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The New Castle is not new, it is a large medieval castle first built in 1279. Its scenic location and imposing size make the castle one of the main architectural landmarks of the city. It was a royal seat for kings of Naples, Aragon and Spain until 1815.

Commissioned by Charles I of Anjou and built between 1279-82 as the royal residence after the capital of the Sicily Kingdom shifted from Palermo to Naples, it became the venue for all important events during the rule of the Angevin dynasty. The Spanish Aragon dynasty that ruled Naples after the Angevins improved the structure and used it both as a royal residence and a military fortress. The marble entrance arch was created by sculptors from Catalonia in Spain to celebrate the beginning of the Aragonese rule of Naples.

The New Castle has housed the Neapolitan Society of National History since 1875 and the Civic Museum that contains works of art from churches around Naples. It is open for public viewing and managed by the Naples Ministry of Culture. Among the things to see are a display of weapons in the armory hall and the Palatine or Saint Barbara chapel located within the castle. Cultural events and exhibitions are held at the two levels of the southern courtyard and at the Charles V Hall and the Salla della Loggia inside the castle.

The castle is truly breathtaking when observing it from outside. Massive and beautiful, it can really impress. Make sure to visit the excavations underground and also take the elevator/stairs to the top, where the city view is extensive.

Tip:
If you go, it is highly recommended that you join a guided tour, if you want to make most of your visit - the small extra fee is worth it.

The San Carlo Theatre is the main opera house of the city of Naples. It has been the venue of major productions by well known composers throughout its history.

The San Carlo Theatre was commissioned by the Bourbon King Charles VII of Naples and designed by the architect, Antonio Medrano. The building had a neoclassical style with gilded interiors and blue upholstered seats. The theater opened in 1737 with the performance of Domenico Sarro's, 鈥楢chille in Sciro鈥�, based on a play by the poet and playwright, Metastasio. The original structure was damaged by a fire in 1816 and rebuilt within ten months by the architect, Antonio Niccolini under the orders of another Bourbon monarch, King Ferdinand IV.

The San Carlo Theatre remains the oldest continuously active opera house in Europe. The theater鈥檚 museum has exhibits tracing the history of the building and the many great productions that it has hosted. It can seat an audience of 1,470 and its acoustics are regarded as one of the best among opera houses in Italy. It has hosted productions of internationally famous composers like Giuseppe Verdi, Donizetti and Rossini. A guided tour is available in English that takes visitors around the theater and backstage.

The Royal Palace is located opposite the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola on the Piazza Plebiscito. It was used as a residence by the Bourbon kings who ruled Naples between 1730 and 1860.

The palace is on the site of an earlier residence, which had housed the former viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca. Construction on the present building was begun in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. It was intended to house the King Philip III of Spain on his visit to this part of his kingdom. However the visit never materialized. Instead the palace initially housed the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, count of Lemos.

In 1734, with the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples, the palace became the royal residence of the Bourbons. It was greatly expanded and embellished during the reign of King Ferdinand II. The most recent refurbishment was after the damage caused to the structure during World War II.

Today the Royal Palace houses the National Library of Naples, several city offices including the tourist office and a small museum. A magnificent double staircase takes visitors up to the former royal apartments with their lavish furniture and furnishings. The Royal Chapel has a large 18th century Nativity scene that is regarded as the building鈥檚 art treasure.

The National Library of Naples has an impressive collection of papyrus scrolls found during excavations at Herculaneum and a 5th century Coptic Bible. The western facade of the palace that faces the Piazza Plebiscito has statues of many of the kings from different dynasties that ruled Naples from the 12th century.

The Piazza Plebiscito is a square named after the plebiscite that resulted in the 1860 unification of Italy. It is the largest square in Naples.

The Piazza Plebiscito was laid under the orders of Joachim Murat, the brother in law of Napoleon who was installed as the King of Naples after the defeat of the Bourbon rulers. He ordered the demolition of an ancient abbey and a church to make way for the square. When the Bourbons returned to power after the defeat of Napoleon, Ferdinand I, the reinstated Bourbon ruler, completed the unfinished Piazza.

