Perfect visit at Naples -
The best things to do and
see at Napoli
Day 2
The
squares,
the streets, the basilicas
and
the churches,
the
castles,
and
the galleries
represent the many-sided character of Naples, a city where art,
history, and spirituality connected to create a unique and
unforgettable experience. We
continue our walking at the historic center of Naples, come with us!
Piazze - the centers of everyday life
Piazza Municipio
At Municipio’s square is built in 1559 the fountain Fontana del Nettuno. The circular fountain has many redeeming features like the four lions, sea monsters, dolphins, Tritons, nymphs and satyrs as well as a statue of Neptune for which it is named. This elegant fountain has been moved 8 times from its original location at the harbour’s Arsenal. From there to Largo di Palazzo (Piazza del Plebiscito) and Borgo Santa Lucia, near Castel dell'Ovo. Following that its locations were Largo delle Corregge, (now Via Medina), Molo Grande, Piazza ella Borsa (now Plaza Giovanni Bovio), Via Medina again and finally in 2015 to its current location at Piazza Municipio.Fontana del Nettuno During the ‘Napoli Contemporanea cultural programme’, Naples set up a giant Venus sculpture, it is named Venus of the Rags, as a comment against waste. The artwork contrasts beauty and pollution as the goddess seems to dig into an enormous pile of clothes.Venus of the Rags The original of the Venus of the Rags (Venere degli Stracci) as an artwork, was created by Michelangelo Pistoletto in 1967 and the sculptor made a new version of it especially for the city. It is considered one of the most iconic works of the twentieth century and one of the artist's most emblematic work.In front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall Palazzo San Giacomo is the Castel Nuovo.
Piazza del Plebiscito
- Piazza del Plebiscito has witnessed significant events in Naples’ history. Here there is the historical home to the Bourbon Kings of Naples, the Palazzo Reale. The Royal Palace of Naples began as a residence for the Spanish viceroy, and kept on growing under the Bourbon and Savoy dynasties. From the 17th century and over the years, many artists and architects contributed to the complex, which eventually included a theater, the royal printing press, rug and porcelain factories, and multiple archives.Today one wing of the Palazzo Reale houses the Biblioteca Nazionale di Napoli, among its archives are over 2,000 papyri from Herculaneum.
Palazzo Reale
At the square there is also
the Basilica
di San Francesco di Paola, a
stunning circular church, symbolizing the religious heart of the
city.
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| Basilica di San Francesco di Paola |
The
Real
Teatro di San Carlo
("Royal Theater of Saint Charles"), as originally named by
the Bourbon
monarchy
but today known simply as the Teatro
(di)
San
Carlo,
is a historic opera
house, connected
to the Royal
Palace, and adjacent
to the Piazza
del Plebiscito.
It is the oldest continuously active venue for opera in the world,
having opened in 1737, decades before either Milan's La
Scala or
Venice's La
Felice.
 |
| Real Teatro di San Carlo, Piazza del Plebiscito |
The opera season runs from late November to July, with the ballet
season from December to early June. The house once had a seating
capacity of 3,285, but has now been reduced to 1,386 seats. Given
its size, structure and antiquity, it was the model for theaters
that were later built in Europe.
One
performer who did not appear in Naples from 1901 onward was
Naples-born Enrico
Caruso,
who, after being booed by a section of the audience during a
performance of L’elisir
d’amore,
vowed never to return!
