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.

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       Naples is a city full of secret treasures: let’s discover them together!

St. Luciella ai Librai

A short walk from the crowded Via San Gregorio Armeno, there is this small wonder nestled in the alleys of the old town.

The first room that you’ll see, with its precious plan of original maioliche and Neapolitan manufacture, hides a real treasure below: you will descend towards a small, but austere room totally used as holy land, a real small private cemetery.

The atmosphere here is very evocative, and becomes unique when the gaze rests on the famous “skull with ears”: a small skull, here to hear the pains and prayers of the Neapolitan people.

We are lucky enough to visit this unique place, thanks to our friends of the cultural association RespiriamoArte: after years of sacrifices and hard work, they have managed to make available to all of us this magical place, mirror of the soul of Naples.

St. Anna dei Lombardi

The large facade, restored after the war, opens to a chest full of priceless treasures.

Crossing the great aisle opens to an elegant and refined scene: the side chapels are examples of the highest Renaissance of Tuscan origin in Naples.But it’s all yet to be discovered!

The great “Lamentation On Dead Christ”, by Guido Mazzoni, an impressive sculptural complex in its realistic and dramatic rendering.

The Old Sacristy, almost entirely decorated by Giorgio Vasari, dazzles and sinks the spectator in its timeless beauty.

Finally, the surprise, once again, is below: from the choir you can reach a Crypt, decorated with surprisingly intact frescoes, surrounded by drained seats; on the top, small and precious cases contain the mortal remains of nobles of Naples.

St. Chiara Cloister

Among the narrow and chaotic streets of the ancient center of Naples, there is a hidden treasure to discover!

Over to the austere aspect of St. Chiara Basilica, there’s the access to the most precious part of the monumental complex: the Cloister of the Clarisse, also called the Cloister of the Maioliche.

You will immediately sink yourself in a unique atmosphere: an almost mystical peace will guide you to a riot of colors and precious decorations.

Domenico Antonio Vaccaro was the Neapolitan architect who cared about the new look of the cloister: while leaving intact its original Gothic structure, he created in the central part two large internal avenues dividing the old cloister into four sectors – two arranged in italian garden with hedges and fountains, and two destined for citrus.

The pillars and walls were covered with beautiful polychrome maiolicas in rococo taste made by the Neapolitan “riggiolari” Donato and Giuseppe Massa, taking up floral and vegetable motifs.

Especially on shining sun days, visiting this wonderful place really allows you to daydream!

St. Eligio Maggiore Complex

Among the crowded and chaotic streets of the ancient maritime area of Naples, you will be surprised at this majestic complex, the one of Sant’Eligio Maggiore.

It is right next to the famous Piazza Mercato: it is a very important and recurring place in the history of Naples, as it was the square intended for executions that, very often, marked the end or the beginning of the historical phases of the city.

The medieval shapes of the church are still perfectly distinguishable: beyond the side portal, which proudly shows the Gothic decoration, you get inside a large sacred room, divided into three aisles.

The appearance of the church is austere and rigorous, lightely shining by the openings of the absidal area. O

utside, a large arch completely leans on the side buildings, and shows a large “two-sided” clock: on one side, the two-hand clock traditionally marks the hour. On the other side, the dial retains only a hand: there time stopped on March 28, 1943, when in the nearby port a large ship exploded, hitting many workers and passers-by.

Underground Museum of Naples

The Complex of Incurabili

The maximum decumano, road artery that runs through the last part of the ancient center of Naples, is perhaps one of the least traveled areas by visitors… But that preserves a real treasure chest!

Above all, the most fascinating is the complex of the Incurables. Its precious and fragile gem is her Pharmacy: a small building, whose entrance is accessible by a flashy double flight of stairs.

Upon entering, time seems to stop: almost completely intact, it still retains the original shelving, on which the precious vases – which contained the “ingredients” of medical recipes , are still laid.

From the ceiling – enriched by a precious canvas that covers it in full, to the shelving, to the decking of both rooms – in precious majolicate terracotta: in an environment dedicated to medical care, here is the triumph of Neapolitan decorativeism, in its most dazzling era.

Sansevero Chapel – The Veiled Christ

It would not be enough a few lines to describe everything: creativity, dynastic pride, science and mystery blend perfectly into a unique atmosphere.

From the precious floor, to the refined decoration of the ceiling, passing through the rich sculptural kit that surrounds every corner of the chapel. In the underground cavea, the two large anatomical machines always: two enigmatic presences offer themselves to the sight of all, examples of a great and lively scientific attention.

The undisputed protagonist is always the Veiled Christ: an emotional portrait of the body of Christ lying, whose images have gone around the world thanks to the impressive greatness of the details.

Everything celebrates the genius of Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero: enlightened, patron, alchemist, literary, Neapolitan academic who has made his family chapel a real kingdom. From the entrance to the exit, you will be completely overwhelmed by his fascinating and mysterious world.

L'articolo The Hidden Gems of Naples proviene da Naples Grand Tour.

Let’s discover together the speaking walls of Naples!

Jorit Agoch

Let’s start immediately with a Neapolitan street artist, Jorit Agoch!

