Castel dell’Ovo

The oldest castle of Naples lies on Via Partenope and offers a breathtaking view of the Bay of Naples. Built by the Normans, its original appearance has been drastically altered over the centuries due to the various phases of reconstruction during the Anjevin and Aragonese periods. The castle lies on the tuff islet of Megaris and is linked to the mainland by a rocky isthmus. According to a Neapolitan legend, the name Castel dell’Ovo (Egg Castle) stems from the egg hidden by Virgil inside a cage in the dungeons. The cage was kept under lock and key in great secrecy because the fate of the castle and the whole city depended on this “egg”.