Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest fortress in Naples that stands on the ancient islet of Megaride, a strip of land from which the history of Naples and its ancient civilization originated. It is said that its name derives from an egg that was secretly kept by Virgil inside the Castle, on which, according to legend, the good fortune of the Castle itself depended. From that moment on, the fate of the entire city was linked to that of the egg. It is even said that when the Castle suffered serious damage due to the collapse of the arch that connects the two rocks on which it is raised, the Queen was practically obliged to officially declare that she had replaced the egg to prevent fears from spreading in the city. for the advent of new and more damaging disasters.
The Castle still stands majestically today, in the area of via Caracciolo, a very popular and suggestive part of the city of Naples. From the terraces of Castel dell’Ovo and from its terraces it is possible to enjoy a breathtaking view.
The rock above which the Castle stands is now known as Borgo Marinari, one of the most characteristic and loved places in the city. A citadel in itself full of bars, restaurants, where everything is wrapped in a special atmosphere, away from the hectic pace of the city and where it seems that time has stopped. Its enchanted atmosphere becomes irresistible on summer evenings when, in addition to enjoying the picturesque scenery, the sea breeze mitigates the heat and grants refreshment.
HOW TO GET
The best choice is to get to Castel dell’Ovo from the pedestrian area, even if you have to walk a little. The metro stop (Line 1 that goes from Piazza Garibaldi to Piscinola), the nearest metro stop is “Toledo”.
It is a walk of about 2 km but extremely pleasant, mostly in the ZTL. You go all the way down via Roma until you reach Piazza Plebiscito. After the square, just proceed towards the sea and follow the road on your right until you find the Castel dell’Ovo almost in front of you.
INFO AND TIMES
Opening days: open every day.
Hours: during the summer 9:00 – 19:30. On weekdays 9:00 – 14:00. Sundays and public holidays during the winter period 9:00 – 18:30.
On weekdays 9:00 – 14:00 Sundays and holidays
During the months of solar time, closing is brought forward by one hour on weekdays.
The times remain unchanged on holidays.
For information you can call the numbers:
081.2400055 – 081.7954593.