Castel dell'Ovo, Naples (Castel dell'Ovo) - the medieval fortress of the Egg. monks and monastery
Medieval castle Castel dell'Ovo in Naples is located on small island Santa Lucia, which is connected to the mainland by a narrow embankment. It is from this place that the history of the first city, built here in the 6th century BC, begins.
This is one of the oldest castles in Naples, which is definitely worth a look. Him interesting story, unique architecture, and observation deck offers a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Naples and the entire city.
The name of the castle is translated as "Egg Castle". Why? Find out from the article.
History of Castel dell'Ovo
The first city, named Parthenopeia, was founded on the island of Megaris in the 6th century BC by the first settlers from Qom. During the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. the commander Lucius Lucullus built a rich palace here, and during the reign of Emperor Valentinian III, the island was carefully fortified. After that, in 476, the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was brought here.
monks and monastery
In the period from 492 to 496, several monks belonging to the Order of St. Basil arrived on the island and brought with them the relics of St. Severin Nikorsky. They lived on an island in cells that were carved into the rocks. These cells can still be seen today.
In the 8th century, a monastery was built on the island, called the Abode of the Savior, where the monks moved. Cells began to be used for secret rituals, as well as a necropolis.
Castle construction
The construction of the castle is attributed to the Norman Roger II of Sicily, who in 1139 captured these lands and built the impregnable fortress of Castel dell'Ovo. This castle became his residence.
In the 14th century, during a strong earthquake, a significant part of the interior of the castle collapsed. Fortunately, these structures were restored by the architect Giovanni de Giulio.
Fortress
In 1503, the castle was besieged by Ferdinand II of Aragon, when a mine explosion severely damaged Northern part fortresses. Subsequently, a reconstruction was carried out and this part of the castle turned into a huge hall with a vault, called Italian and used at that time as a stable.
From 1503 to 1734, the castle was a completely military fortification, and not a royal residence. So, in 1693, the Ramalletto battery appeared on its western side.
Jail
In the 18th century the castle was used as a prison. The poet and philosopher Tommaso Campanella was imprisoned here, as well as politicians of the 19th century - Carlo Poerio, Francesco di Sanctis, Luigi Settembrini.
modern time
Today, the castle often hosts exhibitions and various concerts. On the eve of major holidays, fireworks and bright lights are lit here.
Be sure to climb to the very top of the fortress to admire beautiful view all over Naples! You will have a view of (Palazzo Reale di Napoli), Castel Nuovo, port with beautiful liners, (Castel Sant'Elmo), as well as .
Architecture of Castel dell'Ovo
The castle looks very monumental and impressive, as befits medieval castles of the 11th-13th centuries. Although it has an unusual elongated shape. In the architecture of the fortress, many arches stand out, which are decorated with antique columns and pilasters.
towers
Despite numerous damages to the fortress during its history, the main walls and construction of the castle have been preserved since the 9th century. Then the castle was divided into northern and southern parts with the help of an arch. The northern part, built in the 16th century, includes the Colleville Tower, connected to the Great Bastion. The southern part, built in the 14th century, includes the Great Tower, the Middle Tower, where the Church of St. Salvator is located, and the Norman Tower.
The Norman tower was used as the main bastion of the castle, on top of which the Norman flag was installed. This tower was distinguished by very thick walls and served to protect the southern ledge of the fortress. At its base on the western side there is a large window through which the sea is clearly visible.
Bastion
The Ramalletto battery is a bastion that appeared during the Spanish rule. It housed 60 guns. The bastion is connected to the main body of the castle, forming a wing, on the edge of which there is a large tower.
Great arch hall
At present, the castle is no longer divided into two parts, since during the reconstruction the Hall of the large arch was formed.
Hall of Columns
Of particular interest are the Hall of Columns from the time of the Angevin rule and the Prison of Queen Giovanna - this is an interesting underground room next to the entrance to the castle, which was carved into the rock.
