Castel dell'Ovo: between history and legends

About this activity

Castel dell'Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples. It stands on the islet of Megaride where, according to legend, the siren Partenope landed and gave the city of Naples its first name.

Why visit Castel dell'Ovo

On the ancient tufa islet of Megaride, where the Borgo Marinari, rises imposingly, between the neighborhoods of St. Ferdinand and Chiaia, the Castel dell'Ovo (Castrum Ovi, in Latin). Its construction precedes by a few years Castel Capuano and by more than a century the Angevin Male.

Here the Cumani (of Greek-Euboic origin) landed in the mid-7th century B.C. and on Mount Echia founded the city of Parthenope. Over the centuries the islet of Megaride has hosted various constructions.

The Villa of Lucius Licinius Lucullus

In the first century BC. Lucius Licinius Lucullus, a Roman military man and politician, acquired a vast territory, probably stretching from Mount Echia to Pozzuoli, and on the islet of Megaride he built the splendid Villa of Licinius Lucullus, equipped with a very rich library, moray breeding, peach and cherry trees.

In the mid-5th century the villa was fortified by Valentinian III, and in 476 AD it hosted the last emperor of Rome, Romulus Augustus.

The first nucleus of Castel dell'Ovo

After the death of Romulus Augustus, Basilian monks settled on the islet of Megaride as early as the end of the fifth century, creating an important scriptorium in the seventh century, probably also having at their disposal what remained of the Lucullian library. However, the monastery complex was razed to the ground in the early 10th century by the dukes of Naples, to prevent the Saracens from fortifying there by using it as a base for their invasion of the city, while the monks retreated to Mount Echia.

Norman rule

In 1140, with the conquest of Naples by Roger the Norman, Castel dell'Ovo became the seat of the Normans. However, the castle was only used on a few occasions as, once Castel Capuano was completed, all landward development and trade routes were moved there.

The many faces of Castel dell'Ovo

Castel dell'Ovo has been the subject of several fortifications over the years.

In 1222 with Frederick II, this place became the seat of the royal treasury, and more towers were built: the Colleville Tower, the Main Tower and the Middle Tower. During these years, the castle became a palace and also a state prison. During the reign of the Spanish Viceroys and later the Bourbons, the castle was further fortified. The structure completely lost its function as a royal residence and was used as a military outpost.

During the period of "Reclamation," the Castle was to be torn down to make way for a new ward, but fortunately the project was not implemented and the building remained in state ownership in a state of neglect until restoration work began in 1975.

Borgo Marinari

At the foot of Castel dell'Ovo lies the bustling maritime district of Borgo Marinari: one of the most picturesque and characteristic places in the city. It originally housed the families of the fishermen and sailors of Santa Lucia, but at the end of the 19th century the reclamation of the entire neighborhood turned it into a real tourist destination. Today it is a place full of bars and restaurants away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can eat and drink in a truly unique atmosphere.

Curiosities about the Castel dell'Ovo

Here the supreme poet Publius Virgil Maron in 45 B.C. he wrote some of his works, such as the Eclogues and four books of the Georgics, but something very deep bound him to the city, which made him a magician, a guide, a "defensor civitatis", a city magistrate who defended commoners from abuse.

The legend of the egg

One of the most fanciful Neapolitan legends would trace the name of the castle back to the egg that Virgil the Magician allegedly hid inside a cage in the castle's basement, hence the name "Castel dell'Ovo." The place where the egg was kept, was closed by heavy locks and kept secret since from "that ovo hung all li facti e la fortuna dil Castel Marino."

From that moment on, the fate not only of the Castle, but also of the entire city of Naples, was tied to that egg. In fact, at the time of the Queen Joan, the Castle suffered major damage due to the collapse of the archway that binds the two cliffs on which it is raised, and the Queen was forced to officially declare that she had replaced the egg to prevent fears of new disasters from spreading through the city. The structure eventually became a prison, where among others the philosopher Tommaso Campanella was imprisoned before being sentenced to death, and later some Jacobins, Carbonari and liberals including Carlo Poerio, Luigi Settembrini and Francesco De Sanctis.

Today this majestic castle hosts events, meetings, demonstrations and exhibitions.