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The Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale di Napoli) is a vast and impressive building originally constructed as the residence of the Bourbon royal family, rulers of the Kingdom of Naples (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies).
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History of Construction and Renovations
Construction of the palace, near the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola and the Piazza del Plebiscito, began in 1600 and continued for over half a century.
The neoclassical architectural design was created by Domenico Fontana, a renowned master architect from Switzerland, favored by Pope Sixtus V. He was invited to Naples by Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro to build a royal residence for Philip III of Spain.
Construction took 15 years, followed by 5 years of interior decoration by famous Italian artists, including Giovanni Balducci and Battistello Caracciolo.
Upon completion, Viceroy Fernando Ruiz moved into the palace, although the Spanish monarch himself never visited. In 1730, Philip III’s granddaughter, Maria of Hungary (Maria of Austria), visited Naples.
The first Spanish king to stay at Palazzo Reale was Charles III in 1734. He ordered restorations led by Luigi Vanvitelli and began constructing two additional palaces—one in Capodimonte and another in Caserta.
Once the Royal Palace of Caserta, grander than Versailles and surrounded by Italy’s largest park, was completed, it became the preferred residence of the Spanish royalty until the late 18th century.
In 1768, architect Ferdinando Fuga added the Court Theatre (Teatro di Corte) to the palace complex.
The palace became home to Spanish and Austrian royals, including King Ferdinand I, the Bourbons, and later the House of Savoy. During the French occupation, it hosted Napoleon’s governor Joachim Murat and his wife, Caroline Bonaparte. 
Following a major fire in 1837, architect Gaetano Genovese led another restoration. A new wing was added to house the National Library of Vittorio Emanuele III.
In 1888, at the order of King Umberto I of Savoy, sculptures of Naples’ greatest rulers—from Roger I (1072–1101) to Vittorio Emanuele III (1869–1947)—were added to niches at the palace’s lower level. Around the same time, the famous horse statues by Peter Clodt, originally from Saint Petersburg’s Anichkov Bridge, were installed near the palace gardens as a gift from Russian Emperor Nicholas I.
What to See at the Royal Palace?
First, visitors admire the Royal Palace from the outside. The clock and the small bell tower in the center of the façade facing the square immediately draw attention. The sculptures of eight illustrious rulers of the Kingdom of Naples are also noteworthy.
Inside, you can explore the Museum of Historic Apartments (Il museo appartamenti storici del Palazzo Reale), visit the National Library, and view an impressive collection of paintings.
The palace also houses the Galleria Umberto I, featuring boutiques, fashion brand stores, and restaurants. The Museum of Historic Apartments is renowned for the Court Theater, the lavish Central Hall (Sala centrale), the Throne Room (La sala del trono), the Hall of Hercules (La Sala Di Ercole), and the palace chapel (Cappella), which preserves treasures from various cathedrals and churches across Italy.
The National Library holds a unique collection of ancient texts on papyrus scrolls from Herculaneum (Ercolano), a city destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (Vesuvio).
The painting collection features works by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri), Andrea Vaccaro, Mattia Preti, Spagnoletto (José de Ribera), Massimo Stanzione, and Luca Giordano.
Opening Hours and Tickets
The palace museums are open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with Wednesdays closed. Ticket offices close at 7:00 PM. Adult admission is €15 (about $16), while children under 18 enter free.
Up-to-date information on tickets and opening hours is available on the official website: palazzorealedinapoli.org/en_US/info-visita/.
How to Get There
Palazzo Reale di Napoli is located at Piazza Plebiscito and is easily accessible on foot from the Piazza Amedeo metro station.
Bus No. R2 also runs from the Central Station to the palace, stopping at San Carlo.