I’m in a ‘slightly’ better mood today (amazing what some sleep does)…
We’re staying at the Caracciolo Palazzo in Naples, down in the ‘old’ section of town. Built in the late 13th, early 14th century, the palace (and nearby church) was the residence of the aristocratic Caracciolo family and of Joachim Murat, one of Napoleon’s illustrious generals back in the day…
It’s been turned into a 144 room hotel in the past few years.
This is the entry way from the street. Gotta say, it’s a ‘tad bit’ impressive…
This is the ‘side’ door, with the doors closed and locked. These are the ‘new’ doors, installed in the 17th century and are about 6 inches thick… And yes, that is sheet iron from the original13th century doors on the bottoms of the doors, on the inside, the sheet iron goes up two panels high and it takes two people to open/close them!!!
And an original (17th century) door knocker, but it’s missing the knocker ring 🙁
The ring fits in wholes on each side of the lion’s mouth and one banged on the striker below the head.
This is a close up of the “original” door locks from the 14th century (and still in use to lock the big doors). As an aside, there IS a personnel door you can seen in the side door, but it had to be opened from the inside.
And the original deadbolt, still in use on the side door! Don’t think you could pick that sucker… The bar probably weighs 50 lbs! The two ropes go up to the locks at the top of the door.
This is part of the detail from inside the Piazza, note the wear an tear on the ornamental Granite!
And your horse parking inside the Piazza, again original equipment! These are at horse head height, to allow the horse/carriage to be tied up head in to the column. All the columns were equipped with these.
And the obligatory coat of arms of the Caracciolo family, mounted up near the barrel vaulted ceiling, which would be the first thing seen on entry into the formal part of the palace! And yes, it is on the right side as one enters…
Lousy pic of some of the original stairs, and yes they ARE circular, and yes, the were chipped out of granite around a center column that looks to be about 12 or 14 inches in diameter and the stairs are maybe 28 inches wide!
And a view from my room into the piazza- Considering how noisy Naples is (they use horns for brakes, etc.) it’s amazingly quiet! The room is kinda jarring, nice, but jarring… Ultra modern furnishings, marble bath (standard in Italy after all), and flat screen TV just ‘clash’ with the true age of the building, but what the hey… everything works, and I’m not having to go to the WC outside to use the toilet!!!
As far as the rest of the day, well it IS Italy… breakfast was supposed to be at 0630, the restaurant was “open”, e.g. the door was open, but nothing else! Ended up with a quick cup of coffee at 0650, in the taxi (OMG we’re ALL gonna die trying to pull out in traffic!!!), met a truck going to wrong way on a one way street (and I use the term loosely, as it was two asses and a chariot wide); after a ‘lengthy’ discussion, much arm waving, selected gestures, the taxi driver backed up to let the truck out.
At that point, I think it’d become a personal affront to him that he had backed down and we’d witnessed it; as the rest of the drive in I don’t think he ever touched the brakes, but he abused the hell outta the horn!!!
And Naples is STILL having garbage issues, except it’s not overflowing ‘completely’ into the streets yet; it’s only out to the edge of the parking places, and about 2-3 car lengths long… Apparently the EU has once again focused on the garbage problem and is threatening to refuse to take anymore Italian garbage (in ANY form). Just glad we’re not here in the summer, it’s rather “fragrant” that time of year.
We had a pre-meeting for the meeting, which went fairly well; then had the meeting, and then had the post-meeting-meeting… so that ate up 4 1/ hours. Sigh…
As usual, questions arose, conversation sidetracked the brief, etc. etc… Are we having fun yet???
And we came away with a list of taskers, so we’ll see what happens!
Now nap time, then dinner, then back to the airport at 0500 in the morning… I hear that pillow calling my namzzzzz….
Ok, Now I’m jealous! Beautiful pictures and that Taxi driver sounds like a few people that I have ridden with (I was in the floor board of course 🙂
So let me get this straight. You went to Naples to discover my blog? Sounds like a great trip.
SS- Yep…
Odie- I’ve been following your blog for a while, courtesy of LL. It’s another trip… sigh…
Wow, my company normally puts me up at whatever chain hotel is close to the airport. I need to talk to our travel guys.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
DB- We, the collective we, decided we weren’t doing the Holiday Inn again… 🙂 And this place is actually comparable price wise!
Supi- You’re welcome!
Only the tiniest bit green….The doors are really interesting, and the taxi driver must have close relatives all over the globe. thanks for taking us along…
Still jealous, here.
Murphy wants to know if dogs are allowed.
Lived there for 4 years 58-62, but don’t imagine it has changed much over the last 50 years! Cars and Vespa’s on the sidewalks and people in the streets. I absolutely loved that place, but all the locals I knew are probably long dead. SIGH!
Looks like a great place to stay.Be safe.I will say a prayer or two for you
Very beautiful.
Brighid- I’m SURE he does… sigh…
Me- Dogs are EVERYWHERE! Problem is most of them appear to be feral… And there is PLENTY of garbage for them to eat…
Ev- I hear Humpty-Dumpty is still alive (but she’s gotta be over 70 by now)… Everything is at Capo now, the ‘old’ NSA is closed down.
Fuzzy- Safe (in the hotel), but we were cautioned NOT to walk the streets in the area… Taxi Everywhere was the recommendation (and no watches)
Jenn- Thanks!
Not a Motel 6!
Odie- I’ve been following your blog for a while, courtesy of LL. It’s another trip… sigh… 2945abc45 0223 china wholesale
Humpty Dumpty – That brings back memories from my Navy days in the late 1970s
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.