Villa Comunale, Naples
The Villa Comunale is a park running along the shoreline of Naples. It was once a royal promenade and commands spectacular views of the bay.
The Villa Comunale was initially a paved promenade commissioned in 1697 by the Spanish viceroy, the Duke of Medinaceli. He also commissioned the thirteen fountains and rows of willow trees along the path. The park was later laid on reclaimed land in the 1780s under the orders of the Bourbon king, Ferdinand IV. Until the unification of Italy in 1871, members of the public were allowed only on September 9th during the Festival of Piedigrotta. Today it is a popular green space within the city and still attracts crowds during the festival which includes a song writing competition.
The Villa Comunale or People’s Park has well manicured lawns and tree lined paths today. It is studded with fountains, neoclassical sculptures and busts commemorating heroes who were born in Naples in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Anton Dohrn Aquarium and Zoological station, a well known scientific research center and the Naples Tennis Club are located here. A popular antique market called the Fiera Antiquaria Napoletana, is held in the Villa Comunale on weekends all through the year.
The Villa Comunale was initially a paved promenade commissioned in 1697 by the Spanish viceroy, the Duke of Medinaceli. He also commissioned the thirteen fountains and rows of willow trees along the path. The park was later laid on reclaimed land in the 1780s under the orders of the Bourbon king, Ferdinand IV. Until the unification of Italy in 1871, members of the public were allowed only on September 9th during the Festival of Piedigrotta. Today it is a popular green space within the city and still attracts crowds during the festival which includes a song writing competition.
The Villa Comunale or People’s Park has well manicured lawns and tree lined paths today. It is studded with fountains, neoclassical sculptures and busts commemorating heroes who were born in Naples in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Anton Dohrn Aquarium and Zoological station, a well known scientific research center and the Naples Tennis Club are located here. A popular antique market called the Fiera Antiquaria Napoletana, is held in the Villa Comunale on weekends all through the year.
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Villa Comunale on Map
Sight Name: Villa Comunale
Sight Location: Naples, Italy (See walking tours in Naples)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Naples, Italy (See walking tours in Naples)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Naples, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Naples
Creating your own self-guided walk in Naples is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Naples Old Town Walk
After travelling to Naples in 1835 using a false passport, French painter and writer Alexandre Dumas described the Old Town’s streets as true storytellers in his travel writings.
From the Middle Ages onward, the Old Town developed as a dense network of neighbourhoods organised around churches, convents, guilds, and markets. Religious institutions played a decisive role in shaping the urban... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
From the Middle Ages onward, the Old Town developed as a dense network of neighbourhoods organised around churches, convents, guilds, and markets. Religious institutions played a decisive role in shaping the urban... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Naples Introduction Walking Tour
“See Naples and die.” German poet and scientist Goethe was convinced that Naples represented the epitome of human experience.
The city has been continuously inhabited for nearly three thousand years. Its origins date to the 8th century BC, when Greek settlers from Euboea established a small coastal colony known as Parthenope, near the site of today’s Ovo Castle. As the settlement expanded... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The city has been continuously inhabited for nearly three thousand years. Its origins date to the 8th century BC, when Greek settlers from Euboea established a small coastal colony known as Parthenope, near the site of today’s Ovo Castle. As the settlement expanded... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historical Churches
Christianity in general and the Catholic faith in particular have always played an important role in the social and cultural life of Naples. Not everyone knows that the city boasts the highest number of churches in the world – almost 500 historic “houses of God” (1,000 in total) – accumulated over the course of 17(!) centuries. Hence the nickname – “the city of 500 domes”.
And... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
And... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles