Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino: the best view of Naples

Castel Sant'Elmo

The present fortress, with its distinctive six-pointed star plan, was built in the 16th century by the Spanish on the highest point of the city, to keep watch over the port and the districts below. You walk up the ramps to the Piazza d'Armi, the great panoramic terrace: from here you can see the whole of Naples, with Spaccanapoli cutting straight through the old centre.

Inside the castle is the Museo del Novecento, devoted to 20th-century Neapolitan art.

The Certosa di San Martino

A few steps below the castle, the Certosa is a former Carthusian monastery, rebuilt and decorated between the 16th and 18th centuries by the finest Neapolitan artists. Today it houses the Museo di San Martino, with:

• the church, one of the richest in Neapolitan Baroque;
• the great cloister, with the monks' small cemetery marked by marble skulls;
• the nativity scene section, with the famous Cuciniello presepe, hundreds of 18th-century figures;
• the gardens and the viewpoint over the bay.

Tip: the Certosa is closed on Tuesdays. If you are short on time, choose the castle for the view, plus the free viewpoint at Largo San Martino, just outside the Certosa: it's one of the most beautiful panoramic spots in the city.

Getting there

Vomero is linked to the centre by three funiculars: the Centrale (from Via Toledo), the Chiaia (from Parco Margherita) and the Montesanto. Get off at the top stations and continue on foot for about 10 minutes uphill. Alternatively, take metro Line 1 to Vanvitelli. To come down you can use the Pedamentina, the long stairway that leads from San Martino towards Montesanto, with gorgeous views over the city.

Nearby

• Vomerothe hill around the castle
• Christmas in Naplesthe Cuciniello nativity scene
• Metro and funicularshow to get up to Vomero

Frequently asked questions