Royal Palace of Naples

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Built in the 17th century by the Spanish Viceroy, the Royal Palace of Naples is a lavishly decorated Italian Baroque complex that was used as the royal residence of the Bourbons. The west façade features niches with the statues of Neapolitan rulers since the 12th century, from Roger the Norman to Vittorio Emanuele II.

The Royal Apartment retains the original period furniture, and also displays works from Neapolitan churches that have closed. The Neoclassical decorations date back to the Napoleonic occupation when Joachim Murat and Caroline Bonaparte lived here. Explore the complex to see the Throne Room, Court of Honor, Teatrino di Corte which was a private theatre, Hall of Hercules, Ballroom, and the Cappella Palatina which has a stunning Baroque marble altar and carved wooden doors. The rooms are exquisitely furnished with marbles, frescoes, tapestries and Sevres porcelain.

The public section of the palace in the Braccio Nuovo (New Wing) to the east is home to the Biblioteca Nazionale di Vittorio Emanuele III, originally established by Charles de Bourbon. The library houses over 2 million volumes, is one of the best in the Italy, with about two million volumes, including incunabula, papyrus manuscripts from Herculaneum, and fragments of a Coptic Bible from the 5th century.