Do you know that there are five castles in Naples? Let’s find out together!

Ovo Castle

A characteristic feature of the city’s waterfront landscape, it has preserved its original appearance in part.

Its name (“ovo” means “egg“) comes from a legend: Virgil, the great Latin poet, buried a magical egg in the castle’s dungeons, capable of keeping the entire structure standing.

Beyond the charm of its history, it has a very important role in the history of the city: above all, it welcomed the last emperor of the Roman Empire – Romulus Augustolo.

Its imposing appearance has always been the subject of the attentions of the kings of the Neapolitan dynasties, until it becomes a symbol of our city in modern times.

The setting sun on the castle will give poetry to your walks on the wonderful seaside promenade of Naples!

Castelnuovo – Maschio Angioino

In the center of Naples, stands imposing and majestic the Castelnuovo, known as Maschio Angioino.

It is universally the symbol of our city, as well as enclosing many traces of Neapolitan history – both ancient and recent.

Charles I Angevin project was to makethe city monumental. He then promoted the creation of his royal residence, austere on the outside and very rich inside: it was exactly the mirror of the medieval court.

In 1442, when Alfonso of Aragon entered the city, everything was transformed into a Renaissance key: the most striking change was the installation of the Triumphal Arch, between the two towers of the entrance.

While during the Spanish Viceroyal period, Castelnuovo was relegated to mere military fortress, in modern times it has a very important cultural role: in addition to hosting the civic museum of the city, it is also the seat of the Neapolitan Society of Fatherland History and the Committee for the History of the Italian Resurgence.

St. Elmo Castle

Founded in medieval times, it hosted King Robert d’Angiò and his court: it was equipped with a palatine chapel named after St. Erasmus, then contracted the Hermo and finally Elmo – hence its name.

It was, however, during the Vicereign of Don Pedro of Toledo that Castel Sant’Elmo lived a new and spectacular appearance: from above, it is clearly visible its refined star plant, which makes it also the largest fortress in the whole city.

In the centuries to come, its use was merely military; only in 1982 it was included among the sites of historical and cultural interest of Naples: since then it is used as a museum of contemporary art and is a very important cultural center.

Its location has always been its strength: in the past, perfect for war sightings; today, it gives everyone the most beautiful view of the entire city.

 

Capuano Castle

Castel Capuano takes its name from the nearby Capuana Gate, which opened to the road leading to the ancient Capua.

Its appearance has always been austere and solemn, as well as showing up majestically in an area of Naples with narrow streets, small houses and shops.

Its  role as the Kings’ seat changed just after the construction of Castel Nuovo – Maschio Angioino: it was intended to host the Palace of Justice.

The Viceroy Don Pedro da Toledo brought together all the local courts scattered throughout the territory in a single building: he made all the elements typically military disappear, to allocate the halls to the administration of justice and the underground to the prisons.

Some rooms, such as the Chamber of Summary, still manage to tell the great prestige of the Neapolitan forensic class.

For all The Neapolitans it is the “Old Tribunal”, a reference point that has renamed the ancient Decumano Major: Via dei Tribunali.

Aselmeyer Castle

It is the “youngest” castle in all of Naples: it was designed in the early 1900s by the Anglo-Neapolitan architect Lamont Young, when the major decreed the accommodation of this new area of the city.

The building, later bought by banker Carlo Aselmeyer, is the best example of English neo-Gothic architecture in town: the fascinating Ogival arches and soaring whitings are a clear homage to the Middle Ages, while the exterior is completely covered with Vesuvian stone bugs.

Lamont Young signed many projects in Naples, both private and urban: he felt so attached to our city, that he decided to move to the islet of Gaiola, now a marine protected area of the Gulf of Naples.

L'articolo Castles of Naples proviene da Naples Grand Tour.

79 A.D.

Today we dedicate our meeting to one of the most important and tragic events in the ancient history of Italy: the Vesuvian Eruption of 79 A.D. Until a few years ago, the most reliable authoritative source was the letters of Pliny the Younger. He told about the tragedy of the eruption both from his point of view and from his uncle’s one, who died during this dramatic event. The eruption was always placed on August 24th, but several scientific results have shifted the date to October 24th. How was it possible, then, to be sure about it? With no doubts, thanks to the perfect conservative state of some objects. The great miracle that allows us to walk in the history of Pompeii, Herculaneum and the other cities affected by the eruption is just this: everything was practically buried by the pyroclastic surge, having paradoxically almost a “conservative” result!

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472 A.D.

Not just 79 A.D.! Another eruption, the 472 A.D one., also called “of Pollena Trocchia” it’s very important: our CEO, Raffaele, is originally from this town on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, and he took part as an archaeologist in the project apolline project. This eruption had such a force, to cover with dust and ash the whole of Europe, up to its eastern borders. Although Pompeii and Herculaneum remain the most famous examples, the Vesuvian area still retains hidden treasures that need to be discovered, such as thermal baths, probably belonging to a House. Inside, the bones of two children, possibly twins and who died from the same disease. The great Bourbon excavations, however, show that the this area was not entirely unknown: since then, some materials of the House were reused for a part of the…San Carlo Theatre!

The Vesuvian eruption of 1631.

Naples was the Capital of the Spanish Viceroy: a dynamic and crowded city. This vitality began to be compromised from December 1631: after five centuries of quiescence, numerous warnings preceded this other great eruption. The previous days, earthquakes and lacerations of the land anticipated what occurred on the morning of 16 December: a fracture opened in the side of the volcano, from which a column of mud and lava, that reached the cities almost 20 distant Kilometers. Several explosive phenomena scourged the vesuvian area: ash and gas covered the sky for days. Even today, the Neapolitans remember this ancient 16 December: every year, the miracle of San Gennaro is also celebrated on this date. The tradition says that only His holy statue could stop the eruption, and once again put an end to the sufferings of the Neapolitan people.

The last eruption: 1944

It was March 18, 1944: the Anglo-American troops had already entered the city, the Second World War was not over yet. Once again the power of nature took over: strong lavish pours and a large cloud of ash and pyriclastic flows involved all the countries of the Vesuvian area. Some villages were evacuated, others suffered damage. The city of Naples was spared thanks to the favorable action of the winds, which wiped out the ash cloud. The American soldiers left precious testimonies: in real time, they lived with surprise this event, often actively helping also to cleaning up some areas from the huge mantle of ash. Since then, Vesuvius has been in a state of quiescence, both in terms of eruptive phenomena and ground movements, going back to being the best background of our walks

L'articolo Vesuvius and Eruptions proviene da Naples Grand Tour.