Many hands have passed through Italy and Naples in particular. There were Greeks, there were Romans, and there were also Spaniards. The famous French House of Bourbon ruled the region through its Spanish branch like all self-respecting rulers, they also built a handsome palace to symbolize their power, status, and prestige.
This stunning palace was built in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana, and an infinite amount of thought was put into the big and small details – to meet the exacting standards of the Royal House.
Since its construction, the structure has undergone several significant reinforcements that prevented collapse and expanded a bit. Though, it was complicated to keep the palace in its original state. The palace had to undergo renovation twice. Once due to a fire that broke out in the place and a second time due to the bombings in the Second World War.
Despite this, the reconstruction was done accurately, and the palace itself looks exactly as it looked in its heyday.
Not only the building but also the furniture and art objects in the various rooms look as if the ravages of time have not touched them. In fact, if one of the local guides said that royals still live there – it would sound wholly believable and logical.
Many tourists come to the palace, examine it from the outside, and continue. If you have already come this far, it is worthwhile to see the palace. The unique and expensive furniture, the art details, the sculptures, wall areas, china, and other valuable objects.
Take the time to walk around the wall paintings, the marble floors, and the vast staircases and imagine that the time machine sent you back 300 years to be dukes or counts at a reception with the king. Or as if you woke up in a fairy tale.
There are 30 different exhibition rooms in this palace, which is a museum. Most of them are open to the general public, and others are used by the excellent state library located in the palace. There is a garden on the roof with a fantastic view and another garden in the eastern part, adjacent to the San Carlo Theater. Both the gardens and the theater are worth a trip.
An entrance ticket to the place will cost less than ten euros, and the tour of the building and its surroundings can comfortably take 3 or even 4 hours. The location is open between 9:00 and 20:00 every day, except Wednesdays.
