The Royal Palace of Naples was established as the Palace of the King of Spain Philip III of Habsburg in 1600, commissioned by the viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, Count of Lemos and vicereine Caterina Zunica e Sandoval.
Its urban location, adjacent to the now-demolished Old Viceregal Palace and set within the gardens of Castel Nuovo, follows the tradition of placing royal residences at the southern edge of ancient Naples. However, its main façade faces west towards the spacious Largo di Palazzo.
Architect Domenico Fontana designed the palace in a late Renaissance style, featuring a façade with classical columns and decorations, a central square courtyard with a portico on the ground floor, and an inner loggia on the first floor on all four sides.
The Royal Apartment houses the Chapel and Hall of the Viceroys on the east wing, the Royal Hall and audience rooms overlooking the square, and private royal quarters facing the sea. It was adorned by Battistello Caracciolo and Belisario Corenzio with Spanish-language inscriptions that narrate the History of the House of Spain. Subsequent Viceroys completed and expanded the building with the Belvedere of the Hanging Garden and the Grand Staircase.
When Naples became the capital of an independent kingdom in 1734, under Charles of Bourbon, the palace expanded toward the sea with the Apartment of the Grand Chamberlain, and later toward Mount Vesuvius with the Apartment for the Royal Princes. This resulted in two more courtyards, in addition to the main one. The interiors were embellished in late Baroque style, with precious marble and celebratory frescoes, including works by Francesco De Mura and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro.
The last major renovations took place during the reign of Ferdinand II of Bourbon, between 1838 and 1858: following a fire in the Queen Mother’s apartments, architect Gaetano Genovese oversaw a general neoclassical restoration.
After Italy’s unification, the Princes of Piedmont resided here. In 1919, Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoy handed it over to the State, and it was largely designated as the National Library. The oldest wing, overlooking the main courtyard, has been preserved as a museum gallery, showcasing history and art from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Royal Palace of Naples: Visitor Information
Piazza del Plebiscito, 1 80132 Naples – Phone: 081.58083289/5808325
Royal Palace of Naples Ticket Prices
- standard entrance € 6.00
- reduced entrance € 3.00
available only at the ticket office - free entrance
available only at the ticket office - reservation fee € 2.00
OTHER REDUCTIONS
- European citizens aged 18 to 24, under law 28.09.1999 no. 275, and subsequent adaptations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary, and Swiss Confederation (Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland).
- teachers from the European community with permanent contracts in state schools
FREE ENTRY
- EU and non-EU citizens under the age of 18
- Italian teaching staff (permanent or on fixed-term contracts) with valid proof issued by educational institutions
- free entrance on the first Sunday of every month
- EU-licensed tour guides while on duty
- EU-licensed interpreters while on duty
- employees of the Ministry of Culture
- ICOM (International Council of Museums) members
- ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) members
- public or private school groups from the EU, with advance reservation and one teacher for every 10 students
- faculty and students from faculties of architecture, cultural heritage, education, and relevant literary, archaeological, or art history programs of universities and academies of fine arts, or enrolled in related postgraduate, specialization, or doctoral programs in any EU country; students must show current year proof of enrollment
- Socrates and Erasmus students in the above disciplines
- art history teachers at high schools
- students of the Central Institute for Restoration, Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Mosaic Restoration School; cultural heritage ministry staff
- professional journalists (Italian national association or any foreign institution) with proof of current credentials
- visitors with disabilities and one accompanying family member or care assistant
- volunteer association staff actively engaged, under agreements with the ministry (art. 112, clause 8 of the code), in promoting and raising awareness of cultural heritage
How to Reach the Royal Palace of Naples
- Bus: ANM R1, stop Via San Carlo
- Bus: ANM R3, stop Via San Carlo
- Bus: ANM C4, stop Piazza Trieste e Trento
Royal Palace of Naples Opening Hours
Open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Last admission one hour before closing. Closed on December 25 and January 1.
