Castel dell'Ovo

The castle out to sea in Naples

On an ancient island just off the Santa Lucia headland, the Greeks built a fortification that was later adapted by the Romans and connected to the mainland by a pier.

One of Naples' most ingrained legends is that hometown poet Virgil locked a magic egg (ovo in Neapolitan) in an iron cage under this castle, and should that egg ever break, Naples itself will crumble. Certainly this strategic spot at the edge of Naples' Bay has been key to the city's defenses for over 2,600 years.

The current elongated castle on the spot dates to 1154, and though it is closed except during temporary exhibitions, you can always skirt its edge for one of Naples' great hidden surprises: the Borgo Marinaro. This slice of a 19th-century Neapolitan fishing village survives at the castle's feet with quiet little squares, bars, and restaurants and ranks of boats bobbing at the docks.

Tips & links

Share this page

Search ReidsItaly.com