Castel Sant'Elmo

Castel Sant'Elmo is a star-shaped hilltop fortress on Via Tito Angelini in the Vomero district of Naples, in Italy's Campania region, standing about 250 metres above the city. A fortress existed on the site in the 14th century, and the present six-pointed design was built in 1538-1546 under the Spanish viceroys. Its massive walls, moats and bastions are carved partly out of the volcanic tuff of the hill. Visitors walk through the entrance and across the parade ground, then follow ramps and stairways up to the ramparts. The main reason to come is the panorama: from the terraces the whole of Naples spreads out below, from the grid of the Spanish Quarters and the rooftops of Spaccanapoli to the port, the Bay of Naples, Vesuvius and Capri on a clear day. The fortress also hosts the Museo del Novecento, which presents 20th-century Neapolitan art in rooms along the walls. A visit takes about one and a half hours. Late afternoon is the best moment for the view, with the sun setting over the bay and the city lights coming on, though this is also when the terraces are most crowded. Morning visits are calmer. The castle is reached by funicular to the Vomero hill, either Funicolare Centrale to Fuga or Montesanto to Morghen, followed by a walk uphill. It sits just above the Certosa di San Martino and the two sites are commonly combined in a single outing. Because the walkways are exposed, visitors should carry water in summer and a light layer when it is windy.