Although very young, his incredible art has led him to work all over the world. His hyperrealistic faces observe and involve the viewer, proudly exhibiting his distinctive features: two red stripes on the cheeks, typical of the “human tribe” that the artist tends to link through his art.

In addition to the undisputed skill, even on very large surfaces, Jorit’s poetry is always to convey a profound human message: social denunciation, closeness during difficulties, rights often denied, defense of the weakest.

This is how he decides to express his true essence: the transience is the main characteristic of street art, which in his case launches eternal and profound messages. ️

Banksy

His name needs no introduction: between strong social messages, full of irony and bitterness, and the mystery around his identity, his face and his real name have never been revealed, Banksy has revolutionized the way of making art in recent years, becoming a cornerstone of strictly contemporary art.

Not everyone will know, however, that Bansky’s only work still visible is precisely… Here, in Naples!

The artist twice chose our city to host two of his works: a stencil, now unfortunately covered and disappeared, took inspiration from the sculpture depicting the Beata Ludovica Albertoni, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. In this case, however, the Beata Ludovica carried a can of coke on her chest and her hand in a bag of chips.

What is still fully visible is instead the #VirginwiththeGun, in Piazza Gerolomini, the heart of the old center of Naples: the halo surrounds a gun, which kidnaps the gaze of the spectator and of The Virgin herself. Some private traders decided to protect it with a store, to preserve its integrity. Naples, the city of #contradictions, seems to be the perfect backdrop for such strong messages!

Roxy in the Box

Roxy devotes her training to figurative art techniques.

Her style is reminiscent of Pop-Art, both in the iconographic rendering and in its many applications: graffiti, stencils, photography, installations, fashion art. Her soul is pop, colorful, exuberant, but always with a veil of poetry, social commitment and sweet contradictions.

Roxy is Neapolitan: each of her subjects refers to our city, its pains and its victories.

But above all, Roxy is one of us: it can happens to meet her, suddenly, in one of the narrow streets of Naples, developing one of her works, and in the meantime chatting and smiling with passers-by!

Only those who know the Neapolitan soul so thoroughly manage to strike in the sign: the melancholy covered by noise and colors, but never completely concealed.

Blu

In the pictures we see this great work involving part of the facade of a very particular building: it is in fact the former Military Psychiatric Hospital in Naples.

Blu’s work returns to the very nature of this building: a large green face, whose gaping mouth is one of its barred windows, with the black and white striped shirt, typical of the prisoners.

It was definitely a place of pain and anguish, partly conveyed by the expression that Blu gives to the protagonist of his mural. Behind him, a red face, probably depicting madness, which seems to threaten the “inmate”.

It is a very strong message, almost of human solidarity towards those who too often fell victim to themselves, before becoming executioners.

Today, fortunately, the firmer Military Psychiatric Hospital lives a new life: it is a center of culture and welcome, the spaces are made available to the community and the less fortunate. There were created clinics, spaces for parties and concerts, children’s playrooms.

Not everything is born to stay in the grey zone, and Blu and his work remind it us every time!

Blub

Artworks and historical figures: we will all learn to swim with Blub!

One of the most well-known and loved street artist in recent years that, with its ironic sweetness, leaves everywhere traces of its presence.

Keep an eye on the “speaking walls” of Naples, and you will recognize it in a moment!

His artworks were so appreciated that they became the subject of an exhibition that was held at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples: the archaeological finds were revisited in an underwater key, and equipped with mask and bubbles!

As light and playful as Blub’s art seems, even in this case we can’t help but consider his message: humanity, in recent years, has faced many crises and at the same time forced to overcome them quickly.

Maybe Blub wants to remind us that feeling “with water at the throat” is never a weakness or a limit, but it can only be the right time to stop and… Start swimming in the flow of life!

Francisco Bosoletti

A great innovator and experimenter, he surprised the whole world with the use of an unprecedented technique: the mural in negative, certainly unique.

Bosoletti has chosen Naples several times: he has made entire neighborhoods of our city great canvases for his wonderful masterpieces.

The artist certainly draws inspiration from the human and historical characteristics of the environment he chooses, paraphrasing the text according to his personal vision.

Watching Bosoletti’s work live, in all its majesty, is truly a unique and unforgettable experience!

L'articolo Street Art: the Speaking Walls of Naples proviene da Naples Grand Tour.

Welcome to one of Europe’s oldest cities, welcome to Naples!

We are in Piazza Bellini, the heart of the old town: these are the walls of ancient Neapolis, the city that was founded by the Greeks. Neapolis means “new city”, a new Greek colony that already promised to become one of the most vibrant trading hubs in the entire Mediterranean Sea. Naples has always been a layered city, from every point of view: the new that overlaps the old, the ancient that creates the basis of the modern. You will find in every aspect of my city a cohabit of so many factors together, and our culture is today our greatest legacy because it is unique in the world! From this plant you can also see the perfectly geometric pattern: through the perpendicular intersection of Cardi and Decumani, a grid was created that defined the blocks, and the construction of houses and shops was easier, as well as making more orientation.

