Historic places in Naples

Historic places in Naples

1. See

   Castel Capuano

   The second most ancient castle of Naples after Castel dell'Ovo, built in 12th century by the Normans over a necropolis for use as a royal palace. It was then used as a residence for distinguished visitors such as Francesco Petrarca, and also as site for royal weddings and ceremonies. In 1503 it became the seat of city's courthouse for almost half a millennium, until the year 1995. Its name derives from its proximity to the road that led to Capua.

   Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow

2. See

   Castel Nuovo

   New Castle

   Often called Maschio Angioino, it is a medieval castle and the main symbol of the architecture of the city. It was first begun in 1279 by Charles I of Anjou and completed three years later. Castel Nuovo soon became the nucleus of the historical center of the city, and was often the site of famous events. For example, in 1294, Pope Celestine V resigned from the Papacy in a hall of the castle. The event was depicted by Dante Alighieri in his masterpiece la Divina Commedia, in the verse Colui che per viltade fece il gran rifiuto.

   Mon-Sat 08:30-19:00

3. See

   Castel Sant'Elmo

   A huge, imposing hilltop medieval fortress, providing outlooks to the surrounding city and hosting a small art gallery. Great place to watch the sunset behind Ischia and Procida.

   5€

4. See

   Castel dell'Ovo

   Egg Castle

   The oldest castle of the city, located on the former island of Megaride, now a peninsula, on the Gulf of Naples. The castle's name comes from a legend that the Roman poet Virgil (who had a reputation in medieval times as a great sorcerer) put a magical egg into the foundations to support them. The island of Megaride was where Greek colonists from Cumae founded the nucleus of the city (Palepolis) in the 6th century BC. In the 1st century BC the Roman patrician Lucius Licinius Lucullus built the magnificent villa Castellum Lucullanum on the site. The first castle on the site was built by the Normans in the 12th century.

   Mon-Sat 09:00-18:30, Sun 09:00-14:00·Free entry

5. See

   Catacombe di San Gaudioso

   A catacombe area where macabre ritual of "draining" was performed. A few remains of skulls in the walls, parts of skeletons and wall paintings are shown. Also the history of the "upstairs" church is shortly showcased.

   10:00-13:00 (last admission)

6. See

   Certosa e Museo di San Martino

   A former monastery complex, now a museum. It is the most visible landmark of the city, perched atop the Vomero hill that commands the gulf. A Carthusian monastery, it was finished and inaugurated under the rule of Queen Joan I in 1368. In 1623, it was further expanded and became, under the direction of architect Cosimo Fanzago, essentially the structure one sees today. In the early 19th century, under French rule the monastery was closed and was abandoned by the religious order. Today, the buildings house a museum with a display of Spanish and Bourbon era artifacts, as well as displays of the presepe (Nativity scene) considered to be among the finest in the world.

7. See

   Complesso monumentale dei Girolamini

   Ecclesiastic complex comprising a gallery of paintings, a cloister, a library of thousands of ancient manuscripts, and a baroque church.

   €5 with reductions, free on first Sunday of the month

8. See

   Fontana del Gigante

   Fountain of the Giant

   One of the most beautiful fountains of the city, made in the beginning of 17th century by Pietro Bernini, father of the more famous Gian Lorenzo. It was used to sit beside the Royal Palace, close to the statue of a giant. It was then moved to the promenade. It is composed of three round arches topped by coat of arms and decorated by various statues.

9. See

   Galleria Borbonica

   A tour of an old tunnel that connects the palace to military barracks, used as a bomb shelter in World War II.

10. See

    Gesù Nuovo

    The Church of Gesù Nuovo (New Jesus) was built in 1470 as a palace for Roberto Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno. The Jesuits had already built a church in Naples, now called Gesú Vecchio. Political intrigues caused the property to be confiscated, and eventually sold in the 1580s to the Jesuits to construct a church (1584–1601) under architect Giuseppe Valeriano. The unusual façade, unusually plain for a Baroque style church, is of rusticated ashlar and is the original façade of the palace. The church contains masterpieces of some of the most notable Neapolitan artists: Belisario Corenzio, Paolo de Matteis, Francesco Solimena, Giovanni Lanfranco and Massimo Stanzione.

