Royal Palace in Naples

Royal Palace in Naples (Palazzo Reale di Napoli)

The Royal Palace in Naples is called Palazzo Reale by Italians. The picturesque palace was the residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Naples. The history of the palace complex begins in 1600, and the three-story building that survives today was built in the mid-19th century.

At first, the palace was owned by the viceroys of Spain. They were succeeded by Austrian rulers, and the last owners of the residence were the Bourbons and the kings of the Savoy dynasty. In 1717, Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Peter the Great, who had fled abroad, hid in the Royal Palace. During the period when Italy was conquered by France, the Palazzo Reale was the home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s youngest sister Caroline and her husband Marshal Ibrahim Murat. Thanks to them, the interior was decorated with the luxury of the times.

Highlights

Today, most of the Royal Palace in Naples belongs to the National Library of Italy, and its wings house various organizations. The library was established in 1814. These days it houses many rare books, and is particularly proud of the famous Herculaneum papyri.

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The facade, located on the side of Piazza Plebiscita, is decorated with statues of the greatest rulers of the Kingdom of Naples, a belfry and a clock. In the neat niches of the parterre are sculptures of the rulers who ruled Sicily from the middle of the 12th century onwards. Roger I, Frederick II Hohenstaufen, Charles I of Anjou, Alfonso I of Aragon, Charles V, Charles III of Bourbon, Joachim Murat, and Victor Emmanuel II were so honored.

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On both sides of the gate can be seen the bronze statues of the Conquest of the Horses, created by the Russian sculptor Pyotr Klodt. In 1846, Emperor Nicholas I presented these expressive sculptures to the King of Naples for the gracious welcome Naples gave to the Russian Empress. Exactly the same statues today adorn St. Petersburg’s Anichkov Bridge.

Inside the palace there are many halls decorated in the traditions of neoclassicism, neo-baroque and empire. It has its own theater with a lodge, and the picturesque chapel houses a collection of ecclesiastical art. The Royal Palace in Naples displays paintings by famous masters of the brush – Titian, Luca Giordano, Andrea Vacarro, Massimo Stanzione, Spagloletto, Husepe de Ribera and Mattia Preti. In addition, a portrait of Nicholas I painted by the artist Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky can be seen in the royal residence.

History of the Royal Palace in Naples

In 1600, the Viceroy of Spain Don Ferranto Ruiz de Castro wanted to build a beautiful palace to honorably receive the Spanish monarch Philip III. The famous Italian architect and master of early Baroque Domenico Fontana undertook to build the luxurious residence. The construction of the building for various reasons stretched for more than 50 years, and the long-awaited visit of Philip III never took place.

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In the early 18th century, the Royal Palace in Naples was enlarged, and in 1768 there was a beautiful theater built by the architect Ferdinando Fuga. In 1837 there was a major fire and all the interiors burned.

In the 1840s Palazzo Reale had to be rebuilt again. The reconstruction was led by the architect Gaetano Genovese. The palace received a more austere appearance, a long wing was added to it, and a new facade facing the sea. The rustic decorated walls and the belvedere turret made Palazzo Reale look like a military building.

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During World War II, the city was bombed extensively and the Royal Palace suffered considerable damage. However, it was rebuilt in the post-war years, retaining its characteristic neoclassical forms and luxurious interiors.

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Tourist information

Through the main entrance, one enters the Court of Fame. To the left are the gardens and to the right you can see a carriage yard with a terrace. A grand staircase, built in 1651 by the architect Francesco Antonio Picchiatti, leads to the apartments. The wide flights of stairs and banisters are decorated with marble and bas-reliefs.

Visitors can visit the Museum of Historical Apartments of Palazzo Reale. The apartments of the king and his family make the strongest impression. Many tourists linger for long periods of time in the Hercules Hall, the palace chapel, the Central Hall and the Throne Room. These rooms are decorated with wall and ceiling paintings. Decorative paintings on doorways, large crystal chandeliers, antique tapestries and original pieces of furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries look very beautiful.

The Royal Palace in Naples is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. any day except Wednesday. It costs 4 euros to enter. Photography and videography are allowed inside without the use of flash.

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How to get there

The Royal Palace in Naples is located in Piazza Plebiscita, opposite the Basilica San Francesco di Paola. Nearby is the passenger port, where huge cruise ships and small tourist boats dock. This part of Naples can be reached by buses nos. 150, 154, 650, C25, E3, E6, N1, N3, R2.