Castel Nuovo

Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) is a medieval royal fortress in central Naples, Campania. Construction began in 1279 for King Charles I of Anjou and it later became the principal royal residence and city stronghold.

The castle is notable for its five cylindrical towers and the large triumphal arch at the main gate added during a 15th-century Aragonese rebuilding. The interior contains the municipal museum with collections of sculpture, paintings and archaeological material and several ceremonial halls used for exhibitions and events.

Initial construction started in 1279 under the Angevin kings. The complex was remodelled under Aragonese rule in the 15th century and thereafter alternated uses as a royal palace, military fortress and municipal building.

The fortress sits at Piazza Municipio on the Naples seafront, immediately adjacent to the city’s main port and a short walk from Piazza del Plebiscito and the historic centre.

• Viewing point: Best exterior views are from Piazza Municipio and the adjacent seafront promenade, where the full façade, towers and triumphal arch can be seen together.

What to See #

• Towers: Five cylindrical towers form the castle's outer profile; the tallest towers date largely to the original 13th-century fortress and later medieval repairs.
• Triumphal arch: A monumental marble triumphal arch at the main gate was added during a 15th-century Aragonese reconstruction and is the castle's most recognisable decorative feature.
• Civic Museum: The castle houses the municipal collections known as the Museo Civico, displaying sculpture, paintings and archaeological finds from Naples and the surrounding region.