Sant'Elmo

Castel Sant'Elmo is a historic fortress on Vomero Hill in Naples and, together with the neighboring Certosa di San Martino monastery, one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Construction began in 1329 under Robert of Anjou and was completed in 1343. In the 16th century, the Spanish viceroy Pedro Álvarez de Toledo had the complex rebuilt in the shape of a star with six bastions. The fortress served as a refuge during the Masaniello Revolt and was a symbol of the Neapolitan Republic. After being used as a military prison until the 1950s and then renovated, it has been open to visitors since 1982. Today it houses cultural and scientific institutions, including an art history library, and offers sweeping views over the Bay of Naples.