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The Maschio Angioino o Castel Nuovo (New Castle) is a medieval castle situated in central Naples.
When Charles I moved the capital of his reign from Palermo to Naples he ordered to build a new royal residence. The construction started in 1279 and lasted for three years. Thanks to its location and size the Castel Nuovo is considered one of the most famous building of Naples.
The castle was theatre of many important historical events, as the elections of Pope Boniface VII.
During the 14th century the Castel Nuovo was seriously damaged after Louis I of Hungary’s troops attacked the city.
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When Alfonso V from the Aragonese family became king of Naples he decided to remodel the castle in order to make it more efficient in case of attack. He also wanted to add a triumphal arch to celebrate his power. Not even fifty years later Naples was conquered by the King of Spain and the castle was converted into a military fortress.
Castel Nuovo was last renovated at the beginning of the 19th century.
The Church of San Francesco da Paola is situated in Naples’ main square Piazza del Plebiscito.
When the building was designed it was meant to become a tribute to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The construction in fact started during the reign of Joachim Murat Napoleon’s brother-in-law. However after the Frenches were defeated and the Bourbons regained their kingdom the building was converted into a church dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola; during the 16th century the saint lived in a monastery located in the same spot of the new building.
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The church design was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. A beautiful portico with six columns and two Ionic pillars was added in front of the façade. The church has a circular plans with two chapels on the side. A 53 meters high dome complete this beautiful building.
Piazza del Plebiscito is Naples’ most important square. The construction was planned by Joachim Murat King of Naples during the Bonaparte dominion. The semicircular plaza was meant to be dedicated to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte; however the French were defeat before the piazza was finished. When Ferdinand I regain is throne he decided to continue with the construction, though he converted one of the buildings in a church dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola, a saint who lived in a monastery situated in the same spot few centuries before.
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The plaza is located near the stunning Gulf of Naples and it was named after the plebiscite that unified Naples with the newly born Kingdom of Italy in 1863. In the east side of the square is situated the beautiful Royal Palace built by Domenico Fontana. On the west side right in front of the Church of St. Francis da Paola stand two equestrian statues, one represent King Ferdinand I and the second one King Charles III.
Piazza del Plebiscito hosted many times unique open-air concerts.
Borgo Santa Lucia is a historical coastal neighborhood of Naples dating back to the 9th century. Its inception is actually much older, to when the Roman general and politician Lucius Lucullus moved to the area in the 1st century BCE, building himself an impressive villa. It was so massive that remains of it can be found throughout several sections of Naples.
This villa was converted into a monastery during the early medieval period. The legend says that while Saint Patricia was traveling to reach the Holy Land she stopped in Naples and decided to stay here founding a sanctuary. Later the Basilian Monks settled where once was located the Roman Villa. During the 12th century in order to guard the gulf the monastery became a fortress.
The area changed totally during the 16th century. The Spanish Viceroys hired the famous architect Domenico Fontana in order to transform what once was a simple fishermen’s village into one of the most important areas of Naples.
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During the first half of the 19th century the level of the sea started to rose; unfortunately the Sanctuary was bury and a new one was constructed on the same spot. Few years later when the entire Kingdom of Naples was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy the all area was heavily remodeled.
Today Borgo Santa Lucia is very popular among the tourists and Neapolitans. Visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the bay from a table in one of the many restaurant and cafes of the area.
The Castel dell‘Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples and is one of the most famous standing attractions in the gulf. The architectural structure of the castle has changed dramatically since it was first built in the 1st century BCE; once a part of Lucius Lucullus’ massive villa, the castle underwent many reconstructions and improvements to become what we see today.
Originally built as a splendid villa by the Roman politician Lucius Lucullus, it was a grand display of wealth and power. It was later fortified to provide a home to Romolo Augusto, the last Emperor of Rome – and ironically became his grave following a successful assassination. During the early medieval period, the villa was converted into a monastery inhabited by Basilian monks. Much of the monastery was lost when the castle was destroyed by the Saracens when Naples felt into their hands. Because of its strategic location, the remains were converted into a fortress during the 12th century to guard the gulf.
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Over the centuries, the fortress was partially destroyed due to several events such as an earthquake during the 14thcentury or the French and Spanish attacks during the 16th century. In the 19th century, Naples underwent a massive period of urban restructuring, during which time the castle was meant for destruction but was left to disrepair instead.
Today, the castle is open to visitors following extensive renovations in the late 20th century. Its largest rooms are now used for exhibitions and conventions both private and public. Nearby on the coast, in the Borgo Marinari, there are several restaurants and bars that visitors can enjoy.
Located in front of the famous Teatro di San Carlo is the gorgeous Galleria Umberto I, a large shopping center in the heart of central Naples.
Originally designed by the architect Emanuele Rocco it was completed in 1891, during a period of intense urban cleansing famous as the “Risanamento”. The Galleria Umberto I is a wonderful architectural exploit worth visiting; Rocco was influenced by the stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The Galleria was dedicated to King Umberto I, who was the sovereign of Italy at the time of its construction.
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This gallery is a cross-shaped structure with high glass vaulted ceilings supported by metal ribs and, in the center, a large glass cupola. It was intended as both a public and private space, where cafes, restaurants and various shops occupied the bottom two floors of the buildings while apartments took the top floor. It quickly became a mercantile hub, not only for the public space it generated but also due to its central location and proximity to a number of cultural sites.
