Palazzo dello Spagnolo

The Palazzo dello Spagnolo is a Rococo or late-Baroque-style palace in Rione Sanità in central Naples. It is best known for its elaborate staircase.

The Palace was erected during 1738, commissioned by the Marchese di Poppano, Nicola Moscati, and is attributed to the architect Ferdinando Sanfelice. Through an indistinct façade one enters to an interior octagonal courtyard leads to a double ramp stairwell. The interior was richly stuccoed by Aniello Prezioso, using designs by Francesco Attanasio in 1742. The top floor was added at the end of the 18th century. In the following century, the family sold apartments in the lower floors to Tommaso Atienza, nicknamed lo Spagnolo (the Spaniard), whence the name of the palace.

The staircases with arches in shifting planes still grants an aura of complex scenography, despite its present cramped and dilapidated state: a grandiose entrance leading only to a decrepit palace. The nearby Palazzo San Felice is attributed to the same architect and has similar staircases.

Text adapted from “Palazzo dello Spagnolo, Naples” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Palazzo dello Spagnolo ranks #1,755 of 7,738 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #136 of the 452 mapped in Italy. Founded 1738, it is older than 19% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 525 atlas entries founded in the 18th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 2,800 times in the last 60 days, more than 73% of the atlas. 25 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Naples, 2 km away. See how Italy compares in the castle statistics.

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