WELCOME TO COURT

Step back in time and relive the glories of the Bourbon Kingdom on a full-day tour of the royal dynasty’s former residences and Naples’ monumental area.

Meet your private guide and driver at the disembarkation point, after you exit your cruise ship, and relax on the ride to Caserta. Here you will visit the extraordinary complex of the Reggia, including the sumptuous Royal Palace and its extensive gardens. Built in the 18th century for Charles III, the Reggia is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. The palace amply fulfilled its function as a royal mansion whose sheer magnificence would affirm the unshakeable wealth and power of the Bourbon monarchy. Architect Luigi Vanvitelli designed the structure, inspired by, and with the intention of eclipsing, the Palace of Versailles in France. With its 5 floors, 34 stairways, 4 courtyards and 1,200 rooms, the majestic Reggia occupies 45,000 square metres and is the largest royal palace ever built. The splendidly decorated interiors, featuring gold-splashed halls and a dazzling succession of stuccoes, frescoes, inlays and precious furnishings, continue to impress and astound visitors to the Reggia. Among guests’ favourites are the palatine chapel, the court theatre, the throne room and the private apartments which allow a fascinating glimpse into royal tastes and way of life.

The 120-hectare garden stretching out behind the palace is no less spectacular than the chambers within. Along the central alley, dotted with fountains and sculptures, are pools which lead to a dramatic waterfall backdrop and beautifully tended flower beds ablaze with colour. Take a leisurely stroll through this enchanting Eden before heading back to Naples for some free time for lunch.

In the afternoon discover the city’s fascinating past on a tour of the zona monumentale, formerly the centre of Naples’ political and administrative activities. Your guide will lead you down lively alleys, across stately piazzas, past the homes of royalty, regaling you with tales of power and pomp. You will hear stories of Naples, from the Middle Ages right up to the present day, focusing on the 1700s when the city reached the height of its prosperity. “See Naples and die” goes an old saying, which means that once you have visited this city you can rest in peace since nothing else is worth seeing or can match its beauty and luster. Although the saying is of unknown origin and authorship, historians believe it could have become popular in the 18th century, during the reign of the Bourbons, when the city flourished and enjoyed its golden age. Naples was the wealthiest, most industrialized and technologically advanced city in Italy as well as a treasure trove bursting with archaeological, artistic and architectural gems that drew travellers from far and wide. German poet and writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe was one enthusiastic tourist who visited Naples in the late 1700s. He jotted down his impressions in his famous travel chronicle Italian Journey and wrote some inspiring lines about his love for the city that still strike a chord today: “One can’t blame the Neapolitan for never wanting to leave his city, nor its poets singing its praises in lofty hyperboles: it would be wonderful even if a few more Vesuviuses were to rise in the neighbourhood”.

A tour of Palazzo Reale will allow you to catch a glimpse of the splendour that must have once reigned at court. Standing in the grand, elegant Piazza del Plebiscito, opposite Naples’ very own Pantheon – the domed Basilica of San Francesco di Paola – the palace was the official residence of the Spanish Bourbons. Architect Domenico Fontana designed the first nucleus in the early 1600s, though the building we can admire today is the result of successive enlargements and redecoration carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries. The entrance hall with the majestic marble staircase sets the tone and prepares visitors for the impressive sights to come. Highlights include the court theatre, the throne room and the private apartments which are still furnished with original period pieces and richly embellished with tapestries and frescoes, attesting to the wealth and prestige of its occupants.

Next, hit the streets of Bella Napoli on a quest for its most striking landmarks. Your guide will certainly show you around Galleria Umberto I, a fancy 19th century glass-vaulted arcade lined with shops and cafes. You will also discover Naples’ significant contribution to the world of music while you walk past the legendary Theatre of San Carlo, Italy’s oldest opera house, established in 1737. No less astounding are the city’s architectural and engineering feats, as you will learn when you gaze out on the 13th century Castel Nuovo, the royal seat of the kings of Naples up until the 1700s, and Castel dell’Ovo, wrapped in curious legends that feature a magic egg and a mermaid. The superb view of Mount Vesuvius and the dark blue Tyrrhenian Sea from Naples’ waterfront will be among the lasting impressions you will take away with you.