After a period of decay the Gallery Umberto I today is again a very important public location for the city of Naples.
Also known as Royal Theater of Saint Charles, the Teatro di San Carlo is an opera house connected to the Royal Palace in Piazza del Plebiscito, at the center of Naples. Considered to be the oldest continuously active theatre in Europe, it was opened to the public in 1737, well before other famed opera houses such as the Teatro alla Scala in Milan or the Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
Originally commissioned by King Charles VII of Naples in the early 18th century, the theater was designed by architects Giovanni Antonio Medrano and Angelo Carasale, and was inaugurated in 1737. The grandiose theater can hold over 3000 people, plus a royal box overlooking the floor that can contain an additional ten spectators. Over the years, the opera house hosted some of the most renowned musicians, singers and composers of their time.
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Although somewhat plain from the outside, the interior of the theater is richly decorated with gold decorations, statues of important figures, and an impressive fresco on the ceiling depicting Apollo and Athena as patrons of the arts. The Teatro di San Carlo was renovated and improved a number of times, most notably after it sustained damage from bombings during World War II.
While it is no longer the center of the classical music scene of Italy today, the Teatro di San Carlo remains one of the most important opera houses in Europe.
Located in the heart of Naples is the Royal Palace, a grand structure that was once the residence of the Bourbon Kings. It faces the Piazza del Plebiscito and shares the space with two other palaces, Palazzo della Prefettura and Palazzo Salerno, as well as the impressive Basilica di san Francesco di Paola.
Built in the early 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana, it was intended to host King Philip III of Spain on his visit of the kingdom but he never arrived in Naples so instead, it became the residence of Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro. Over the years, the interior was lavishly decorated with frescoes by various masters then, following the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples in 1734, several artists remodeled and expanded the palace. A small theatre and a new wing were added in the later 18th century, while a belvedere and an additional wing were added during the mid 19thcentury.
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In the 1920s, it was decreed that the collection of the National Library be transferred to the palace. Unfortunately, the palace suffered considerable damage from bombs during World War II, requiring extensive renovations to the structure and interiors. Today, the Royal Palace hosts the famed Royal Theatre of Saint Charles, the National Library collection, a museum, and several offices.
Naples is located on the south-western coast of Italy, bracketed by the Sorrento Peninsula and Hill of Posillipo. The ominous Mount Vesuvius rises from the middle of the coast like a giant from an age past. Within the bay are the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida, all of which are very popular touristic destinations. Other popular attractions located on the coast are the famed ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, both destroyed by the massive volcanic eruption of 79 AD.
The city is among the oldest uninterruptedly populated municipalities in the entire world. The Greek founded the first settlement during the Bronze Age, later the Roman took the power. After the fall of the Roman Empire the city maintained its importance. For this reason Naples was theatre of many political battles until the end of the 13th century when the city passed under the Spanish control and the Kingdom of Naples was founded. The Spanish ruled for centuries and they deeply influenced the culture of the city: the Neapolitan dialect, the food and the music are perfect examples of this influence. Only in 1861 the territory became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy. During the Second World War Naples was heavily bombed; its suburbs were basically rebuilt after the war. Also the Port was remodeled, today it is the European’s most important one and in term of number of passengers is the second one in the world.
However Naples has so much to offer also if your interests do not lie only in history! The city is famous for its incredible dynamism, the mouth-watering food and the breath-taking view over the Gulf of Naples!
A culinary tour of the city will leave you speechless: start your day with an espresso, the Neapolitan coffee is considered the best of the Italian peninsula, then try a famous sfogliatella, a shell-shaped filled pastry, and ended your day with the best pizza in the world!
If you want to have a truly authentic Neapolitan experience you can’t miss a concert of traditional Canzone Napoletana. Songs like as ‘O sole mio, Torna a Surriento, Funiculì funiculà have played a significant role in the development of the western European popular music.
The city has something for every taste, so if some shopping is part of your dream list in Naples you will have only the spoilt for choice! The stunning Galleria Umberto I for example is a beautiful mall located in the heart of central Naples perfect for a few relaxing hours of shopping.
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In 1995 the UNESCO declared the city’s historic center a World Heritage Site. Due to its 27 centuries of history many gorgeous monuments are embellishing the area.
The central Piazza del Plebiscito is the most important square of the city. It was constructed during the Napoleon’s period; the plaza unique atmosphere is created by the presence of the stunning Royal Palace, the Church of San Francesco da Paola and the beautiful Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest Italian opera house still in function.
Very famous are also the city’s castles: the Maschio Angioino, also known as Castel Nuovo, was constructed under Charles I the first king of Naples, it is probably one of the most famous building of Naples. It is called Castel Nuovo (the New Castle) because it replaced the Castel Dell’Ovo (Egg castle) built by the Norman.
The city is also well-known for its many museums: the Naples National Archeological Museum hosts one of the biggest Roman’s collections in the world. The Museo Capodimonte is worth a visit too; once a royal palace today the museum can count on a stunning painting’s collection with works of artists like Titian and Caravaggio. Part of the building is still furnished with original 18th century furniture and porcelain.
