Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale)

The Royal Palace dominates the east side of Piazza del Plebiscito, the city's largest square. Domenico Fontana began it in 1600 as a residence for the Spanish viceroys, and from 1734 Charles of Bourbon made it the main royal seat of the Kingdom of Naples. A fire in 1837 destroyed much of the eastern half, which Gaetano Genovese rebuilt, and Allied bombing in 1943 caused further damage that was repaired in the early 1950s. Along the facade, eight niches hold statues of rulers of Naples placed in 1888, from the Norman Roger II to Victor Emmanuel II.

Inside, the visit begins with the monumental double staircase, rebuilt after the fire in neoclassical style, and continues through the historic apartments on the first floor. The rooms are decorated with frescoed ceilings, tapestries, furniture and paintings from the royal collections. One highlight is the Teatrino di Corte, the small court theatre remade by Ferdinando Fuga in 1768. The eastern wing holds the National Library. The palace also includes the free Androne delle Carrozze, the hanging garden visited by guided tour, and a romantic garden with free entry.

Opening hours are 9.00 to 20.00, with last entry at 19.00, every day except Wednesday. Allow around 90 minutes for the apartments, longer if you join a guided visit to the hanging garden or the attics and belvedere when they run. Tickets can be bought online through the official ticketing portal. There is an accessible reception room with a tactile route that can be booked on weekday mornings, and assistance dogs are welcome.

The palace suits anyone interested in royal interiors and the history of the Bourbon kingdom, and it is easy to combine with the rest of the monumental quarter. Families will find the visit manageable in length, though the rooms are best appreciated by older children.

Piazza del Plebiscito, the church of San Francesco di Paola, the Teatro di San Carlo and the Galleria Umberto I are all next to the palace, and Castel Nuovo is a five-minute walk away. Municipio station on metro Lines 1 and 6 and Toledo on Line 1 are both close by.