After World War II, the square was neglected and became a large parking lot until 1997, when it was restored to its former glory for the G7 summit held in Naples.

The Piazza Plebiscito has a semicircular shape. It has the Royal Palace at one end and the church of San Francesco di Paola on the other. The equestrian statues of the Bourbon kings, Ferdinand I and Charles III are placed in front of the church. Today, the square hosts New Years Eve and other festival celebrations and events like rock concerts. Large installations of contemporary art are also placed here periodically.

The Fountain of the Giant (Fontana del Gigante) is a historical fountain monument in Naples that dates back to the 17th century. Originally, it was constructed next to the Royal Palace of Naples and got its name from its proximity to a massive ancient statue. Over time, it underwent several relocations. First, it was moved to the location of the Palace of the Immacolatella and later, in 1905, it found its current picturesque spot on via Partenope, near the Castel dell'Ovo. Sometimes, it is also referred to as the Fontana dell'Immacolatella.

This fountain, commissioned by Antonio 脕lvarez de Toledo, the 5th Duke of Alba and Spanish viceroy of Naples, stood near the Royal Palace at the corner of Largo di Palazzo. It featured a colossal statue called "il Gigante" or Giant, seen in historical paintings, including one by Gaspar van Wittel at Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano. The Giant statue, created in 1670, was removed in 1807. The fountain was designed by Florentine artists Pietro Bernini and Michelangelo Naccherino.

The monumental fountain is characterized by its richly decorated Mannerist style. It consists of three rounded arches, each adorned with the heraldic symbols of the Viceroy of Naples and his king. In the central arch, there is a cup held up by two marine creatures, while the statues in the remaining two lateral arches depict river deities holding sea monsters. At the end of the last arches, you'll find two caryatid statues holding cornucopias.

The Castel dell鈥橭vo or Egg Castle is a seaside castle in Naples, located on the former island of Megaride, now a peninsula, on the Gulf of Naples in Italy. The castle's name comes from a legend about the Roman poet Virgil, who had a reputation in the Middle Ages as a great sorcerer and predictor of the future. In the legend, Virgil put a magical egg into the foundations to support the fortifications. Had this egg been broken, the castle would have been destroyed and a series of disastrous events for Naples would have followed.

The Greeks from Cumae were the first inhabitants of the island and it was from the location of the fortress that they founded what later became the city of Naples. The present structure dates back to the 15th century and was built by the Aragonese rulers. It served both as a royal residence and the state treasury. A small fishing village grew around the Egg Castle in the 19th century and is well known today for its marina and seafood restaurants.

The castle's roof is beautifully paved with bricks, making an ideal platform for 360 views of the city, the Mediterranean, and Mount Vesuvius. The climb on foot is easy, via a wide, very gradually ascending thoroughfare. A few shops and one small art gallery occupy some castle space. There are myriad points for great scenic photos.

Tip:
Try to go towards the end of the day as the sun is setting, and be sure to bring a camera, binoculars, plus water! The castle is very close to the boat terminal and you can go back to Sorrento by boat if you stay there.

Visitors can find the Bourbon Tunnel 100 feet below the city of Naples. The tunnel was originally built in 1853 as an escape route for the Bourbon royal family.

King Ferdinand II of Bourbon commissioned the tunnel during a time of turmoil. Sicily and Naples were experiencing uprisings and riots, and the royal family wanted a way to escape the Royal Palace if needed.

The tunnel was connected to the 17th-century aqueduct system. Workers carved out the tunnel using hand tools such as picks, hammers, and wedges and used candlelight as illumination. Unfortunately, King Ferdinand II died before the tunnel was finished, and the underground space went unused until World War II.

During World War II, the space was used as an air-raid shelter and housed up to 10,000 Neapolitans.

After the war, the tunnel was used as a dump for wartime debris and impounded cars.

Today's visitors can see items left by wartime visitors, such as toys, hairbrushes, and beds. The impounded cars of the 1950s and 1960s are now classics and are an interesting addition to the underground tour.

The Toledo Station won the 2013 Leaf Award as the Public Building of the Year. This impressive metro station was part of the Art Stations project, aimed at bringing art into people's daily lives. The Toledo Station is the most dazzling of the art installations and was nominated as the most beautiful transit station in Europe.

Visitors will notice three hexagonal pyramids outside the station. The Knight of Toledo, a steel statue, guards one of the entrances.

At 130 feet underground, the Toledo Station is one of the deepest stations in Naples. As you descend on the escalator, you will notice that each level has a different color representing a different theme.

The first floor is black, representing the asphalt of busy city life. Remains of ancient walls are included on the first floor. The atrium is decorated with mosaic tiles that depict historical scenes. One scene shows Saint Gennaro, Naple's patron saint, leading a procession. The second scene shows the construction of the subway.

Yellow and ochre walls portray the bright Naples sun and volcanic tuff. As visitors continue to descend, the colors turn blue and green to represent the sea. An 80-foot long LED-lit installation shows an image of the sea with continuous waves on the quay floor.

The Piazza Dante or Dante Square in Naples is dominated by the statue of the renaissance poet, Dante Alighieri. It is a centrally located square in the city.

The Piazza Dante was once the site of a large marketplace. At the time, it was called the Largo del Mercatello or Market Square. The square was redesigned and renovated by the architect, Luigi Vanvitelli in 1765. After the modifications, it was called the Foro Carolina after Maria Carolina of Austria, the consort of the then reigning King of Naples, Ferdinand IV. After the unification of Italy in 1871, the statue of Dante Alighieri by sculptor, Tito Angelini was erected here in 1872.

The Piazza Dante today is a popular square for both locals and tourists. It is within easy reach of most of the important monuments in Naples and lies near the new first line of the underground station. There is also a well known food market at the Rione della Pignasecca nearby. The original modifications by Luigi Vanvitelli including a semicircle of highly decorated columns with statues are still located on Piazza Dante and form the western side of a boarding school. It is a popular venue for family activities in Naples.

An ancient subterranean network lies beneath the city of Naples. Tunnels and caves have been carved from the volcanic rock over the last two and a half thousand years. The Greeks built the 280 mile long network in the fourth century BC to form Neapolis or New City.

The Romans then used the underground area to build aqueducts for water.

Today, visitors can explore this underground network exiting some 120 feet below Naples. Visitors descend a long stairway to view the impressive infrastructure. Naples Underground includes cisterns, catacombs, caverns, roadways, and rail tunnels.

One of the most impressive sights is the Greco-Roman theatre of Neapolis. Roman Emperor Nero had a private dressing room here.

During WWII, the underground was used as an air-raid shelter. Visitors can still see weapons and tanks left over from WWII.

The first Hypogeum Gardens are located in the underground. This experimental garden attempts to grow plants away from light and pollution.

Why You Should Visit:

Naples Underground provides a fascinating and unusual look at Naples' extensive history.

Tips:

Some tunnels are narrow and require a candle or flashlight. If you feel claustrophobic, skip these tunnels.

The Excavations of San Lorenzo Maggiore show a complete Roman forum and earlier Greek Agora. They are located under the church of San Lorenzo Maggiore. The site was opened to the public after 25 years of painstaking work by archeologists.

The excavations of San Lorenzo Maggiore have revealed a wealth of details about the city of Naples in classical times. The site of Piazza San Gaetano near the church was once a Greek Agora or marketplace. Later, it became a Forum or Roman marketplace. Excavations have also revealed the great hall and three naves of a sixth century paleo-Christian church. Under the Sala Capitolare of the San Lorenzo Maggiore church are the medieval city halls. The excavated area has been opened to the public since 1992.

