The Castel Sant’Elmo is a unique star shaped structure that was built to protect Naples from attacks from the sea. It has served many purposes through history and is one of the important landmarks of the city.

The first historical record of a fort on the site of Castel Sant’Elmo is that of a small structure built by the Normans in 1170. Later, relatives of Charles of Anjou built a large residence called Belforte on the site of the old fort in 1275. The Aragonese viceroy, Don Pedro de Toledo commissioned renowned military architect, Pedro Luis Escriva to enlarge the structure and the fort owes its unique shape to his design. It was enlarged between the years 1537 and 1547. From 1604 until 1956, it was used as a prison.

The Castel Sant’Elmo is a popular tourist attraction in Naples today. It hosts exhibitions, concerts and conferences from time to time. Two early churches within the fort are the Church of Sant’Elmo that dates back to the 16th century and the Chapel of Santa Maria del Pilar that dates back to the 17th century. A funicular takes visitors up the San Martino Hill to reach the Castel Sant’Elmo and the prison cells within the fort offer spectacular views over the city and bay of Naples.

The Piazza Dante or Dante Square in Naples is dominated by the statue of the renaissance poet, Dante Alighieri. It is a centrally located square in the city.

The Piazza Dante was once the site of a large marketplace. At the time, it was called the Largo del Mercatello or Market Square. The square was redesigned and renovated by the architect, Luigi Vanvitelli in 1765. After the modifications, it was called the Foro Carolina after Maria Carolina of Austria, the consort of the then reigning King of Naples, Ferdinand IV. After the unification of Italy in 1871, the statue of Dante Alighieri by sculptor, Tito Angelini was erected here in 1872.

The Piazza Dante today is a popular square for both locals and tourists. It is within easy reach of most of the important monuments in Naples and lies near the new first line of the underground station. There is also a well known food market at the Rione della Pignasecca nearby. The original modifications by Luigi Vanvitelli including a semicircle of highly decorated columns with statues are still located on Piazza Dante and form the western side of a boarding school. It is a popular venue for family activities in Naples.

The Sansevero Chapel Museum was originally built in the late 16th century by Giovan Francesco di Sangro as a private family burial place, but it owes its present form to Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero, who transformed it in the mid-18th century.

The chapel is home to nearly thirty important artworks. At the centre of the chapel lies its most famous work: the Veiled Christ, sculpted in 1753 by artist Giuseppe Sanmartino. Carved from a single block of marble, the figure is covered by a delicately rendered shroud that appears almost transparent, revealing the anatomy beneath with remarkable realism.

The chapel’s walls are lined with marble sculptures, each representing a moral virtue linked to members of the Sansevero family. Among these sculptures, two major highlights stand on either side of the Veiled Christ, toward the north-west. One of them is called Modesty, and it depicts a veiled female figure, celebrated for the delicate treatment of marble. The second is called Release from Deception, and it portrays a fisherman escaping from a fishing net with the help of an angel. The sculpture’s appeal lies in its extraordinary craftsmanship, as the intricate fishing net is carved entirely from marble.

Above, the painted ceiling, titled Glory of Paradise, gives the chapel a dynamic feel by illustrating a celestial vision of Paradise, filled with swirling clouds, angels, and radiant light, opening upward above the nave.

On the right side of the chapel, relative to the entrance, in the third archway, you will notice a narrow 19th-century spiral staircase that leads to the basement. There, you encounter the so-called Anatomical Machines: two preserved human skeletons displaying the circulatory system in extraordinary detail. While the bones are indeed human, the blood vessels are a highly intricate reconstruction made of metal wires, silk, and wax.

Naples Cathedral’s construction began in the late 13th century under Angevin rule, on a site already occupied by earlier Christian basilicas and Roman structures. This complex past is still visible today: beneath and beside the cathedral lie the remains of early Christian churches, including the Basilica of Santa Restituta.

The cathedral’s main structure reflects Gothic architectural principles introduced from northern Europe, particularly in its soaring interior and pointed arches. Earthquakes, fires, and restorations reshaped parts of the building, introducing new artistic influences over time. The façade seen today dates largely from a 19th-century Neo-Gothic restoration, while the interior preserves medieval elements alongside Baroque chapels and artworks.

One of the cathedral’s most important spaces is the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro, built in the early 17th century and entirely separate from the cathedral’s original structure. Facing the apse, entering the right side of the cathedral brings you close to the chapel. The entrance is easily recognisable thanks to its imposing scale and black gate. This richly decorated Baroque chapel houses the relics of San Gennaro, Naples’ patron saint. Several times a year, crowds gather here to witness the so-called miracle of the liquefaction of the saint’s blood, a ritual deeply embedded in local tradition. According to legend, failure of the blood to liquefy is seen as an omen of disaster for the city.

Directly opposite the entrance to the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro is the entrance to the Basilica of Santa Restituta, the original church dating to the 4th century AD. Inside, the basilica preserves several remarkable elements, including a Greek wall associated with the ancient Temple of Apollo, a stretch of Roman aqueduct, and an inclined section of ancient Greek roadway.

While you are here, you can step from the main nave into earlier basilicas, observe medieval mosaics and tombs, and contrast the cathedral’s restrained Gothic lines with the dramatic Baroque intensity of the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro.

San Gregorio Armeno Street, often called “Christmas Alley,” is known worldwide for its long tradition of nativity-scene craftsmanship. The street runs through the historic centre, connecting Spaccanapoli with Tribunal Street, and follows the line of one of the ancient streets of Greek Neápolis.

The street takes its name from the nearby Church and Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, founded in the 10th century by a community of Basilian nuns who brought relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, to Naples. Over time, the religious complex became one of the city’s most important convents.

By the early modern period, San Gregorio Armeno Street had become the centre of Naples’ presepe tradition-the elaborate nativity scenes that go far beyond the biblical story to include everyday Neapolitan life. Artisans set up workshops along the street, producing hand-crafted figurines made from terracotta, wood, and fabric. These figures range from classic shepherds and biblical characters to bakers, musicians, market vendors, and, in more recent times, contemporary public figures.

The street offers a highly concentrated sensory experience. The atmosphere becomes especially animated in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but the street remains active year-round, making it one of the few places in Naples where a seasonal tradition never truly pauses.

Spaccanapoli is one of the oldest and most defining streets in Naples, cutting a straight line through the historic centre and giving the impression of splitting the city in two. Its name comes from this very effect-spacca Napoli literally means “it splits Naples.” The street follows the route of one of the original decumani, the main east–west roads of the ancient Greek city of Neápolis, laid out in the 5th century BC and still forming the backbone of the historic centre today.

Because Spaccanapoli sits directly on this ancient grid, walking along it is a journey through multiple layers of history compressed into a single corridor. Roman foundations lie beneath medieval buildings, while Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, and modest residential structures line the route. Over the centuries, the street has been known by different names along its length, but it has always functioned as a central artery for trade, religion, and daily life. Unlike larger avenues created by later urban planning, Spaccanapoli grew organically, shaped by continuous use rather than formal redesign.

Spaccanapoli offers one of the most immediate and unfiltered encounters with Naples. Churches such as Santa Chiara open directly onto the street, while small workshops, bookshops, bakeries, and family-run businesses operate at ground level. Laundry lines overhead and scooters threading through narrow gaps further reinforce the street’s lived-in character. One of the more unusual stops is the Doll Hospital, which specialises in restoring statues and antique dolls. Children are often drawn to the display of miniature hospital beds, while an adjoining museum showcases a collection of antique dolls and toys.

New Castle rises near the harbour as one of Naples’ most recognisable medieval landmarks. Its history begins in 1279, when Charles I of Anjou, King of Sicily, ordered the construction of a new royal fortress to serve as both a defensive stronghold and a symbol of power. At the time, Naples had recently become the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, and the castle’s location near the sea underlined its political and strategic importance.

Over the centuries, New Castle was repeatedly modified as control of the city passed from the Angevins to the Aragonese and later rulers. The most significant transformation occurred in the 15th century under Alfonso V of Aragon, who added the imposing cylindrical towers seen today and commissioned the white marble triumphal arch that marks the main entrance. This arch, celebrating Alfonso’s victorious entry into Naples in 1443, blends classical Roman imagery with Renaissance ideals and stands in deliberate contrast to the fortress’s dark volcanic stone.

Beyond its military role, New Castle also functioned as a royal residence and cultural centre. The castle hosted court ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and intellectual gatherings. One of its most notable interior spaces is the Hall of the Barons, a vast hall once used for royal assemblies, whose ribbed vault combines Gothic tradition with early Renaissance experimentation. The imposing room can be reached via a long staircase on the northern wall of the inner courtyard. From the courtyard, the beige wall of the Hall of the Barons contrasts with the dark grey of the Palatine Chapel-the only surviving element of the 14th-century Angevin castle. The chapel can be recognised by its Renaissance portal and the rose window above it.

In addition, the castle houses interior museum spaces displaying sculptures, fresco fragments, and archaeological finds connected to Naples’ medieval and Renaissance history.

Despite later losing its status as a royal home, the castle remained central to Naples’ political life well into the modern era, serving as military and civic administrative offices until 1815.

The Bourbon Tunnel was conceived in 1853 during the reign of King Ferdinand II of Bourbon, and was originally intended as a secret military and escape route linking the Royal Palace with strategic points farther inland, such as military barracks on Morelli Street. The Bourbon monarchy of the time was wary of uprisings, and this underground corridor was meant to offer a rapid and discreet way for troops - and potentially the royal family - to move unseen or flee if the city erupted in revolt. Unfortunately, King Ferdinand II died and the tunnel was left unfinished. Despite the sudden interruption of construction works, the tunnel had already been connected to the 17th-century aqueduct system.

After the king's death, the underground space went unused until World War II. During World War II, it became a vital bomb shelter and refuge for thousands of residents, seeking safety from aerial bombardments, with makeshift facilities added to accommodate them. After the war, it was used for storage - at times housing impounded vehicles.

After being rediscovered and cleared in the early 21st century, the Bourbon Tunnel emerged as a popular attraction. Nowadays, guided tours take you through sections of the tunnel where you can see remnants of its varied uses: ancient water systems and aqueduct connections, wartime artefacts such as vintage cars and motorcycles left behind, and the tunnel’s narrow corridors. Some tours delve deeper into adjoining cisterns or offer more adventurous explorations of less visited branches.

Plebiscite Square is the largest and most ceremonial public square in Naples, opening directly onto the waterfront at the edge of the historic centre. Its name refers to the plebiscite of 1860, when the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies voted to join the newly unified Kingdom of Italy-a political moment that marked the end of centuries of Bourbon rule. Long before that vote, however, the square functioned as a stage for royal power, military parades, and civic spectacle.

The square took its present form in the early 19th century under Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law and King of Naples, who envisioned a grand neoclassical space inspired by imperial ideals. Dominating its eastern side is the Royal Palace of Naples, begun in the early 1600s and long the residence of Spanish viceroys and later Bourbon kings.

After World War II, the square fell into neglect and was used as a large parking area until 1997, when it was restored ahead of the G7 summit held in Naples. This restoration returned the piazza to its original role as a monumental civic space.

Today, Plebiscite Square offers both scale and pause. It is one of the few places in Naples where the sky feels expansive, making it a popular meeting point and a natural threshold between the old city, the royal quarter, and the sea. Largely free of traffic, the square invites visitors to slow down, observe details, watch daily life unfold, or simply take in the symmetry and openness that set it apart from the surrounding streets.

The Naples Promenade, formally known as the Caracciolo Promenade, runs along the Bay of Naples with open views across the water toward Mount Vesuvius and the islands beyond. It took shape between the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of a major coastal redevelopment, during which large sections of shoreline were reclaimed between 1869 and 1880 to create a broad, modern road flanking the Villa Comunale Park and the Chiaia Riviera Street. This transformation shifted the city’s edge away from purely maritime functions and established a new public space designed for walking, leisure, and scenic appreciation, quickly earning it a reputation as one of Europe’s most attractive urban seafronts.

The name Caracciolo Promenade commemorates Francesco Caracciolo, an admiral and hero of the short-lived Neapolitan Republic, who was executed in 1799 on the orders of Admiral Nelson and cast into the Gulf of Naples, his body later washing ashore near Santa Lucia. This historical association adds a sober layer to what is otherwise experienced today as a calm, expansive stretch of green, blue, and open air. The promenade unfolds northward toward Mergellina, with long sightlines not only across the bay but also back toward the hills of Vomero and Posillipo that rise behind the city.

Along the route stands Castle of the Egg, the city’s oldest surviving fortification, positioned on a small peninsula and wrapped in legends linking it to Virgil and a mythical egg believed to safeguard Naples. Nearby, the promenade softens into an informal seaside landscape, with small free beaches, white rocks where people stretch out in the sun, and spots offering boat rentals for short trips along the coast. Kiosks selling cold drinks and snacks line the way, while cafes and restaurants open onto the seafront with outdoor tables serving seafood and traditional Neapolitan pizza.

The Promenade offers a pause from the dense, energetic streets inland, inviting slow walks, cycling, or simply sitting by the water as the light shifts across the bay.

The Castle of the Egg is the oldest surviving fortification in Naples. It stands on the small island of Megaride, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway. In Roman times, this rocky outcrop was home to an elite seaside villa, traditionally associated with the general Lucullus. The medieval fortress that dominates the island today took shape mainly between the 12th and 15th centuries, serving as a royal residence, defensive stronghold, and later a prison under successive rulers, including the Normans, Angevins, and Aragonese.

The castle’s unusual name is tied to a medieval legend involving the poet Virgil, who was believed to be a magician in the Middle Ages. According to the story, Virgil placed a magical egg within the foundations of the fortress; as long as the egg remained intact, the castle and the city of Naples would be protected.

Today, its thick walls, ramparts, and internal courtyards give a clear sense of medieval military architecture. However, the castle’s main highlights are its panoramic viewpoints. To reach them, visitors walk along the long inclined stone ramp after passing through the entrance. The first vantage point appears on the right at roughly the midpoint of the stone ramp. The viewpoint is preceded by an arcade that you pass through. From here, you can look out across the Bay of Naples toward Mount Vesuvius-a stunning image well worth adding to your camera roll. To reach the panoramic terraces at the top of the castle, continue along the main path. Unlike the first lookout point, the upper terraces offer views of the western side of the Naples coastline, along with the Naples Promenade.

Inside, the spaces are largely austere, though they occasionally host temporary exhibitions. A small fishing village developed at the base of the Castle of the Egg in the 19th century and is well known today for its marina and seafood restaurants.

Editor’s note: The Castle of the Egg is currently closed for renovation works until further notice.

The Fountain of the Giant is a monumental Renaissance fountain located along the Naples waterfront, near the Castle of the Egg. It was commissioned by the Spanish viceroy Antonio de Toledo and crafted in the 17th century. The fountain was originally erected beside the Royal Palace of Naples in what is now Plebiscite Square. It took its name from a colossal ancient statue nearby - called “the Giant” - which was assembled around a Roman bust of Jupiter and stood near the fountain in the square, a pairing that appears in historic paintings of the city.

Over the centuries, the fountain led a peripatetic life, being dismantled, stored, and relocated multiple times. After its original site was reshaped in the early 19th century and the statue removed, the fountain was moved in the late 19th century to the Immacolatella Palace, and later to a park and other temporary settings, before finding its current picturesque home along the seafront, near Castle of the Egg, in the early 20th century.

Visually, the fountain’s three elegant arches are richly decorated with heraldic symbols, marine creatures, and river deities, and flanked by caryatid figures holding cornucopias - details that showcase the Mannerist style and the Baroque artistic tradition of early modern Naples.

Set against the backdrop of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, it offers not only a moment of architectural beauty but also a strong photographic focal point and a peaceful pause during a stroll along the sea.