ENGLISH * NAPLES,
CASTLE OF THE EGG
WE
CONTINUE WEST AND, FLYING OVER THE QUARTER OF SANTA LUCIA, HERE WE ARE ABOVE
THE CASTEL DELL'OVO (CASTLE OF THE EGG). LEGEND HAS IT THAT VIRGIL, WHO WAS
ATTRIBUTED WITH MAGIC POWERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, HID A GOLDEN EGG THERE.
THE CASTEL DELL'OVO IS BUILT IN THE SHAPE OF A SHIP ENTIRELY OF YELLOW TUFA.
IN THE DAYS OF THE ROMANS IT WAS THE RESIDENCE OF LICINIUS LUCULLUS, WHO HERE
HELD THE LAVISH FEASTS FOR WHICH HE IS VERY HIGH AND AT SOME POINTS REACHES
THE HEIGHT OF THE CASTLE WALLS.THIS MEANS THAT THE SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES WHICH
LIE BENEATH THE CASTLE AND ARE CARVED OUT OF THE ROCK ARE IN FACT NOT SUBTERRANEAN
AT ALL, BUT ON GROUND LEVEL. FROM OUR ALTITUDE, WE CANNOT SEE THE SHAFTS OF
THE COLUMNS WHICH ONCE BELONGED TO THE ANCIENT VILLA OF LUCULLUS AND WHICH
WERE USED IN THE MIDDLE AGES TO SUPPORT THE VAULTS, BUT THE SMALL APERTURES
VISIBLE IN THE ENCLOSING WALL WHICH RISES SHEER ABOVE THE SEA WERE THE WINDOWS
OF THE CELLS CARVED OUT IN THE TUFA BY THE COENOBITE COMMUNITY WHO LIVED THERE
FOR A LONG TIME DURING THE BYZANTINE DUCHY AND LATER UNDER THE NORMANS. THERE
USED TO BE SO MANY MONASTIC COMMUNITIES HERE THAT IN THE MIDDLE AGES THE AS
YET UNFORTIFIED ISLET WAS DUBBED THE "SAVIOUR'S ISLET". IT WAS THE
ANGEVINS WHO TOOK STEPS TO FORTIFY IT AND TURN IT INTO A PRISON. UNDER THEIR
DYNASTY AROSE THE LEGEND ACCORDING TO WHICH THE TWO QUEENS GIOVANNA I AND
II, WHO BOTH ENJOYED A REPUTATION FOR UNINHIBITED BEHAVIOUR, PRECIPITATED
THEIR LOVERS THROUGH TRAPDOORS IN THE CASTLE INTO THE SEA BENEATH.
ALFONSO OF ARAGONA RESTRUCTURED
THE CASTLE IN 1456. HE IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GRACEFUL LOGGIA WE CAN
SEE ON THE LEFTHAND SIDE OF THE CASTLE, BEHIND WHICH THERE IS THE "TORRE
DA MAESTRA". UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE THE PRISON BESIDE
IT, BUT THIS LACK IS MADE UP FOR BY OUR VIEW OF THE NORMANDY TOWER AND THE
GREAT CIRCULAR TOWER.
FROM THE LARGE PLATFORM
ON THE UPPER LEVEL, VISITORS CAN ENJOY A PANORAMA OF THE CITY, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY
ENCHANTING VIEWED FROM THE SEA, WHILE FROM THE OTHER TERRACE, BOUNDED BY A
GOTHIC PORTICO, THERE IS A STRIKING VIEW OF POSILLIPO. WE REALISE, HOWEVER,
THAT OUR BIRD'S-EYE VIEW CAN ONLY ENCOURAGE US TO RETURN FOR A MORE DETAILED
EXPLORATION ON FOOT.
