The Royal Palace of Capodimonte and the Hermitage of the Capuchins

In 1742, under the architect Ferdinando Sanfelice, work also began on laying out the hundred and twenty-four hectares of the adjoining park: from an elliptical clearing opening in front of the palace, the architect had five avenues set out, from which smaller paths branched off crossing the woodland.

Commissioned by Charles of Bourbon, initially to house the rich and precious Farnese collection, the Royal Palace of Capodimonte soon became one of the historic residences of the Bourbons of Naples, as well as of the Bonapartes, the Murats and the Savoys.

A little history

After two centuries under Spanish viceroyalty, in 1734, with Charles of Bourbon's accession to the throne, Naples finally became once again the capital of an independent kingdom. Among the sovereign's new ideas was that of building a new palace to house a collection of works of art, the so-called Farnese collection, begun by Pope Paul III in the sixteenth century and continued by his descendants, inherited from his mother Elisabetta Farnese and still divided between Rome and Parma.

The chosen site was the hill of Capodimonte, a wooded area of Naples, rich in game, since the sovereign also intended to combine the museum's purpose with a place to stay during hunting parties.

To this was added the restoration of buildings already present in the garden, such as a tapestry works, a porcelain factory, a royal printing house, an arms factory and various farms.

Even with the accession to the throne of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, the works continued, however, to proceed slowly; the situation was finally resolved with the arrival on the scene of the architect Ferdinando Fuga.

The Hermitage of the Capuchins

The park took on its final form with the construction of the Hermitage of the Capuchins, a church, far from the frenzy and noise of the city, commissioned by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, between 1816-17. The complex is L-shaped in architecture and the entrance consists of a portal with a portico decorated with frescoes depicting "San Francesco d'Assisi che riceve le stigmate" (Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata), by an unknown artist. Usually used as the private chapel of the sovereigns, on special occasions the public was also allowed to enter.

Since 1950, it has housed the private institution "Opera della salute del Fanciullo" (Work for Children's Health), and today special (and exceptional) visits are organised for enthusiasts and devotees of Neapolitan history.