Church
Also in the castle is the Church of St. Peter, which was built in the 14th century. In 1847, its interior was completely changed, so the original appearance of the church has not been preserved to this day.
Museum
At the end of the tour, you can visit the historical museum located on the territory of the castle. There are not only household items of the Neapolitans of the 14th-16th centuries, but also paintings by famous artists such as Titian and Vaccaro.
Legends of Castel dell'Ovo
Many legends are connected with the origin of the name of the castle. Castel dell'Ovo is Italian for "Castle of the Egg". There are two versions of the origin of such a strange name.
The first of them says that the castle was named so because of its elongated shape, reminiscent of an egg. According to another legend, the Roman magician Virgil hid a magic egg under the fortress, thanks to which the walls of the castle are held.
At the foot of the castle, there are many restaurants and bars where you can relax after sightseeing and enjoy delicious local cuisine.
How to get to Castel dell'Ovo
Castel dell'Ovo is located near Piazza del Plebiscito at Via Eldorado 3. If you go by bus, you need bus number C25, which you can find on any map of Naples. The stop at the castle is called Via Partenope.
Opening hours
The castle is open on weekdays from 8.00 to 19.00, and on weekends and holidays - from 8.00 to 14.00.
Cost of visiting
Entry to Castel dell'Ovo is free as of 2019.
Near the Castel dell'Ovo castle is the Plebiscite Square - the central square of Naples, in the center of which stands a statue of the Italian king Victor Emmanuel II. Here you can visit the famous Royal Palace and the Church of St. Francis of Paola. In the center stands an equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II, the king who united Italy.
Excursions in Naples
Would you like an experienced guide to tour Naples? Of course, it will be better if your guide - local who will introduce you to the city like no other.
See the most interesting and unusual excursions on the site .
Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle) Castel dell "Ovo (castrum Ovi, in Latin) is the oldest castle in Naples. It is located between the districts of San Ferdinando and Chiaia, opposite Via Partenope. Its name comes from an ancient legend according to which The Latin poet Virgil, who in the Middle Ages was considered a magician, hid an egg in the dungeons of the castle, which contained the power of the fortress.According to legend, if it is broken, not only the castle, but also the city of Naples will be destroyed.
The castle stands on the island of Megaride, a natural extension of Mount Ekiya, which was connected to the mainland by a thin isthmus. It was on this place that the Greek settlers founded in the 8th century BC. e. Naples called Parthenope (named after the mythological siren). In the 60s BC, the Roman military leader and politician Lucius Licinius Lucullus, who became famous not only for his victories over King Mithridates, but also for his wealth and craving for luxury, acquired a very large plot of land in this area, and built a magnificent villa on the island "Villa di Licinio Lucullo", which was famous for its very rich library and peach trees brought from Persia, which were a novelty at that time.
In the later times of the Empire - in the middle of the fifth century - the villa was fortified by Emperor Valentinian III. Here lived in exile Romulus Augustulus (lat. Romulus Augustulus) - the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, who ruled in 475 - 476. Romulus, distinguished only by his beauty, was enthroned at a young age by his father, the military commander Orestes, who overthrew the emperor Julius Nepos. However, his claims to the throne were not recognized either by the Gallic governor Syagrius or by the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire. For a minor emperor, his father ruled. As a result, after a ten-month reign, Romulus was overthrown by the leader of the Heruli Odoacer and sent into exile in Campania.
After the death of Romulus Augustulus, the Basilian monks from the Order of St. Basil the Great settled at the end of the fifth century on the island of Megaris and on Mount Ekiia. The first monasteries of the Byzantine rite in southern Italy were founded by Greeks who fled from Byzantium during the period of iconoclasm. The monastery was razed to the ground at the beginning of the tenth century by the dukes of Naples to prevent it from being taken over by the Saracens, to be used as a base for an invasion of the city, while the monks withdrew to Pizzofalcon. In 1128, by order of the Duke of Naples, a new fortification was erected on the island, called "Arx Sancti Salvatoris".
