Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest castle in the city of Naples Italy and is one of the elements that stand out most in the famous panorama of the gulf. Il rises on the islet of Megaride where, according to legend, the mermaid Parthenope landed there and gave the first name to the ancient city, the first settlement of the Greeks, the Cumans, in the mid-7th century BC. One of the most imaginative Neapolitan legends would trace its name to the egg that Virgil would have hidden inside a cage in the basement of the castle.
The place where the egg was kept was closed by heavy locks and kept secret because the good fortune of the castle depended on that egg. From that moment on, the fate not only of the Castle, but also of the entire city of Naples Italy, was linked to that egg, certainly a support that we could define as a bit fragile, but still something to hold onto for a bit of hope. Castel dell’Ovo is located on the islet of Megaride, a strip of land from which the history of Naples and its ancient civilization originated. Today the rock is known by the name of Borgo Marinari and is one of the most characteristic and loved places in the city, especially on summer evenings when the sea breeze mitigates the heat and grants refreshment to the patrons, between the marina, the typical restaurants and historic restaurants.
The islet is connected to the mainland by a bridge that reunites it with Via Partenope, that is to say the enchanting Neapolitan seafront. Naples Italy is the city of churches for excellence, but let’s not forget that it is also the city of castles! Among the seven castles enclosed within the city perimeter, however, Castel dell’Ovo stands out for being not only the oldest castle in Naples, but also one of the very few examples of Neapolitan Romanesque architecture. Whether you are a Neapolitan or a tourist, whether you see it for the first or for the thousandth time, Castel dell’Ovo, rising majestically in the middle of the sea, has such a charm that it is impossible to walk along Via Partenope without stopping to admire it. If you are planning your holiday to visit Naples Italy, visit the Castel dell’Ovo is one of the things to do.
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- Distance 1800 meters from Toledo Metro Station
