a light bite at a sidewalk bistro, from a hearty breakfast to a gourmet dinner -- than Naples.

Naples has a progressive medical community featuring celebrated physicians and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System is the hub of the region's outstanding healthcare facilities. NCH, with more than 500 physicians serving 2 hospitals and 26 satellite facilities, is known throughout the southeast for its comprehensive, integrated range of services. Cleveland Clinic provides routine care while specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of complex medical conditions requiring extended care. Older adults will appreciate the numerous facilities offering assisted living, skilled nursing facilities and independent lifestyle opportunities. (courtesy of Naples Chamber of Commerce)