Castel Sant’Elmo di Napoli

Castel Sant'Elmo is situated on Vomero hill, in close proximity to the Charterhouse of San Martino.
Due to its advantageous location, the Castellum Belforte was constructed in this area during the Angevin period. Its purpose was to serve as a defensive structure and observation point, providing protection from maritime threats.
At the time of its construction, the structure must have appeared to consist of a regular-shaped wall, with square towers at the corners of the curtain walls, and a central crenellated building, marked by numerous openings, on top of which stood a building, possibly a watchtower.
The structure underwent significant modifications during the Aragonese period, to the extent that by the second half of the fifteenth century, it no longer resembled a fortress but rather a multi-level castle with numerous openings and surrounded by walls that adapted to the ruggedness of the site.
By the end of the fifteenth century, the structure was already insufficient to counter the new military techniques and posed a potential hazard due to its isolated location.
In the following century, the Viceroy Pedro de Toledo commissioned the architect Pedro Luis Escrivà to oversee the reconstruction of the fortress with the intention of creating a defensive structure capable of repelling assaults from the western flank, maintaining a strategic position to control the city and supporting the castles on the coastline.
The tuffaceous hill facilitated the expeditious construction of the fort. The tufa was cut at the same time from above, almost sculpting it, and from below, creating the moat that forced enemies to descend in order to launch an attack. The construction of the various levels entailed the shaping of the hillside and the excavation of tunnels. This was done in order to install defensive measures and gun ports on the two lower levels, cisterns on the upper level, and defensive rooms along the perimeter.
The parade ground was developed with the construction of protected rooms for administrative, residential and, potentially, religious purposes, situated within a high wall with a patrol path.
The unconventional architectural design attracted considerable criticism. Nevertheless, it underwent no significant alterations, as Escrivà utilised the entire available land area to construct the edifice, situated amidst cliffs on three sides.
During the insurrection led by Masaniello in 1647, the fortress assumed a crucial defensive role, repelling the rebels through bombardment and resisting their attempted conquest.
The fortifications were breached by the army of Charles of Bourbon in 1734, who subsequently captured the town following its surrender.
Subsequently, the fortress fell into disuse, as modern warfare strategies had rendered the concept of immobility obsolete and presupposed the deployment of numerous armies over vast expanses. It was subsequently used almost exclusively as a prison, while retaining only its ancient role as a bulwark against popular uprisings.
It continued to serve as a place of detention, particularly for political prisoners, until 1952.

Following restoration work, which commenced in 1976 and was completed a few years later, the building was converted to house the Museo Napoli Novecento 1910-1980. This museum exhibits works created during this period by Neapolitan artists, or in any case those linked to the city, which touch on movements such as futurism and neorealism.