The excavations of San Lorenzo Maggiore are the only complete excavations around Naples. They show life in the city through the ages. Only half of the original Roman forum has been excavated and visitors can view it by entering the marked gate near the entrance of the church. One can see a whole ancient street from the 4th century BC complete with workshops, laundries and the public treasury. Most of the objects from the archeological finds are at a nearby museum, housed in a converted four story Palazzo.

Spaccanapoli Street can be translated to "Naples splitter." This long street is popular with locals and visitors alike as it provides access to the most popular landmarks and sights in Naples. The ancient street is actually several different streets, such as Via San Biagio and Via Benedetto Croce.

Along Spaccanapoli Street, visitors will find artist's workshops, overhanging balconies, and narrow through-ways. This is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the daily life of Naples.

At the intersection with Via Duomo, visitors will find sweet local stores, bars, restaurants, shopping boutiques, and vegetable stands.

One of the more unique shops is the L'Ospedale delle Bambole, which specializes in restoring statues and antique dolls. Kids enjoy checking out the doll hospital, complete with doll hospital beds. There's also a museum with antique dolls and toys.

While walking, don't miss the opportunity for a distinctive Naples pizza. Stroll along Spaccanapoli to find several important churches and landmarks. Visitors will find the Church of Gesu Nuovo, the Church of Santa Chiara, the Cappella Sansevero, and the Cathedral of San Gennaro.

The San Domenico Maggiore Square lies in front of a church of the same name. It is in the historic center of Naples and Spaccanapoli" Street on which it is located was one of the three roads laid by the early Greeks when the city was called Neapolis.

The San Domenico Maggiore Square was laid between the 15th and 19th centuries during the reign of the Aragonese rulers. They made it one of the most important centers of the city. The square is surrounded by many important medieval and structures built by the Spanish rulers.

The San Domenico Maggiore Square has an important monument at its center. It is an obelisk erected by Dominican monks of San Martino after a plague killed a large portion of the population of Naples in 1656. The statue on top is that of San Domenico di Guzman, the founder of the Dominican order. Other notable buildings flanking the square are the Palazzo Petrucci, the oldest surviving building in Naples, the San Domenico Maggiore church and the adjacent abbey, that was the original seat of the university of Naples and the Palazzo Sangro di Sansevero, the residence of the family of the early scientist and innovator, Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero.

The Santa Chiara Complex is home to several religious buildings, including the Church of Santa Chiara, an archeological museum, tombs, and a monastery.

The complex was built by Queen Sancha of Majorca and King Robert of Naples in 1310. King Robert is buried in the complex.

The Church of Santa Chiara was originally built in Proven莽al-Gothic style; it was updated to the Baroque style in the 18th century. It was restored again after being damaged during World War II.

The west facade of the church has a central rose window but is otherwise plain. The interior is the largest in Naples, with ten chapels. The chapels have superb Gothic monuments.

The complex was built to hold the royal Anjou tombs. Joan I was buried here in 1382.

The church's cloisters are stunning. Seventy-two columns line the garden walkways. A series of benches connect these columns. The columns and benches are decorated with 18th century hand-painted Majorca tiles. Each tile is unique, and together the tiles show various scenes. Elaborate vines and flowers climb the pillars. Scenes show rural life and fishermen with their Mediterranean catch.

The cloister's porticoes have hand-painted 17th-century frescoes decorating the ceilings.

The gardens are filled with citrus and lavender trees. Visitors will also find a fountain in the middle of a Middle Age friar's refectory.

The museum features the ruins of a first-century Roman spa and sauna. Visitors will also find various ecclesiastical artifacts and historical displays in the museum.

Why You Should Visit:

This complex shows the dedication of King Robert the Wise and Queen Sancha to their saints, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Chiara. The beautiful cloisters are the biggest draw but don't miss the impressive church and well-preserved Roman ruins.

Tips:

The Cloisters get busier throughout the day. Arrive early and walk through the cloisters first.