Roger II (Ruggero II di Sicilia) - the founder and first king (since 1130) of the Sicilian kingdom from the Hauteville dynasty, immigrants from Normandy, sought to subjugate all the independent lands of southern Italy. The last independent duke of Naples, Sergius VII of Naples (Sergio VII Napoli), stubbornly resisted this. In 1131, Sergius tried to support the citizens of Amalfi with his fleet, but the Sicilian fleet under the command of George of Antioch blocked the Neapolitans in the harbor, and Sergius VII was forced to submit to the king. In 1135, the Pisan fleet under the command of Robert II of Capua appeared in the Gulf of Naples, and Sergius joined him. Roger II laid siege to Naples. The defense of the city continued until the spring of 1136. Sergius VII and Robert of Capuan managed to break through to Pisa, from where they called for the help of Emperor Lothair II. Lothair came with an army to Italy and Naples was freed from the siege, but after the departure of the German army, Roger II easily restored his power. Sergius VII submitted to the king and, fulfilling his vassal duty, took part in the campaign against Rainulf of Alifan in 1137 and died in the battle of Rignano. He left no heirs, and after two years of republican rule, Naples finally became part of the Sicilian kingdom.
Roger II, who occupied Naples in 1140, fortified Castel dell'Ovo. The castle was used for a very short time as a residential residence of the rulers of Naples. The King of Sicily, William I the Evil, ordered the construction of the Capuano Castle (Castel Capuano) in front of the entrance to the " Old city". Under Frederick II, this castle, originally built as a military citadel, becomes a royal residence. Castel dell'Ovo, meanwhile, becomes a powerful fortification that protects the city from the sea, the Norman tower is erected, over which the royal flag fluttered. The castle was further strengthened in 1222 by Frederick II, its northern part was built on the highest ledge of the rock and three more towers were erected: torre di Colleville, torre Maestra and torre di Mezzo. The king places the royal treasury in Castel dell'Ovo. During the reign of Charles I of Anjou, the castle was used as a state prison. The first noble prisoners of Castel del Ovo were the sons of King Manfred of Sicily deposed by Charles I - Henry, Friedrich and Azzolino. Manfred, the son of Emperor Frederick II, was defeated and died in a battle near Benevent fighting with the troops of Charles of Anjou. You can read more about these events in the article about Manfredonia Castle. Conradin, king of Sicily, the last legitimate scion of the imperial house of Hohenstaufen, son of Conrad IV and grandson of Emperor Frederick II, who tried to overthrow Charles I, was also kept in Castel dell'Ovo. At the Battle of Tagliacozzo northeast of Rome in 1268, the French knights won mercenary army of Conradin, he was at first able to escape, but was later captured and handed over to Charles I. He was tried as a traitor and executed on market square in Naples.
Grandson of Charles I - Robert the Wise King of Naples in 1309 - 1343
had two sons. His heir to the throne, Charles, Duke of Calabria, predeceased his father and left behind several daughters. One of them, Giovanna I (1328 - 1382), became Robert's successor on the Neapolitan throne. Having ascended the throne in 1343, the fifteen-year-old queen quickly plunged into an atmosphere of court intrigues, amusements and dubious pleasures. Giovanna's husband Andrew of Hungary claimed the royal title and demanded that Giovanna share power with him. In 1345, the tense relationship of the spouses ended with Andrei being strangled in his own bed by two cousins of the queen, who acted on her orders. A year later, Giovanna married one of them - Louis of Tarentum. The assassination of the king sparked an uprising in Naples, but Giovanna managed to maintain power by promising to punish the assassins. The Hungarian king Lajos I, Andrew's brother, invaded Naples in 1348 to avenge his brother's death. Giovanna and Louis of Tarentum fled to Provence, which belonged to her. Pope Clement became an intermediary between the monarchs and an impartial investigation of the murder of Andrew was carried out under papal control. According to the verdict of the pope, Giovanna was recognized as a participant in the murder, but not guilty, since "she acted at the instigation of the devil." Lajos agreed with the verdict and returned to Hungary, and after that Pope Clement got a new residence in Provence in the city of Avignon...
