Located in the beating heart of the city, in Piazza del Plebiscito stands one of the four residences used by the Bourbons of Naples during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies: the Royal Palace.
History tells us that in 1600 it was commissioned to Domenico Fontana to host King Philip III of Spain on an official visit to Naples in a spacious and comfortable seat. Too bad, however, that the capricious King Philip III changed his mind without warning: he postponed his visit to a later date. Thus it was that Naples found, almost by chance, a very prestigious Royal Palace.
Today it is one of the most representative museum structures in the city, a must for anyone visiting Naples.
Starting from inside the building, we find the oldest rooms on the main floor, which today are the Museum of the Historic Apartment. They retain the furnishings and decorations of the royal families: the Court Theater, the splendid Hall of the Ambassadors, the Throne Room, the Hall of Hercules, the Palatine Chapel dedicated to the Assumption.
Outside, the Royal Gardens have been the green area of the Palace since the thirteenth century. Crossing the courtyard of honor, the courtyard of carriages, the courtyard of the belvedere and the hanging gardens, you can enjoy the splendid view of the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius. From the courtyard of Honor you can also access the Royal Gardens, a park full of statues, avenues and “secret” paths. At the end of the Gardens, the nineteenth-century stables are currently used for exhibition purposes.
Along the external facade of the Palace there are the famous eight statues of the most important Kings of Naples kept in their respective niches. Each statue is the result of a different sculptor, and all together they tell a bit of Naples which owes its history to these kings.
Finally, on the side that runs alongside Piazza Trieste and Trento, one cannot ignore the presence of one of the most famous and prestigious theaters in the world, the famous Teatro San Carlo.
How to get
The palace is accessed from Piazza plebiscito, where the facade of the royal residence displays the statues of eight of its sovereigns.
By bus you can get there with:
ANM R1 Via San Carlo stop
ANM R3 Via San Carlo stop
ANM C4 stop Piazza Trieste and Trento
Useful info
Visits to the Royal Palace of Naples take place every day except Wednesday. The opening hours to the public are as follows:
from 09:00 to 13:00
from 14:00 to 17:00;
Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00
The cost of the ticket is variable:
full price is € 4.00 over the age of 24;
reduced price is € 3.00 for European citizens aged 18-24 with ID;
admission is free every first Sunday of the month.