Royal Palace in Naples
The Royal Palace of Naples is full of stories, the most influential and important figures of Neapolitan history have walked on its floor, dating back to the viceroyalty, and everything here speaks of the art of centuries-old Naples. The first stone of the palace was laid in 1600 on the southern side of the old city near the sea to provide an escape. The magnificent palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Royal reception
The construction of the Royal Palace in Naples became necessary; during the era of the Viceroyalty, Fernando Ruiz de Castro realized that in order to welcome guests (he was expecting a visit from King Philip III of Habsburg of Spain) there was not enough of a truly luxurious, elegant and wide hall. In fact, the viceroyal palace existed for fifty years, which was absolutely not in accordance with the wishes of the viceroy. Part of the gardens was used precisely for the construction of a large palace, which replaced it and later the old Vicereale Palace was even demolished, resulting in the creation of the Piazza of Trieste and Trento.
Architecture of the Royal Palace in Naples
Domenico Fontane's inspiration was linked to the canons of the late Renaissance, but there were subsequent interventions, also in the 1700s and 1800s, by other important figures in the Neapolitan panorama who drew inspiration from other types of concepts. In fact, in 1734 Naples became the capital of an autonomous kingdom under Charles III of Bourbon, and the Royal Palace of Naples was expanded on several sides with the creation of two new courtyards, completely rebuilt in the late Baroque style. During the time of Ferdinand Bourbon, between 1838 and 1858, work was planned to restore the palace after the fire that devastated it. Then the architect Gaetano Genovese was entrusted with the restoration in the neoclassical style.
Butler Cascades
The huge garden surrounding the Royal Palace of Naples can be described as a continuation of the Baroque architecture of the palace combined with a botanical garden reminiscent of a typical English garden. It covers an area of about 110.76 hectares and has several cascades and fountains. It was built in a relatively hilly area and its most interesting feature is a straight canal with 5 monumental fountains. Integrated spacing creates a wonderful optical illusion. They can only be rivaled by those located in the garden of the Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg in Russia. The park in Naples can be visited by tourists, making the Royal Palace of Naples one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region.
