Let’s talk about the Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.
The famous square is truly one of the largest in our country and is crowned on one side by a large colonnade and on another from another palace: The Royal Palace.
This is where history really passed.
Along its façade, we can also see the faces of those who commanded. They are in fact the statues of the kings and sovereigns who have ruled & nbsp; Naples & nbsp; and its great territory over the centuries.
It is a veritable parade of dynasties of royal houses, yes it ranges from the Norman kings to Frederick II of Sweden, from Alfonso of Aragon to Vittorio Emanuele II, king of Italy.
It’s just like browsing through centuries and centuries of history.
Piazza del Plebiscito is located at the end of via Toledo has an area of about 25,000 square meters and is the most used for large events.
In the center of the square stand the two equestrian states of Charles III of Bourbon and his son Ferdinando I.
The square is closed laterally by two identical buildings: the twin buildings. Facing each other, these two form a large space for strolling.
In this way a spectacular rectangular square closed in a semicircle is created.
Piazza del Plebiscito is the setting for the main city and national events: from electoral rallies to musical concerts .
Palazzo Reale
It is located in Piazza del Plebiscito, in front of the basilica of San Francesco di Paola. It is one of the four residences used by the Bourbons of Naples during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as well as one of the most important art places in the city, which is always sold out among tourists. It can be visited every day from Monday to Sunday, except Wednesday which is closed, and free admission is provided for a number of categories, as well as every first Sunday of the month, such as students, under 25s and journalists. Please note that part of the Royal Palace houses the National Library of Naples, access to which is located on the adjacent Piazza Trieste e Trento and is free.
Basilica of S. Francesco di Paola
It is located at the end of Piazza del Plebiscito. Considered among the most important examples of Italian neoclassical architecture, it was built in the nineteenth century by the will of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies after the expulsion from the city of Gioacchino Murat. Its colonnade is inspired by that of San Pietro in Rome, while the shape recalls that of the Pantheon. Behind it rises the Pizzofalcone hill, where according to tradition the first inhabited nucleus of the ancient Parthenope was born. You can visit the church for free every day from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 15:30 to 18:00 and on holidays & nbsp; from 08:30 to 12:30. For more information call & nbsp; 081.7645133.
The challenge of Queen Margherita
The game of the horse.
Tradition has it that Queen Margaret granted, once a month, one of her prisoners to have his life saved as long as he passed a test: to pass , blindfolded, between the two equestrian statues located in the center of the square, starting from the door of the Royal Palace which is located in the center of the two works. Needless to say, no prisoner ever passed the test. The most superstitious say that it is because of the curse of the sovereign that, even today, many do not succeed in this undertaking.
And you will succeed?
How to get there
Piazza del Plebiscito is located in the heart of the historic center of Naples, between the & nbsp; end of via Toledo, one of the main shopping streets of the Neapolitan capital, and after Piazza Trieste and Trento, and the Lungomare. Getting here is easy, but it is recommended to do so by public transport. In particular, you can take the underground line 1 & nbsp; and get off at the “Municipio” or “Toledo” stop and continue for a few meters on foot, or the Central Funicular which from Vomero reaches Piazzetta Augusteo. Alternatively, there are also bus lines R2 from Piazza Garibaldi and 140 from Mergellina. It is also & nbsp; connected to the underlying Via Ferdinando Acton by the Acton lift, the use of which is free and the management of which is entrusted to the Neapolitan Mobility Company (ANM).
If you decide to travel by car, given the difficulty of finding parking, you can park your cars in one of the nearby paid garages, such as the Grangarage Napoli (via Santa Maria Cappella Vecchia 30 / m) and the Supergarage ( via Shelley 11).
