Castel Sant'Elmo

Lonely Planet review

It might look strong and mean, but this hulking star-shaped heap has seen little military action. The biggest blow it received came in 1587 when a bolt of lightning hit the castle's stock of gunpowder, killing some 150 people. It has, however, seen plenty of prisoners, as its dungeons were used as a military prison until the 1970s.

Originally, however, it was neither a castle nor a fort that topped the tufa rock, but a church. Dedicated to St Erasmus (from which the name Elmo is derived), it rested on the top of Vomero hill for some 400 years before Robert of Anjou turned it into a castle in 1349. In 1538, Spanish viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo had it further fortified, giving it its present look.

Somewhat emasculated, it's now mainly used as an exhibition and conference centre. Although you can visit the castle's roof (for the best view in town) most of the castle is closed if there's no exhibition on. Admission times and price vary according to the exhibition.