After the earthquake of 1370, which destroyed the natural isthmus that connected the island of Megarid with the mainland, Queen Giovanna ordered the construction of a stone bridge and the restoration of the damaged castle. Giovanna had no heir, her only son by Andrew of Hungary died in childhood. The queen married her relative Charles Durazzo to her niece Margherita Durazzo and declared her heir. Giovanna was in love with him throughout her life. However, to her displeasure, Carl did not reciprocate. During the church schism, Giovanna joined the party of the Avignon Pope Clement VII, and his opponent, Pope Urban VI, excommunicated Giovanna from the church and recognized Charles Durazzo as king. Giovanna entered into a fourth marriage with Otto of Brunswick, but Charles Durazzo defeated the Neapolitan troops under the command of Otto at San Germano and laid siege to Giovanna in Naples. Charles captured the city and laid siege to Castel dell'Ovo, where Giovanna had taken refuge. After failed attempt Otto lift the siege, Charles captured Giovanna and imprisoned her in Castel dell'Ovo. Charles later ordered his mercenaries to strangle Giovanna in 1382. Charles' relationship with Pope Urban VI deteriorated, and Charles conspired against him. In 1385, the pope excommunicated Charles from the church and imposed an interdict on the Kingdom of Naples. The king responded by sending an army led by Alberico da Barbiano against the pope. Charles left Naples and went to Hungary to take the throne, but as a result of the conspiracy he was mortally wounded and died in 1386. His son Vladislav succeeded him in Naples. His reign was dedicated to the incessant war for control of Southern Italy. In 1407, Vladislav, taking advantage of the conflict between the new Pope Gregory XII and the townspeople, laid siege to Rome and forced the Roman nobility to recognize themselves as the sovereign of Rome with the right to appoint a senator to govern the city. After that, the entire Papal Region submitted to Vladislav, and Pope Gregory XII humbled himself before the king. But this situation did not last long. During 1409 - 1410, the Neapolitan troops were driven out of the Papal States, and in May 1412 Vladislav was defeated at Roccasecca and barely escaped capture. John XXIII reconciled with Vladislav, and Vladislav renounced sovereignty over Rome. In 1413, Vladislav recaptured Rome, his troops reached Perugia, where the king suddenly fell ill and died in August 1414. He left no children and was succeeded by his sister Giovanna II at the age of 41. Giovanna summoned Alphonse V of Aragon to Naples, adopted him and declared him her heir in 1421. After many years of intrigue and her death, he became king of Naples under the name of Alphonse I in 1435.
Alphonse I fortified Castel dell'Ovo, restored the pier, strengthened the defenses and rebuilt the towers of the castle, reducing their height. After the death of the Neapolitan king Fernando I in 1494, the French king Charles VIII, who was a relative of the kings of the Angevin dynasty that previously ruled in Naples, claimed the throne of Naples. Charles was supported by the Duke of Milan Lodovico Moro and Pope Alexander VI. French troops invaded Italy in 1495 and occupied Naples, while Castel dell'Ovo suffered from French artillery fire. In 1500, Charles's successor, Louis XII, concluded an agreement with Ferdinand the Catholic for the joint conquest of Naples. The event was successful, King Federico II of Naples was overthrown, but the two kings quarreled: Ferdinand demanded to recognize him as king of both Sicily and Naples, which led to a war between France and Castile-Aragon. After the army of Ferdinand under the command of Gonzalo de Córdoba defeated the French at the battle of Cerignol and the battle of Garigliano in 1503, the French troops were driven out of Naples, while during the siege of Castel dell'Ovo, the artillery of Ferdinand the Catholic finally destroyed what left of the towers. Louis had to return to Lombardy.
Then the castle was again and completely renewed, taking the form that we see today. The octagonal towers were rebuilt, the walls were thickened, and the defenses were oriented towards the land instead of the sea.
