Royal Palace of Naples

The Royal Palace of Naples, located in the central Piazza del Plebiscito, is one of the most imposing and representative symbols of the history and architecture of the city. Its construction began in the 1600s based on a design by the architect Domenico Fontana, at the request of the Spanish viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, who wanted a residence worthy of hosting King Philip III of Spain during his visit to Naples. Although the king never arrived in Naples, the palace soon became the center of the city’s political and administrative power. The Royal Palace is a magnificent example of seventeenth-century architecture, enriched and modified over the centuries. Its 169-meter-long facade is characterized by a sober elegance and a sequence of arches that enhance its monumentality. Above the central portal, the coat of arms of the House of Bourbon, added during the reign of Charles of Bourbon, who made the palace his official residence when he became king of Naples in 1734, looms large. Inside, the Royal Palace is a succession of sumptuous and richly decorated rooms, testifying to the luxury and magnificence of the Neapolitan court. Among the most fascinating rooms is the Hall of Hercules, a huge hall used for official ceremonies and court balls, adorned with frescoes and large tapestries. The Royal Chapel, built in the eighteenth century, is an example of Baroque art with marble decorations and golden stuccoes. The Court Theater, built in 1768, is a small architectural gem inside the palace, known for its perfect acoustics and for having been the stage for numerous operas and performances reserved for the royal family and its guests. The Throne Room, decorated with sumptuous crystal chandeliers and frescoes celebrating the glories of the Bourbon dynasty, was the place where the king received ambassadors and held official audiences. One of the distinctive features of the Royal Palace is the Hanging Garden, a green oasis overlooking the Gulf of Naples, offering a spectacular view of Mount Vesuvius and the surrounding islands. The garden, designed in the nineteenth century, is a place of great beauty and tranquility, with a variety of exotic and native plants. The Royal Palace has also been a prominent cultural and artistic center. The National Library of Naples, housed inside the palace, is one of the most important in Italy, with a heritage of over a million volumes, manuscripts, and incunabula. Among its treasures are the famous “Biblia de Urbino” and the autograph manuscripts of Giacomo Leopardi. Over the centuries, the palace has undergone numerous restoration and expansion projects. During the reign of Joachim Murat, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother-in-law, the palace was renovated in neoclassical style, with the addition of new furnishings and decorations. Subsequently, during the reign of the Savoy family, the palace was further modified to adapt it to the needs of the new dynasty. One of the most dramatic episodes in the history of the Royal Palace occurred during World War II, when the palace suffered serious damage due to Allied bombings. Much of the original furnishings and decorations were destroyed or damaged. However, thanks to intense restoration work, the palace has been restored to its former glory and is now one of the main tourist attractions in Naples.