    Mon-Fri 07:00-12:30 and 16:00-19:45

11. Drink

    Il Mantegno

    Great wines, cocktails, beer and appetizers in a small but nice wine bar in the historic centre.

    Tue-Fri 09:30-02:00, Sat Sun 09:30-03:00

12. See

    Museo Universitario delle Scienze e delle Arti

    MUSA

    One of the most ancient Anatomy museums of Europe, located in the religious complex of Santa Patrizia, where is possible to discover this fascinating context in the sections of anatomy, pharmacology, stomatology, bibliography and art. You will be guided thanks to the official app for mobile.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-13:00

13. See

    Naples Cathedral

    Duomo di Napoli, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta or Cattedrale di San Gennaro

    Built in the 18th century, it is the main church of Naples. It is widely known as the Cattedrale di San Gennaro, in honour of Saint Januarius, the city's patron saint. It was built on the foundations of two palaeo-Christian basilicas, whose traces can still be clearly seen. Underneath the building, excavations have revealed Greek and Roman artifacts. The Cathedral is famous for Miracle of the Blood, a recurring miracle taking place on the first Saturday of May and September 19th every year. During the ritual an ampule containing the old dried out blood of Saint Januarius is brought out and stirred; and miraculously liquefies. According to legend, disaster will befall Naples if the blood fails to liquefy. Service times can be found on the cathedral website; for the miracle, you must get there about 90 minutes early to be assured a seat. The Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius next to the cathedral holds the extensive treasure and can be visited for 14€ from 9:30-18:00 o'clock.

14. See

    National railway Museum of Pietrarsa

    Museo nazionale ferroviario di Pietrarsa

    A museum housed in the ancient 19th century's Bourbon Factories, along the route of the first railway in Italy: the Napoli-Portici line. Here is possible to admire a large variety of rolling stock like steam locomotives and different periods' carriages.

15. See

    Neapolis Sotterrata

    Presents ruins of a former Roman market - shops and the like. In addition, entrance to the surrounding museum and chapels is included.

16. See

    Palazzo Mannajuolo

    Art Nouveau residential building built in 1911, with an impressive ellipsoidal staircase in marble. The palace is a condo and it is possible to have a look inside asking the doorman

17. See

    Palazzo Zevallos

    Palazzo Colonna di Stigliano

    Elegant palace built in 1639 by the noble Spanish family Zevallos. It houses a rich art gallery comprising sculptures and paintings from 17th to 19th century, some of them realized by artists of the School of Posillipo.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-20:00·€12 full; €3 reduced

18. See

    Palazzo dello Spagnolo

    Palace of the Spaniard

    A late-baroque palace built in 1738 in Rione Sanità, famous for its monumental courtyard staircases with arches in shifting places.

19. See

    Palazzo di Sangro di Casacalenda

    3-stores palace built during the second half of 18th century by the architect Mario Gioffredo. The internal courtyard was designed by Luigi Vanvitelli and features a four-arch portico and Doric order lesenes.

    Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow

20. Eat

    Pizzeria Brandi

    A stone tablet displayed outside the restaurant explains the history of the first pizza margherita, allegedly created here.

21. See

    Porta Capuana

    Ancient city gate built in 1484, during the Aragonese rule, it represents one of the few visible remains of the medieval walls of Naples. It consists of an arch of white marble decorated with various bas-reliefs, between two impressing cylindrical towers made of igneous rock. During the first half of 20th century the square around the gate was a meeting point for artists and intellectuals.

22. See

    Posillipo

    (Pusìlleco in Neapolitan) A district of Naples on the northwestern part of the town. The Greeks first named this place Pausílypon (meaning "respite from worry") due to the enchanting calm of the shore. There are Roman ruins at water's edge, remains of the residence of Vedius Pollio. The area contains some notable historical buildings and landmarks. Among these is the Palazzo Donn'Anna and Villa Rosebery, the Italian President's residence during his stays in Naples.

