Napoli: city centre

In a few space between the harbour and Toledo Street (which ends near Piazza Plebiscito) there is the city centre, the heart of Naples full of offices, shops and monuments. The first that we meet coming from the harbour is the Angevin castle, built at the end of 13th century by Charles I of Anjou. It was named Castelnuovo (Newcastle) in order to distinguish it from the elder Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle), but that name was soon replaced in the common language by the popular appellative of "Maschio Angioino" (Angevin Stronghold), which is still today its most renowned name.

After the Angevin Castle there are the gardens of the Royal Palace; and after them we find the San Carlo Theatre, the earliest among the European theatres still active and one of most important Opera Houses in Italy. During the Bourbon Reign, the San Carlo had been contending for two centuries with La Scala in Milan for the leadership among the Italian opera houses.