Castel Sant'Elmo Naples

This castle on Vomero hill is the best view point of Naples

The Castel Sant'Elmo is a military fortress on the mountain Vomero of Naples and today the best view point over the city of Napoli.

Castel Sant’Elmo of Napoli

At the fortress of Castel Sant' Elmo you look impressively down on the city of Naples. The fortress is located on the top of the Vomero hill and offers you an extraordinary view stretching from the hinterland to the islands and from the Sorrento peninsula to the Mount Vesuvius. The high location and the hexagonal star shape make this fortress a tourist attraction in Naples.

The first documentation of Castel Sant' Elmo dates back to the second half of the 13th century. Roberto of Anjou commissioned the architect and sculptor Tino di Camaino to begin work on Castel Sant' Elmo in 1329. Between 1537 and 1547 Viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo started reconstruction work. The result is the hexagonal fortress we know today. An explosion in 1587 destroyed much of the castle. The reconstruction was done by architect Domenico Fontana.

^{The grounds of the castle in Naples can be visited}

^{From Castel Sant'Elmo you have a great view of Naples and the Vesuvius}

Functions of Castel Sant'Elmo

The Castle of Sant' Elmo became more famous for its role in the Revolution of 1799. A group of intellectuals seized the fortress and proclaimed the Neapolitan Republic. This is entirely inspired by the French Revolution. In the 19th century, the fortress served as a prison. First by the Bourbons, then by the National Guard. After restoration works, Castel Sant' Elmo became the headquarters of the Polo Museale della Campania, the museum network of Campania.

Visit Castel Sant' Elmo

One way you reach Castel Sant' Elmo is by taking a walk through the stylish district of Vomero, which you can easily reach with one of the three funiculars, such as the funicular 'Funicolare di Montesanto'. In total there are three different cable cars to the top of the Vomero mountain. Arriving at the entrance of the castle, you will walk past the watchtowers, have fantastic views of the city and the gulf of Naples. Cultural activities and events regularly take place in Castle Sant' Elmo, which bring a lot of liveliness and activities to the castle.

Tip 1: Combine a visit to the castle with the adjacent monastery 'Certosa di San Martino'.

Tip 2: Are you sporty? You can also walk down instead of taking the funicolare. Opposite the monastery you can descend via a path in poor condition via many steps. It is a neglected path with graffiti on all sides, where you descend through a poorer part of Naples and you will return to the center via the back of the 'Quartieiri Spagnoli' district. An interesting way to discover another part of Naples.

^{Castel Sant'Elmo is located on top of the Vomero hill}

^{The castle is accessible by the 'funicolare'}

Things to do in Vomero?

The Vomero district is located higher than the center of Naples. They literally mean up when they go to Vomero and down when they go to the center of Naples. This is a forgotten area for a lot of tourists, but you can enjoy shopping in streets such as Via Alessandro Scarlatti and Via Luca Giordano. Many popular brands such as Nike and Zara will have stores here. If you are really looking for tranquility, visit the park in Vomero, Parco Villa Floridiana. It is a large park and you have a panoramic terrace with a beautiful view of the city. In addition, there are several dining options with various restaurants serving food from different parts of the world, from Mexican to sushi.

Where is Castel Sant'Elmo in Naples?