Piazza del Plebiscito & Royal Palace Naples
Square with the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale di Napoli)
Piazza del Plebiscito is the most striking square in the center of Napoli. Info and tickets Royal Palace of Naples for visiting Palazzo Reale and the Basilica Francesco da Paola.
Piazza del Plebiscito & Tickets Royal Palace of Naples |
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| Location | Piazza del Plebiscito, easily accessible by metro (line 1 and then walk 300 meters from stop 'Municipio') |
| Royal Palace | Palazzo Reale di Napoli
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| Basilica | Basilica di San Francesco di Paola
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Piazza del Plebiscito
The Piazza del Plebiscito is the largest square in Naples. The construction of the square is in the name of Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Murat was King of Naples from 1808 to 1815. The semicircular square has on one side the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale) and on the other side the church San Francesco di Paolo, which was built after the example of the Pantheon in Rome.
Visit Palazzo Reale, the Naples royal palace at the square
Beautiful Apartments in the Royal Palace of Naples ItalyPalazzo Reale Napoli, the Royal Palace of Naples
The Palazzo Reale, or Royal Palace of Naples, was built in the 17th century and has been the center of power in southern Italy for three centuries. Originally the palace was commissioned by the Spanish Habsburgs, then it was inhabited by the Bourbons and finally, upon the unification of Italy, it came into the possession of the royal princes of the House of Savoy. Today you can see this palace in Naples as a gateway to the city and sea. You'll find a series of porticos, courtyards and gardens in this imposing building, all of which lead to spaces formerly occupied by the court of the Royal Palace. Today, the spaces are used as a museum and other cultural institutions, such as the National Library and the adjacent San Carlo theater. The highlight are definitely the historic apartments in which you can discover all kinds of old treasures; paintings, furniture, the marble stucco and tapestries tell the story of the royal palace's former inhabitants. Due to its location, Palazzo Reale is considered the beating heart of the city of Naples Italy.
The statues in front of the Basilica Francesco da Paola
The dome of the San Francesco di PaoloSan Francesco di Paolo
The facade of the church of San Francesco di Paolo consists of 6 pillars with Ionic columns on both sides and was built between 1816 and 1846. The church has a 53 meter high dome. The dome is adorned with identical decorations leading to a window where light enters. The white marble interior of the church and the round roof with the light opening (oculus) was designed after the example of the Pantheon in Rome. During your visit to the church (it will only be a short visit), also take time to look at the altar with its gleaming lapis lazuli. Not the most impressive church in Naples, but well worth a short look inside.
Other sights of Piazza del Plebiscito
The Neapolitan square contains not only the royal palace 'Palazzo Reale' and the church 'San Francesco di Paolo'. You will also see two statues in the square, namely Statua di Carlo III di Borbone and Statua di Fernando I di Borbone. In addition, there are two other buildings worth mentioning, namely two buildings that form a symmetry: the Prefecture Palace and Palazzo Salerno. The Palazzo Salerno nowadays serves as the headquarters for the army of southern Italy.
Suggestion for an activity: Just 100 meters away behind the church is the entrance to Galleria Borbonica. Via a system of stairs you go more than 25 meters underground, where you first end up in a network of tunnels and underground spaces. Originally this 'Bourbon tunnel' was an escape route for the king from the Palazzo Reale, later these spaces were converted and expanded into air-raid shelters during the war. These interesting spaces can only be visited with a guided tour which you have to book in advance and will show you, in a surprising way another side of Naples:
Tickets Royal Palace of Naples
Where is Piazza del Plebiscito located in Naples?
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