Castles of Naples
The castles of Naples are the witnesses and the story tellers of the city’s tumultuous history.Castel dell’Ovo
Castel dell'Ovo is Naples’ oldest castle, with Norman origin, located on the island of Megaride, Isolotto di Megaride, offering stunning views of the bay.According to the legend, it was named after the egg of the siren Partenope that the poet Virgil hid underground in the castle. Closed and protected by a cage, the sacred egg would have brought good luck to the city if it remained intact. Even today people still believe that the castle can never collapse while the egg is there.Castel dell'Ovo It can be reached by taking a nice walk while you can admire the nice view of the Gulf of Naples. At Via Eldorado there are restaurants and bars for a break or to watch the sunset.A plaque to honor the memory of Lucio Dalla Lucio Dalla loved Enrico Caruso and Naples and wrote the song ‘Caruso’ to honor both. To keep his memory alive, the municipality of Naples put a plaque and naming the staircase, of Via Partenope to the sea, after him.Maschio Angioino (Castel Nuovo)
Castel Nuovo, often called Maschio Angioino, is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall Palazzo San Giacomo.It is first erected in 1279, a symbol of Naples’ rich history and an architectural landmark of the city. It was a royal seat for kings of Naples, Aragon and Spain until 1815.Castel Nuovo The Castel Nuovo’s court hosted some of the brightest thinkers and artists of the 13th century as well as several progressive monarchs.King Robert the Wise famously quizzed scholar Petrarch for three days before the crowd, while author Boccaccio wrote extensively about Queen Joanna I (Giovanna I) and the city.Sadly, the glory years have passed and not much of them survived from the earthquakes.Castel Sant’Elmo
Castel Sant’Elmo is the largest Medieval castle in Naples, dates back to 1200. It is standing on the Vomero hill, overlooking Naples, and today is a museum and the home to the management offices of the Campania Museum Complex and the Museum of the XIX Century in Naples, with more than 170 works by Neapolitan artists from different artistic schools.Castel Sant'Elmo This monument is offering breath-taking views of the port, the Vesuvius, the islands, the Phlegraean Fields and the Matese mountains. The name "Sant'Elmo" derives from a former 10th-century church dedicated to Sant'Erasmo, shortened to "Elmo".The Fountain of Giant (Fontana del Gigante) was built in the early of 17th-century, a monument with a trio of arches. It is decorated with marine symbols and stands on the seafront near Castel dell’Ovo.It’s the fourth location for the fountain, which has moved all over Naples in its lifetime. At the beginning it occupied a spot in Naples’ main square, today’s Piazza del Plebiscito, near the Royal Palace. It took its name from a nearby large statue, Il Gigante (The Giant). The statue stood at the start of the road that connects the square to the sea.Fountain of Giant, near Castel dell'Ovo, port of Naples As part of restoration works in the area, Il Gigante was removed in 1807 and the fountain taken out in 1815. For over 70 years, Fontana del Gigante remained in storage. Finally, in 1882, the fountain was installed near the Palazzo dell’Immacolatella, close to the Port of Naples. After four years Fontana del Gigante was removed again in 1889 inside Villa del Popolo, a park near the port area but the neighborhood soon was surrounded by warehouses and it seemed decreasing for the beauty of the monument.In 1906, Fontana del Gigante moved to its final location on the city’s waterfront near Castel dell’Ovo, in a beautiful area that overlooks the Gulf of Naples. It’s an appropriate place for a well-traveled fountain to rest!
Borgo Santa Lucia (or Santa Lucia) - Lungomare
Santa
Lucia
is
an historical district of Naples with an ancient history. The Roman
general Lucio Licinio Lucullo made
his
villa here, the
Castrum Lucullanum. General
feasts were impressing and still described as ‘Lucullan’ today.
It’s
also believed that the last Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, spent
his final days at the ruins of the villa.
 |
| The panorama of island Capri |
As
the years past, Borgo
Santa Lucia became a well-known area
of great hotels for elite
tourism, with
guests intellectuals
and artists. Still
now
Santa Lucia has
elegant hotels
and residences,
sailing
clubs, monuments and tourist attractions. It
is
next to the Lungomare of Naples, one of the most beautiful seafront
to enjoy the walk, an
aperitif or your
dinner. The Lungomare offers
a spectacular
view of the gulf, Capri,
Ischia and
Vesuvius.
 |
| Locals and tourists walk at the seafront, Via Partenope |
At
the end of our long tour
at
the center of Naples we
took
a walk on the wonderful seafront
from
the Marina Santa Lucia to the little port of Mergellina to
enjoy the sunset and a beer. The
experience remains
unforgettable!
 |
| We enjoy our Italian beer at a bar in front of Lungomare |
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