Royal Palace of Naples
Naples, Italy
Castel dell'Ovo, Naples
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Photo: PaestumPaestum, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Opening hours
- By day; sometimes closed for events
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Highlights
- Rampart views, the egg legend, Borgo Marinari
- Sunset
- Best seen from the waterfront in the evening
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Location
- Via Partenope waterfront, Santa Lucia
Key facts
Megaridethe islet the castle stands on
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English Wikipedia1st c. BCthe Roman Lucullus had a villa here
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English Wikipedia12th c.the Normans built the first fortress
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English WikipediaVirgillegend says he hid a magic egg in the foundations
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English WikipediaOldestcastle in Naples
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English WikipediaHistory of Castel dell'Ovo
The castle stands on the tiny islet of Megaride, where tradition says Greek colonists founded the first settlement of what became Naples. In the 1st century BC it was the site of a luxurious villa belonging to the Roman general Lucullus, famous for his feasts. Monks later lived on the island, and in the 12th century the Norman kings built a fortress.
The Angevin and Aragonese kings rebuilt and strengthened it, giving it today's stern look: thick walls of yellow tuff, bastions and towers rising straight from the water. A stone causeway joins the island to the shore, and visitors now stroll along it.
The legend of the magic egg
The 'Egg Castle' takes its name from an old Neapolitan legend. The poet Virgil, regarded in medieval Naples as a magician, supposedly hid an egg in a crystal vessel in the castle's vaults. As long as the egg stays whole, the city is safe; should it break, misfortune would follow.
Every Neapolitan knows the story, and guides tell it on any waterfront tour. Nobody knows where the egg lies, of course, but the castle still stands and the city carries on.
What to see at Castel dell'Ovo
- Ramparts and terraces — the bay, Vesuvius and Posillipo.
- The stone causeway — the walk out over the water.
- Halls and passages — used for exhibitions.
- Borgo Marinari — the fishing quarter with restaurants.
- The little harbour — boats and yachts under the walls.
- Via Partenope — the seafront promenade.
The view from the ramparts
The view is the main reason to climb up. The top terraces take in the whole Bay of Naples: Vesuvius and the Sorrento peninsula to the east, the green hill of Posillipo and its villas to the west, the hotel-lined waterfront and Castel Nuovo straight ahead, and, on clear days, the outline of Capri.
Inside are bare halls, passages and stairways that sometimes host exhibitions and conferences. The paths are stone-paved and steep in places, so wear comfortable shoes. With a buggy you can't reach every terrace.
How to get to Castel dell'Ovo
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Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Royal Palace of Naples is about 14 min away on foot.
- Teatro di San Carlo is about 17 min away on foot.
- Galleria Umberto I is about 18 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Piazza del Plebiscito, 10 minutes downhill to the sea through Santa Lucia.
- From Castel Nuovo, 15 minutes along the waterfront.
- Metro line 1 to Municipio, then 15 minutes on foot.
- The entrance is along the causeway from Via Partenope.
The waterfront and Borgo Marinari
At the castle's foot is Borgo Marinari, a former fishing quarter now full of waterside restaurant terraces and a small marina. People come for seafood, pasta with clams and pizza with a view of the bay.
On either side runs the pedestrian waterfront of Via Partenope and Via Caracciolo, the Neapolitans' favourite evening stroll. In summer people swim straight off the rocks, and at sunset families, runners and couples walk along the sea.
Santa Lucia: the castle's quarter
The castle belongs to Santa Lucia, the old fishermen's and sailors' quarter between Piazza del Plebiscito and the sea, made famous by the Neapolitan song 'Santa Lucia' sung around the world. Grand hotels now face the bay, while the lanes behind them keep small trattorias and shops.
In the evening the waterfront by the castle is one of the liveliest spots in Naples, with buskers, roast chestnut and corn sellers and souvenir stalls, and open-air concerts in summer. If you're staying in the centre, a walk out to the castle and back along the sea takes about an hour and makes a fine end to the day.
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Views of Naples: compare and choose
Viewpoints and seafront spots in Naples rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| Mount Vesuvius | 49 | 3 h | Paid, timed ticket | 15.3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castel dell'Ovoyou are here | 46 | 45 min | Free | — |
| Castel Nuovo | 42 | 1 h | Courtyard free, museum paid | 21 min walk |
| Naples Waterfront | 42 | 1 h | Free | 31 min walk |
| Museo di Capodimonte | 32 | 2 h | Museum paid, park free | 4.3 km |
Seafront central Naples
Castel Nuovo, Galleria Umberto I and the Royal Palace on Piazza del Plebiscito, then Castel dell'Ovo at sunset.
- Castel Nuovo1 h · Courtyard free, museum paid
- 6 min walk from the previous stopGalleria Umberto I20 min · Free
- 4 min walk from the previous stopRoyal Palace of Naples1 h 30 min · Square free, palace paid
- 15 min walk from the previous stopCastel dell'Ovoyou are here45 min · Free
4 places · about 4 h with walks · 25 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Usually free to enter.
- Best at sunset.
- Dinner in Borgo Marinari.
- Sometimes closed for events.
Questions
Is Castel dell'Ovo free?
Usually, yes; it sometimes closes for events and exhibitions.
Why is it called the Egg Castle?
Legend says the poet Virgil hid a magic egg in its foundations, on which the fate of Naples depends.
What is there to see at Castel dell'Ovo?
Ramparts overlooking the bay and Vesuvius, the castle halls and the Borgo Marinari fishing quarter below.
How do I get to Castel dell'Ovo?
On foot from Piazza del Plebiscito in 10 minutes, or 15 minutes along the waterfront from Castel Nuovo.
How long do you need at the castle?
About an hour; make an evening of it with dinner in Borgo Marinari.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
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Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Castel dell'Ovo
- City of Naples official site, comune.napoli.it
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