During the reign of the Spanish viceroys and later the Bourbons, the castle was additionally fortified with artillery batteries and two drawbridges. Castel dell'Ovo has been used since the 18th century as an asylum and military outpost from which the Spaniards bombarded the city during Masaniello's movements, and a prison where, among others, Tommaso Campanella was kept in 1614 - Italian philosopher, theologian and writer, author utopian treatise "City of the Sun", one of the most significant thinkers of the late Renaissance. Many carbonari and liberals visited the dungeons of the castle, including Carlo Poerio, Luigi Settembrini, Francesco de Sanctis.
During the "Risanamento" period that changed the face of Naples after the unification of Italy, a project developed by the Association of Literature and Artists in 1871 involved the destruction of the castle to make way for a new area. However, this project was not implemented, and the building remained the property of the state. Restoration work began in 1975.
Castel dell'Ovo can be visited for free. Its premises host exhibitions, congresses and other events. Near the castle is the tourist harbor "Borgo Marinari", numerous restaurants, bars and one of the most prestigious Neapolitan nautical clubs. on weekdays from 9.00 to 18.30 - entrance closes at 18.00
on weekends and Sundays from 9.00 to 14.00 - entrance closes at 13.30
Castel dell'Ovo / Castel dell'Ovo - medieval fortress, - the oldest fortification in Naples.
Castel dell'Ovo is also known as the Egg Castle or Egg Castle. So unusual name The castle is associated with one of the most bizarre Neapolitan legends. The Roman poet Virgilio, who in the Middle Ages had a reputation as a great sorcerer and predictor of the future, laid a magic egg in the foundation of the castle and said: “This egg supports the castle and if the egg is broken, the castle will be destroyed, followed by a series of catastrophic events throughout Naples. From that moment on, the fate of the castle, along with the city, was tied to the fate of the egg. The chronicles say that during the time of Queen Giovanna I, the castle was badly damaged due to the collapse of the arch that unites the two rocks on which it was built, after which panic grew in the city, connected with rumors about the “death” of all of Naples. In order to prevent chaos, for fear of new and more serious disasters, the Queen was forced to solemnly announce that she had replaced the egg and Naples was once again under protection.
According to another version, the castle was called "Egg" for its unusual shape.
Castle del Ovo stands on two rocks connected by a large arch, which gives its appearance an impressive impregnable appearance.
The castle is located in historical center cities, on former island Megarid, now a peninsula in Naples. Megarid Island was where the Greek colonists from Kuma founded the core of the city in the 6th century BC.
The current appearance of the castle dates from the Aragonese domination (15th century). During the Italian War, the castle was significantly damaged by the French and Spanish troops. After a long period of dilapidation, the castle acquired its current appearance during a large-scale reconstruction that began in 1975.
Around the 19th century east wall From the castle, the small fishing village of Borgo Marinaro arose, which is still preserved and is now part of the city and is famous for its restaurants and the harbor adjacent to the castle walls.
A bridge (dam) leads to the entrance to the castle, connecting the island and the castle with the Naples embankment, Via Partenope, where the most prestigious hotels in Naples are located, such as the 5-star Grand Vesuvio hotel, 4-star hotels Royal Continental and Eurostars Excelsior.
Above the arched entrance to the castle, you can see the remains of the coat of arms and old cannons.
The interior of the Castel dell'Ovo castle in Naples
Currently, the castle is a monumental complex of Castel dell'Ovo. Entrance to the castle grounds is free. During the year, various exhibitions and events are held in the halls of the castle, which can be visited for a fee, on average, 8 - 10 Euros. Also inside the castle there are several rooms of various types that can be used for conferences, meetings and business meetings.
Photo of the free part of the castle
The castle has several terraces of different levels and a balcony from which scenic views on the embankment, the Gulf of Naples and some surroundings.
Terrace Loggiato Est overlooking the Gulf of Naples. The space is occupied by part of the church of St. Peter, built by the monks of St. Basil, is currently destroyed.
Balcony overlooking the marina, Vesuvius and the part of the peninsula not occupied by the castle, where accommodation facilities such as the Casa Chirico al Borgo Marinaro and RESORT ON BOARD Castel dell "Ovo - Catamarano Miragua apartments, the Transatlantico hotel, the Casa del Porto al Borgo holiday home are located .
Terrace overlooking the sea (former royal residence).
Terrace of cannons (terrazza dei cannoni), located in the highest part of the castle.
Castel dell'Ovo means "Egg Castle" in Italian. The fortress was built in the Middle Ages on the island of Megaris in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The attraction is considered because the island is connected to the city by a narrow embankment.
Presumably, the history of the city began from this island. The ancient Greeks laid the first stones here in the distant VI century. BC.
During the period of the Roman Empire, a villa was built here for the commander Lucullus. He liked the location of the island.
For the next centuries, the castle served as a haven for monks.
The castle acquired its present form in 1139 under the leadership of Roger of Sicily. He built it to protect against enemies from the sea. Castel dell'Ovo was named for its oval shape, although according to other versions, the name came from an egg hidden under the castle.
Over the centuries that have passed, the fortress has undergone changes: destruction due to earthquakes, attacks by French artillery in the 16th century, damage during the Italian wars. And yet, the building has been preserved in the form in which it was erected 9 centuries ago.
The purpose of the structure also changed. First, a place for the ruling elite, then the repository of the royal treasury. Since the 18th century, Castel dell'Ovo has been a military fortress and even a prison. Today it is a tourist attraction, often used for exhibitions, festivals and symposiums.
One of the main attractions of the city is old castle Eggs (Castel dell'Ovo), so named because of its configuration
Castel dell'Ovo is a complex of towers from different eras, combined into a single complex, resembling a huge stone ship.
This medieval fortress is located on an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, connected by a narrow embankment to Naples. It is assumed that it was here in the VI century. BC e. and this city was founded by Greek colonists.
In the Roman era, the commander Lucullus was the first to be seduced by the location of the island and built his villa here. Under Emperor Valentinian III, the island was fortified in case of attack, and here in 476 its last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was removed from Ravenna. Then, for several centuries, only monks lived on the island. In the 9th century, the Neapolitans were forced to demolish the fortifications in order to prevent their capture by the Saracens.
Subsequently, the Normans and Angevins expanded and strengthened the tufa structure.
In the 17th century during the reign of Charles I of Anjou and Alphonse of Aragon, the castle was adapted for a prison, in the casemates of which the monk-philosopher Tommaso Campanella languished among other prisoners.
The current castle was built by Roger of Sicily in 1139 to protect the city from the sea and was named for its unusual shape.
According to another version, its name Castel dell'Ovo received because of a magic egg hidden under the castle by Virgil. According to medieval legend, the Latin poet Virgil, who in antiquity was also considered a great magician, hung a jug with an egg in one of the rooms of the castle. It was believed that when the jar fell and broke, the castle and the whole city would turn into ruins.
A hundred years later, the royal court moved to Castel Nuovo, and the king's treasury and judicial institutions remained in the old castle.
In the 15th century, the fortress was strengthened in case of cannon fire. This was very useful, since during the Italian wars Castel dell'Ovo had to withstand the fire of French guns.
A visit to the castle is fraught with many interesting things. You can admire the bastions of yellow tuff, the refectory of the monks, and from the terraces of the upper floors a magnificent panorama of the bay opens up to Cape Posillipo with the island of Capri in front of it. Inside the castle, elements of medieval structures alternate with Gothic ones, as well as with more ancient ones, such as, for example, the remains of a cult place called San Salvatore. Torre Maestra and Torre Normadia (Tower - Mast and Norman Tower) deserve special attention.
Stretched along the embankment big park with many sculptures and fountains. In the Aquarium, which consists of 30 tanks, you can observe various inhabitants of the sea.
By the way Egg Castle like two drops similar to the castle of If) And at the bottom of the fortress, under the gates of Porta Santa Lucia, there are many fish restaurants.
