The Royal Palace of Naples: history
Il Royal Palace of Naples fu founded in the seventeenth century to host the Kings of Spain, commissioned by the Spanish Viceroy, but has since become the center of the monarchical power of Naples, also hosting the Austrian kings, the Bourbons and was also home of the Savoy dynasty after the unification of Italy. The Palace represented one of the four residences of the Borbone dynasty of Naples (the other three are the Royal Palace of Capodimonte, the Reggia of Portici and the Royal Palace of Caserta).
This imposing and majestic Palace that still dominates the famous Piazza del Plebiscito it was made in 1600 by Domenico Fontana commissioned by the viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, who wanted to host King Philip III of Spain on an official visit to Naples, capital of the viceroyalty, in a spacious and comfortable place. An opportunity that never came true, given the volatility of King Philip III who decided to cancel the visit. But Naples found himself, almost by chance, finally having a Royal Palace that, from that moment, became one of the most prestigious royal residences, rich in masterpieces of art and precious objects that belonged to the royals of four dynasties.
Royal Palace, originally designed by the architect Domenico Fontana, it was then finished by Luigi Vanvitelli and Gaetano Genovese which, commissioned by Ferdinand II of Bourbon, restored and modernized the entire structure after the fire of the 1837 that damaged the palace. It was Genovese who renovated the impressive Marble Honor staircase, located at the entrance of the Palace, and to add the famous Ala delle feste, which currently houses the National Library.
What to visit in the Royal Palace of Naples
Inside the Palazzo Reale you can visit the historic apartment used as a museum, which contains, among the many rooms, the Court Theater, the Sala del Trono, the Sala di Mariacristina di Savoia and the Royal Chapel, which contain prestigious masterpieces made by most famous painters of the Bourbon period such as Guercino, Andrea Vaccaro, Mattia Preti, Massimo Stanzione, Francesco De Mura, Battistello Caracciolo, Luca Giordano, Filippo and Nicola Palizzi and Consalvo Carelli.
Do not miss the walk outside the Palazzo Reale, crossing the courtyard of Honor, the courtyard of carriages, the belvedere courtyard and the hanging gardens, which offer a splendid view of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. From the courtyard of Honor you can also access the Royal Gardens, a park full of statues, avenues and "secret" paths. After the Genovese reastaur, it assumed an aspect of "English garden".
The long one external façade of the Palazzo Reale is characterized by the presence of the celebrate eight majestic statues of the sovereigns who reigned in Naples, whose placement in the outer niches was commissioned by King Umberto I of Savoy in the 1888. The statues are placed in chronological order with the precise intention of not including any exponent of the Bourbon dynasty. You can admire, from left to right, the statues of Roger the Norman, first true king of Naples, Frederick II of Swabia, Charles I of Anjou, Alfonso V of Aragon, Charles V of Hapsburg, Charles III of Spain, Gioacchino Murat and finally Vittorio Emanuele II, the biggest addition to Vittorio Emanuele II who, formally, was never king of Naples but of Italy.
Information on the Royal Palace
Opening time
Every day from 9: 00 to 20: 00 (closed on Wednesdays); the ticket office closes an hour earlier.
Closed on Wednesdays; Christmas, New Year, 1 May, Ferragosto or extraordinary opening.
Courtyards: they can be freely visited by 9: 00 at 19: 00; in the winter period up to 17: 00
Ticket price
- Whole 6 €
- Reduced 3 €
- 4 euro audio guide
- Free from 0 to 17 years
Reduced from 18 to 24 years for those who are part of the EU
Address
piazza del Plebiscito 1, 80132, Naples
How to Get There:
By car:
from the highway, ring road, exit Centro - Porto, take Via Marina to Piazza Municipio. Walk to Piazza del Plebiscito (10 minutes).
By plane
from Alibus airport to Piazza Municipio. Walk to Piazza del Plebiscito (10 minutes).
By train
from the Piazza Garibaldi train station take the 1 Line subway towards Piscinola, get off at the Municipio stop. Walk to Piazza del Plebiscito (10 minutes).
Or from Piazza Garibaldi take R2 bus to the San Carlo theater.
By subway
1 Line Town Hall stop.
By bus
from Piazza Garibaldi, take the R2 number to Piazza Municipio.
from Piazza Vittoria take the 1 tram to Piazza Municipio.
In funicular
from Piazza Fuga (Vomero) take the Central Funicular to the last stop in Piazzetta Duca d'Aosta.
Contacts
Phone: 081 5808111
Official site of the Royal Palace of Naples
