Cardinale Zapata Palace, Naples
Cardinale Zapata Palace in Naples is a monumental palace in the central part of the city, located on Piazza Trieste e Trento. The palazzo was created with the aim of locating the city's leadership here, during the reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Naples. The construction of the 16th century was executed in neoclassical style.
History of the palace
The building was created in 1550 by Ferdinand Muglio, in collaboration with Giovanni Benincasa. Originally the palace was created in the form of a castle with towers and a lifting bridge over a moat. The palace got its name in honor of the governor of Naples – Zapata. The Cardinal resided in it from 1620 to 1622, until he was recalled.
There is no reliable information about what was located in the walls of the palace of Zapata after this, but in 1810 it was bought by a doctor Domenico Cotugno, who wanted to restore the palace. The architect Carlo Vanvitelli worked on the project. During this period the building acquired an external staircase, now three halls of the palace became accessible directly from the courtyard. The facade has not undergone special changes.
One of the most famous cafes of Naples was later located in the walls of the palace of Zapata.
Museum in Cardinale Zapata Palace
Within the walls of the palace there is a museum of Giuseppe Caravita Príncipe di Sirignano. The collection contains paintings and sculptures from different periods, from the 19th to the 20th century. Giuseppe Caravita has been acquiring his collection for a long time. In addition to the main exposition, the museum's collection includes several rooms, the interior of which is decorated in accordance with the style typical of the 19th century.
How to get there
Cardinale Zapata Palace is located in the central part of Naples. You can get here by public transport:
- buses № 140, 151, 154, 160, 201;
- metro – line 1 (station - Toledo), line 2 (station – Stazione Napoli Montesanto).
