Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CASTLE
Castel dell'Ovo
( 081 240 00 55; Borgo Marinaro; 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, to 2pm Sun; 154 to Via
Santa Lucia)
Built by the Normans in the 12th century, Naples' oldest castle owes its
name (Castle of the Egg) to Virgil. The Roman scribe reputedly buried an egg on the site
where the castle now stands, warning that when the egg breaks, the castle (and Naples)
will fall. Thankfully, both are still standing, and walking up to the castle's ramparts will
reward you with a breathtaking panorama.
Used by the Swabians, Angevins and Alfonso of Aragon, who modified it to suit his
military needs, the castle sits on the rocky, restaurant-lined 'island' of
Borgo Marinaro
Offline map
Google map
( C25 to Via Partenope)
. According to legend, the heart-
broken siren Partenope washed ashore after failing to seduce Ulysses with her song. It's
also where the Greeks first settled the city in the 7th century BC, calling the island Megar-
is. Its commanding position wasn't wasted on the Roman general Lucullus, either, who
had his villa here long before the castle hit the skyline. Views aside, the castle now also
hosts regular art exhibitions.
Museo Pignatelli
( 081 761 23 56;
http://museopignatelli.campaniabeniculturali.it
; Riviera di Chiaia
200; adult/reduced €2/1; 8.30am-2pm Wed-Mon, last entry 1pm; C24 to Riviera di
Chiaia)
When Ferdinand Acton, a minister at the court of King Ferdinand IV
(1759-1825), asked Pietro Valente to design Villa Pignatelli in 1826, Valente whipped up
this striking Pompeiian lookalike. Now the Museo Pignatelli, its aristocratic collection in-
cludes sumptuous furniture, decorative arts, royal hunting whips, as well as paintings and
busts from the Banco di Napoli's extensive art collection.
Bought and extended by the Rothschilds in 1841, the villa became home to the Duke of
Monteleone, Diego Aragona Pignatelli Cortes, in 1867, before his granddaughter Rosina
Pignatelli donated it (and its treasures) to the state. Permanent collection highlights in-
clude a fine collection of local and foreign porcelain in the Salotto Verde (Green Room),
and a leather-lined smoking room. You'll find the Banco di Napoli's treasures in the base-
ment, its collection of mainly 17th- to 19th-century Neapolitan works including Francesco
Solimena's masterpiece painting
Agar e l'angelo
(Hagar and the Angel; 1695-99). The
first floor hosts around three temporary exhibitions annually - a recent show focussed on
vintage Japanese photography.
MUSEUM
