Naples Castel Dell’ovo and The Legend of Egg
by Francois Hagnere on 28/12/09 at 11:47 am
The italian City of Naples with over 2,800 years History is so rich in arts, culture, architecture, music and gastronomy that a man’s life would not be enough to visit everything.
The oldest castle in Naples rises on the Megaris islet where the house of the Roman patrician Lucullus was located in the Ist centrury BC. Later in the Vth century a community of monks founded the monastery San Salvatore whose abbey church is the sole remain. The very first construction of the castle date back to the IXth century. Under the Normans, Hohenstaufen, Angevins and Aragonese, the castle underwent endless modifications and adapted to the requirements of the various dynasties. Its present physionomy is the fruit of the works performed after 1503, a year when the fortress almost was totally destroyed during the siege by Ferdinand II of Spain. Despite its reconstruction, the castle knew a period of decline which lasted until 1871. It was in such dereliction that a plan of urban renovation proposed to destroy it. Serious restorations were made one century later in 1976 thus giving a new life to the site that now welcomes cultural events. The castle is surrounded by the picturesque sector of the Borgo Mariano, built in the late XIXth century for the fishermen of Santa Lucia. With its restaurants, cafés and its lively atmosphere, the place is loved by visitors from all over the world.
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As for the origin of the strange name of the Castel dell’Ovo, the Castle of the Egg, mentioned for the first time in a manuscript of the XIVth century, opinions diverge. Its ovoidal plan could account for its name. According to a popular legend, the name would come from a a magical egg, an alchemical symbol, hidden in the fortress and determining its destiny as well as of the whole town of Naples. As long as the egg will remain intact, the one and the other will be protected from catastrophes. Virgil, the great Latin poet is said to have placed this egg. In the Middle Ages he was supposed to have supernatural powers and a divinatory gift.
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The remains of the old monastery.
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The fabulous vista to the Vesuvius.
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Van Pitloo – View of Naples from the beach.
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Naples waterfront and the Vesuvius.
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20 Comments
Glynis Smy
Dec 28th, 2009
Another fascinating article.
chris73
Dec 28th, 2009
Napoli bella! Grazie di cuore,
Chris
Nikita K
Dec 28th, 2009
This is beautiful! And so interesting too. I mean our world is so full of wonderful things and this is just one of the many.
Aaron Paul Hicks
Dec 28th, 2009
Great work Francois, i would love to visit the places you love writing about, one day i hope im lucky enough to do so,
great work my friend,
very best wishes,
Aaron
jaysonv
Dec 28th, 2009
WOW! GREAT POST! THANKS FOR SHARING MY FRIEND..
clay hurtubise
Dec 28th, 2009
Francois,you have to take me to one of these places!
Good job!
Clay
albert1jemi
Dec 28th, 2009
excellent information thnx for sharing
Unofre Pili
Dec 28th, 2009
I wish I could travel to this historic places, one day. Thanks friend for sharing it.
haikumad
Dec 29th, 2009
Superb pix esp the one of Vesuvius with the snow on top. I went up Vesuvius in October but it was so full of cloud you couldn’t see a thing.
Whatever you do, don’t attempt to drive in Napoli. . . you take your life in your hands!
Rana Sinha
Dec 29th, 2009
Very good article and information about bella Napoli, my favourite city. Ah nostalgia!
tonywriter
Dec 29th, 2009
This is very good and beautiful article Thanks!
Francois Hagnere
Dec 29th, 2009
Many thanks my friend for your kind comments. Naples is a magnificent town.
lillyrose
Dec 29th, 2009
A great review Francois, there is so much beauty and history there and you captured it perfectly!
PhoenixRox
Dec 29th, 2009
Vesuvius with all the snow is excellent! I am so loving this
As always- well-researched,brilliantly presented!
AlmaG
Dec 31st, 2009
Alchemy played a great role during those times. That has always intruiged me (Alchemy). So Virgil was supposed to be like Merlin the magician, but then again it’s just a legend. It’s a very interesting but intruiging legend. The egg was very symbolic of protection. The hard shell protects the delicate yolk inside just like that castle with its strong walls. Wonderful article Francois. You’ve done a great job in research congrats!
Francois Hagnere
Dec 31st, 2009
Thank you so much Alma, you are totally right. An egg can also be seen in the courtyard of the Knights Templar in Tomar, Portugal, I invite you to read my articles on Tomar and Portugal too.
Many thanks again to all. I do appreciate your kindness.
Happy New Year to all!
Lauren Axelrod
Dec 31st, 2009
I love this Francois, and I like the connection of the egg to the Templars. They are an obsession of mine.
Chris Stonecipher
Jan 1st, 2010
Your article is fascinating and your photos are wonderful. You did a nice job composing this article. I believe this is the one I found on The Ancient Digger blog.
Blessings to you,
Chris
Francois Hagnere
Jan 3rd, 2010
Thank you Lauren and Chris. You are both very kind too.
deep blue
Jan 9th, 2010
Another brilliant post my friend. Our life could actually be traced from the fertilization of an egg. No doubt such egg in history had been credited with such inspiration for an architectural beauty as of a castle in this case.
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