23. See

    Royal Palace

    Palazzo Reale

    One of the four residences used by the Bourbon Kings of Naples during their rule of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies (1730-1860). The Royal Palace is on the site of an earlier building meant to host King Philip III of Spain, who however never made the trip. The architect chosen for that palace was Domenico Fontana. The building was put up on the site of an even older Spanish viceroyal residence from the early 16th century. The 17th-century palace visible today is the result of numerous additions and changes, including some by Luigi Vanvitelli in the mid-18th century and then by Gaetano Genovese.

    Tue-Sun 09:00-20:00

24. See

    Royal Palace and National Museum of Capodimonte

    Hosts paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries, including major works by Simone Martini, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Masaccio, Sandro Botticelli, Lorenzo Lotto, Giovanni Bellini, Giorgio Vasari, El Greco, Jacob Philipp Hackert. It also hosts the works of the most important Neapolitan painters, like Jusepe de Ribera, Luca Giordano, the Neapolitan Caravaggisti.

    Closed · opens 8:30 am tomorrow·€10 for adult, €2 for EU citizens aged 18-25, €6.50 after 14:00, free with Artecard.

25. See

    San Domenico Maggiore

    One of the most prominent churches of Naples. This Gothic church (est. 1283) incorporates a smaller, original church built on this site in the 10th century, San Michele Arcangelo a Morfisa. The monastery annexed to the church has been the home of prominent names in the history of religion and philosophy. It was the original seat of the University of Naples, where Thomas Aquinas, a former monk at San Domenico Maggiore, returned to teach theology in 1272. As well, the philosopher monk, Giordano Bruno, lived here. The sacristy houses a series of 45 sepulchres of members of the royal Aragonese family, including that of King Ferdinand I.

    Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow·Church: free, monastery: variable

26. See

    San Gregorio Armeno

    The church was completed in 1640, in honor of Saint Gregory of Armenia and it represents, along with the adjacent monastery, one of the most relevant Baroque complexes in Naples. The interior is decorated with 52 frescoes by Luca Giordano, and it is characterized by a single nave with five side arcades and chapels, in an impressive triumph of Baroque decorations.

    Mon-Sat 09:00-12:00, Sun 09:00-13:00·Free

27. See

    Santa Chiara

    A religious complex which includes the Church of Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs, and an archaeological museum. The double monastic complex was built in 1313-1340 by Queen Sancha of Majorca and her husband King Robert of Naples. The original church was in traditional Provençal-Gothic style, but was decorated in the 1744 century in Baroque style by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro. Santa Chiara was the largest Clarissan church ever built, and it was the first Clarissan church built where the nuns in their choir would have been able to view the performance of Mass. The bell tower, separated from the main edifice, was begun in 1328 but was completed only in Renaissance times. The simple interior houses the tomb of King Robert and, in the side chapels, those of the Bourbon king of Naples, Francis II and his consort Maria Sophie of Bavaria, as well as of Queen Maria Christina of Savoy and of the national hero Salvo d'Acquisto (a carabiniere who sacrificed his own life to save the lives of 22 civilian hostages at the time of the Nazi occupation). Famous is the cloister of the Clarisses, transformed in 1742 by Vaccaro with the addition of precious majolica tiles in Rococò style. The Nuns' Choir houses fragments of frescoes by Giotto.

    Mon-Fri 09:30-17:30, Sat Sun 10:00-14:30

28. See

    Santa Maria del Carmine Maggiore

    One of Naples' main churches, related to important historical events of the city and its kingdom, such as Masaniello revolt and the executions happened during the five months existence of Parthenopean Republic (1799). The interior is a true triumph of Baroque decorations including polychrome marbles, stuccoes and a magnificent gilded ceiling. The basilica is located in Piazza del Carmine, few steps away from Piazza Mercato and Via Marina and it's recognizable by the 75-m bell tower, with a characteristic onion dome.

    Free

29. Do

    Teatro Augusteo

    A theatre designed by Pier Luigi Nervi in 1929 and built inside an 18th-century noble palace, along the central Via Toledo. The structure was closed during World War II and reopened during 1950s as a cinema, until it was finally restored in 1992 to resume its status of elegant theatre. It now has a seating capacity of 1,420 and hosted the performances of famous actors and musicians like Bruce Springsteen.

    From €34.5 to €46

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Naples (CC BY-SA 4.0).