Subsequent dominations over the city redefined the breadth and appearance of Naples: are you ready to continue on the line of time with us?

Middle Ages: Frederick II of Svevia

The period of the transition from the Roman Age to the Middle Ages were years of struggle and change for the Whole Mediterranean, but not for Naples.

Its position and its predisposition to cultural exchange contributed to the enhancement of some commercial activities, as the development of the processing of precious fabrics and metals. The city grew even culturally thanks to Frederick II of Svevia. He was a strong and enlightened ruler. His curiosity was never satisfied: he was a friend of the greatest intellectuals of his time, he spoke six languages fluently, above all he can still be considered a “citizen of the world”,with his open and avant-garde mindset.

Federico chose Naples to found the first secular university in Europe: easy to reach, the city would be home to courses on subjects for the first time completely detached from the religious vision. Knowledge, rationality, freedom: even today, our University bears its name, celebrating one of the greatest illuminated ever.

The Angevian family

At the death of Frederick II, the relationship between his heirs and the Papacy became increasingly strained.
The Pope asked for help to his faithful French friends: King Louis VIII Angevin sent his son Charles to Italy, who managed to defeat Manfredi of Svevia and conquer the entire kingdom.
The first great decision of Charles I Angevin was precisely to move the capital from Palermo to Naples, thanks to its proximity to Rome and the Papacy.
It was during this period that Naples began to take on the appearance of a great capital. Charles began great architectural and urban projects: he reinforced the city walls, expanded the port, enriched the city with fortifications (the Maschio Angioino and Castel Sant’Elmo) and sacred buildings.
Many of the great churches in which we enter today were founded by Charles: even today, although very often covered by the subsequent stratifications, the Angevin style is still perfectly recognizable, in its majestic trace of the great history of this house in Naples

The Aragona Family

After putting the last Angevin King on the run, Renato, and defeating all his opponents, in 1442 Alfonso V of Aragon entered the city triumphantly, becoming Alfonso I of Naples.
The king found a city torn apart by four long years of war and on the edge of poverty. To clean it up from the horrors of war, and make it a city worthy of becoming its royal seat, the king financed numerous decorative and architectural projects. The most symbolic is certainly the Triumphal Arch, squeezed between the towers of Castel Nuovo, which celebrates its entrance into the city.
Alfonso gathered many artists and intellectuals at court, in line with other Renaissance rulers. His sons, including Ferrante his heir to the throne, were raised by the est humanists in Naples.
Even if relations with the members of the court weren’t always good, the Aragonese kings always stood out for their great human and political depth.

Viceroy

The 1500 was a political tumultuous century for Europe. The Spanish kings, the French kings and the Pope were in charge of the chessboard of power: the balances were truly labile and fragile.
After a long period of negotiations, tactics and betrayals, the southern Italy became the peripheral territory of the Spanish crown. The center of power was Naples, also home to the Viceroy, changing every 3 years by the king’s orders.

Unfortunately, relations between the Viceroys and the Neapolitan people were not peaceful: the city was very crowded, the plebs were poor and hungry, everything was only in the service of the Spanish throne.
The favorable aspect lies in the artistic renewal of Naples: the sacred decoration was instrumental to the church’s need, while the opulent and lazy nobility demanded the most famous decorators of the Reign.
: Charles V Habsburg – the Spanish Districts, built for the Spanish army.

The Bourbon House

In 1734 can we say that the true period of peace and prosperity began: Charles of Bourbon ascended the throne. A glorious period really opened up with him: the political, cultural and economic renaissance affected the whole kingdom.
Charles was the promoter of the greatest artistic feats ever: we remember the excavation campaigns on Herculaneum , Pompeii and the whole Vesuvian area, which we talked about in previous posts; the construction of the Royal Palace of Caserta, the Royal Theater San Carlo and the Palace of Capodimonte, places that would become real symbols of the wealth of our city and our region.
Naples became a regular stop on the Grand Tour: artists as Goethe and Stendhal were always incredulous and in love with the infinite beauty of this land.

: Carlo King of Naples – the Royal Stage of the San Carlo theater – coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Napoleon and Murat King

The last king of Naples to whom we dedicate our daily appointment is Gioacchino Murat.
Commander of napoleonic troops, he replaced Giuseppe Bonaparte – forced in 1808 to leave the throne of Naples to sit on the Spanish one. This period is in fact called “French decade“, covering from 1805 to 1815, the year of the Restoration, with which all the ancient regimes before the French revolution were restored.
In few years of government, Gioacchino Murat operated very constructively in the Kingdom, very loved by the people: in Naples, in particular, he founded the faculty of Engineering, first in all of Italy; he modified some areas of the city, such as the Sanità Bridge, the hills of Posillipo and Capodimonte. He restarted the excavations of Herculaneum and, also thanks to the great sensitivity of his wife Carolina Bonaparte, began the progressive arrangement of the Neapolitan collections in the museums of the city.
Naples is the result of the historical phases of all Europe: UNIQUE!

: Gioacchino Murat

L'articolo Naples: History and Kings 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.