The Royal Palace of Naples: the soul of Piazza Plebiscito

We're talking, of course, about the Royal Palace, located in Piazza Plebiscito, where the main entrance stands, although the entire complex, including the gardens and the San Carlo theatre, also faces onto Piazza Trieste e Trento, Piazza del Municipio and Via Acton.

It dominates the city's most important and monumental square and, with its grandeur and splendour, harks back to a golden age, when Naples was the moral and geographical capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Commissioned by the Spanish viceroys, whose residence it was for over a hundred and fifty years, it later belonged to the Bourbon dynasty and, after the Unification of Italy, in 1919, was handed over to the state and turned into a museum complex.

Its construction began in 1600 and was officially completed in 1858, when it finally took on its definitive appearance. It was built by several architects, chiefly Domenico Fontana, Gaetano Genovese, Luigi Vanvitelli, Ferdinando Sanfelice and Francesco Antonio Picchiatti, commissioned by Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, who wanted to host, in a spacious and comfortable residence, King Philip III of Spain on an official visit to Naples, capital of the viceroyalty.

In fact, this occasion never came about, given the fickleness of King Philip III, who decided to cancel the visit. So Naples found itself, almost by chance, with a royal residence, which, among other things, became one of the most magnificent and prestigious, enriched with artistic masterpieces and precious objects belonging to four dynasties.

The final project also involved the famous Luigi Vanvitelli, architect of the Royal Palace of Caserta, and Genovese, who, commissioned by Ferdinand II of Bourbon, restored the entire façade after the fire that destroyed it in 1837.

It is Genovese we owe the imposing marble staircase at the entrance of the Palace and the festival wing, which now houses the National Library.

What to visit

Not to be missed is the Historic Apartment, which includes the Court Theatre, the Throne Room, the Room of Maria Cristina of Savoy and the Royal Chapel. Here you can admire masterpieces by artists such as Guercino, Andrea Vaccaro, Mattia Preti, Massimo Stanzione, Francesco De Mura, Battistello Caracciolo, Luca Giordano, Filippo and Nicola Palizzi and Consalvo Carelli.

Outside, meanwhile, a walk through the Cortile d'Onore (Courtyard of Honour, from which you can also access the royal gardens), the carriage courtyard, the belvedere courtyard and the hanging gardens, with a splendid view of the Gulf, is a must.

How to get there

By car:
from the motorway or ring road, take the Centro – Porto exit, then Via Marina as far as Piazza Municipio. From there it's a 10-minute walk to Piazza del Plebiscito.

By plane:
from the airport, take the Alibus as far as Piazza Municipio. From there it's a 10-minute walk to Piazza del Plebiscito.

By train:
from Piazza Garibaldi railway station, take Metro Line 1 towards Piscinola, alighting at Municipio. From there it's a 10-minute walk to Piazza del Plebiscito.

By metro:
Line 1, Municipio stop.

By bus:
from Piazza Garibaldi, the R2 as far as Piazza Municipio;
from Piazza Vittoria, tram 1 as far as Piazza Municipio.

By funicular:
from Piazza Fuga (Vomero), take the Funicolare Centrale to its last stop in Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta.