Visit Castel Nuovo: the Neaples’ Maschio Angioino

Between piazza Municipio and the Harbour of Napoli there is the majestic Castel Nuovo, also known as Maschio Angioino, a Medieval fortress that has become one of the symbols of the city.

To reach the Maschio Angioino you can take the line 1 underground train in piazza Garibaldi and get off at the Toledo metro stop. 

You can also take the R2 line bus that leaves from piazza Garibaldi and get off at piazza Municipio; alternatively, you can take the tram number 1 that leaves from piazza Vittoria and get off at piazza Municipio.

When king Carlo d’Angiò moved the capital city from Palermo to Napoli he requested a new fortress that was supposed to be a majestic royal palace at the same time: the castrum novum. In 1279 the construction begun. During the Angevin period Castel Nuovo become an important cultural centre.

During the Aragonese period, Alfonso I commissioned the Torre di Mezzo (Middle Tower) and the Torre di Guardia (Guarding Tower) together with the arco di trionfo (triumphal arch), so as to point out the transition from royal palace to military fortress. Additional changes were made first by the French (15th century) then by the Spanish viceroys, and finally by the Austrians. 

During the Bourbon dominion, the castle was no longer a royal palace and became the symbol of the Nepaolitan history and greatness.

At the entrance, between the Torre di Mezzo and the Torre di Guardia, there is the beautiful Arco Trionfale aragonese (Aragonese Triumphal Arch). 

The inner Cappella Palatina angioina (Angevin Palatine Chapel) that dates back to 1307, later remodeled in Gothic style, houses Maso di Banco’s paintings and many sculptures. 

Moreover, there are several rooms: the Sala dell’armeria (Armoury Room) that is to the left of the chapel; the Sala dei Baroni (Barons Room) that overlooks the sea; the Cappella delle anime del purgatorio (Purgatory Souls Chapel) and the Cappella di San Francesco di Paola (San Francesco from Paola Chapel). 

Right under the Cappella Palatina there are the basements that house the prigioni del Miglio (Miglio Prisons) and the prigioni dei baroni (Barons Prisons). According to legend, under the prigione del Miglio there was a trapdoor looking on to the sea, where a crocodile was patiently waiting for the prisoners to be thrown.

The Maschio Angioino castle houses the Museo Civico, whose path starts in the Cappella Palatina and goes through both the first and the second floor of the castle. The first floor collection includes works of art from 15th to 18th century, mostly religious-themed frescoes and paintings; whereas, the second floor collection includes works of art from 18th to 20th century. 

The sala Carlo V (Charles V Room) and the sala della Loggia (Loggia Room) often house temporary exhibitions; whereas, on both the second and the third floor there is the Biblioteca della Società napoletana di storia patria (Native History Neapolitan Society Library), that is a private library.