 Introduzione
Castel Sant'Elmo is on the highest site of the city, on the Sant'Erasmo hill today known as the Vomero hill. Sant'Elmo is the name of both a hill and a fortress in Naples, located near the Certosa di San Martino. Together, the structures overlook Naples and are the most visible landmarks in the city. The name Sant'Elmo is from an old 10th-century church, Sant'Erasmo being shortened to Ermo and, finally, Elmo. The fortress is a star-shaped castle with six ramparts.
The building, whose architectural features from a distance resemble those of the Castel dell'Ovo, was one of the city's fortifications and was used above all to protect it from invasions from the sea.
 Location
Address: Largo San Martino, Vomero, Naples, Italy.
 History
Castel Sant'Elmo was built on the orders of Charles of Anjou: its construction, in tuff, was begun in 1329 and completed in 1343 by the work of the architects Tino da Camaino, Atanasio Primario and Francesco di Vito. It was built where the Normans, in 1170, had a fort called Belforte surrounded by rich vegetation.
King Charles V, through the viceroy Pedro de Toledo, completely rebuilt the castle. Spanish architect Pier Luigi Scriba designed the star-shaped plan of the castle. It has witnessed numerous sieges, fierce disputes between the various dominating powers, and repeated popular uprisings, including the now legendary Masaniello revolt of 1647. During the revolution of 1647, so-called Masaniello's Revolt, the Spanish viceroy took refuge in the fortress to escape the revolutionaries. Sant'Elmo was also the symbol of the short period of the Neapolitan Republic of 1799.
The old fort has risked destruction several times. During the Second World War the Germans had intended to blow it up before they left the city, changing their minds only at the last minute. The fortress has been restored to public use since 1980 and houses the Bruno Molajoli Art History museum.
 Description of the Castel
The castle, which has now been restored, having been freed from its use as a military prison, houses exhibitions of art and history and also contains the Molaioli Library of Art and a videotheque which supplies information on all of the city's monuments.
The complex also contains the 16th century Church of Sant'Elmo and the Chapel of Santa Maria del Pilar (17th century). From the communication trenches and the Castle's upper square there is an extensive view over the city and Vesuvius, the Neapolitan plain, and the marvelous gulf bounded by Capri and the profile of the Phlegraen islands.
 Church of St. Erasmo
It is worthy to visit the Church of St. Erasmo that has a rich floor in maiolica and tile. Behind the altar there is the tomb of Pietro de Toledo, a viceroy's relative and first lord of St. Elmo. In front of the entrance of the church there are the prisons where were imprisoned, among many others: the Princess Giovanna di Capua, Tommaso Campanella, Angelo Carasale the architect of the San Carlo theatre and many revolutionaries: Mario Pagano, Domenico Cirillo, Gennaro Sessa di Cassano, Francesco Pignatelli, the Count Ettore Carafa, Luigia Sanfelice, Pietro Colletta, Carlo Poerio, Silvio Spaventa and many others.
 Useful information
Telephone: 081/5784030.
Open: Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30 - 7:30; Ticket office closes at 6:30.
Closed: Every Wednesday, 1st January and 25th December.
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