Castel dell’Ovo

Castel dell'Ovo, the Egg Castle, sits on the small islet of Megaride, joined to the shore by a causeway off the Santa Lucia waterfront. This is where Naples began: Greek settlers from Cumae founded the first town around here in the 7th century BC. In the 1st century BC the Roman general Lucullus built part of a lavish villa on the site, and in 476 the last Western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was sent here in exile. The Normans built the first castle in the 12th century, and it took its present form under Aragonese rule in the 15th century.

The name comes from a medieval legend that the poet Virgil hid a magic egg in the foundations, and that if it ever broke the castle would fall and disaster would strike Naples. Today the castle is owned by the city and used for exhibitions and events, and visitors can walk up through its ramps and passages to the terraces at the top. From there the views take in the whole curve of the bay, the Lungomare, the Posillipo hill and Vesuvius, and on clear days Capri.

Booking is optional for individual visitors, though some areas open only for exhibitions or booked groups. Opening hours vary through the year and access can be limited during events or maintenance, so check the city's website before making a special trip. Allow around an hour to climb to the terraces and look around. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ramps are steep and the paving is uneven, which makes the upper parts difficult for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

It is an easy visit for families, couples and photographers, and a good place to come in the late afternoon, when the light over the bay is softer.

At the foot of the castle, the little harbour of Borgo Marinari is lined with seafood restaurants and bars that are popular in the evening. The castle is at the end of Via Partenope, where several of the city's grand seafront hotels stand, and the pedestrian Lungomare continues west towards the Villa Comunale and Mergellina. Piazza del Plebiscito is about 15 minutes away on foot.