- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1537 · 16th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Coordinates
- 40.8436°, 14.2393°
History
As early as 1329 Robert of Anjou had a castle called Belforte built on the hill above Naples. The present fortress was erected in 1537–1547 on the orders of the viceroy Pedro de Toledo to a design by Pedro Luis Escrivá, who gave it an unusual six-pointed star plan. In 1587 lightning set off the powder magazine, and the fortress was rebuilt after the blast. For centuries it served as a garrison watching over the city and as a prison, holding among others the participants of the Neapolitan revolution of 1799. Today it is state-owned and used as a museum and exhibition venue.
What to see
You enter through a gate bearing the arms of Charles V and climb ramps to broad terraces on the walls. They offer one of the finest views of Naples, its bay, Vesuvius and Capri. Inside is the Novecento a Napoli museum of 20th-century art, and the old rooms host exhibitions and concerts. The Certosa di San Martino stands right next door.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q1048627
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