Page 428 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

426  IT AL Y AND GREECE

palace of Castel Nuovo, built
for Charles of Anjou in 1279–82.
Another star sight, the Palazzo
Reale was designed for the
viceroy Ruiz de Castro, and has
a superb library, richly adorned
royal apartments, and a court
theater. Begun in 1600, the
palace was not completed
until 1843.
The Palazzo Reale di
Capodimonte, once a hunting
lodge, now houses the Museo
di Capodimonte, with its
magnificent collection of Italian
paintings, including works by
Titian, Botticelli, and Raphael.
View across the Bay of Naples to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius This part of Naples is also
known for its “Spanish Quarter,”
g Naples have left Naples with a rich store or Quartieri Spagnoli, a
* 1,100,000. k Capodichino of ancient ruins, churches, and neighborhood of narrow,
4 km (2.5 miles) NW. g £ @ palaces, many of which can be cobbled alleys often used to
n Piazza del Gesù (081-551 27 01). seen in the compact center of represent the archetypal
( daily. _ Maggio dei Monumenti the old city. The Museo Neapolitan street scene.
(May), San Gennaro (Sep 19). Archeologico Nazionale
holds treasures from Environs
The chaotic yet spectacular Pompeii and A trip by funicular
city of Naples (Napoli) Herculaneum, railway up Vomero
sprawls around the edge of including a bust hill brings you to
a beauti ful bay in the shadow of Seneca, fine the Certosa di San
of Mount Vesuvius. glassware, frescoes, Martino. This
Originally a Greek city named mosaics, and the 14th-century
Neapolis, founded in 600 BC, fabulous Farnese charterhouse has
Naples became an “allied city” of Classical sculptures. been lavishly
Rome two centuries later. It has Nearby, the church redecorated over
since had many foreign rulers. of San Giovanni a the centuries. The
The French House of Anjou Carbonara houses some Church and the
controled Naples between 1266 glorious medieval works Prior’s Residence
and 1421, when power passed of art, such as the tomb are particularly
to Alfonso V of Aragón. A colony of King Ladislas of impressive. Just
of Spain by 1503, in 1707 Naples Naples (1386–1414). behind the
was ceded to Austria, and in The French Gothic Certosa lies
1734 Charles III of Bourbon took Duomo holds the Farnese Hercules, Museo the Castel Sant
over. In 1860, Naples became relics of San Gennaro, Archeologico Nazionale Elmo, which
part of the new kingdom of Italy. martyred in 305 AD. offers fine views.
The centuries of occupation Next to it is one of Italy’s finest Boat excursions can be taken
Renaissance gateways, the Porta along the Posillipo coast, and to
Capuana, completed in 1490. the islands of Capri, Ischia, and
Also worth visiting, the Procida. Inland, Caserta has its
Monte della Misericordia, own Palazzo Reale, which
a 17th-century octagonal boasts over 1,000 sumptuously
church, houses Caravaggio’s decorated rooms. The town of
huge Seven Acts of Mercy (1607). Santa Maria Capua Vetere has
Central Naples is particularly a Roman amphitheater and
rich in 14th- and 15th-century a Mithraeum.
churches. San Domenico
Maggiore contains some fine E Museo Archeologico
Renaissance sculpture while Nazionale
Santa Chiara houses the tombs Piazza Museo Nazionale 19. Tel 081-44
of the Angevin monarchs and a 22 149. q Museo. Open Thu–Wed.
museum whose exhibits include Closed May 1, Dec 25. &
the ruins of a Roman bathhouse. E Museo di Capodimonte
Tomb of King Ladislas of Naples in San Southeast Naples is home to Parco di Capodimonte. Tel 081-749 91
Giovanni a Carbonara the city’s castles and the royal 11. Open Thu–Tue. & 7
For hotels and restaurants see pp438–40 and pp441–3

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