Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino)

Castel Nuovo, translated as New Castle, is one of Naples's most noted and famous monuments. When the capital of Palermo moved to Naples in 1266 with King Charles I of Anjou, in reign, the residence to royalty was Castel Capuano. The king however, wanted a new residence and therefore, the creation of Castel Nuovo. Building began in 1279 and was completed only three years later but the new fortress remained uninhibited until 1285 after the death of King Charles, when his son Charles the II moved in. The new castle became the root of the historical center and held many important events such as the election of Pope Boniface VIII, elected here to avoid threats of the Avgevine authority.
Later under the reign of King Robert in 1309, the castle was enlarged and enhanced with precious art but nearly forty years later the castle was pillaged by the Hungarian army of Louis I, ex-brother-in-law to the young Queen Joanna I, who began restorations after its demise.
However, the castle was besieged numerous times again in the years that followed and was lived in by other rulers including King Ladislas and Joanna the II Queen of Naples from 1414-1435. The fortress was renovated again in 1442 under the Aragonite dynasty and it was then that the monumental triumphal arch added to the main gate to celebrate the return of the new ruler, Alfonso V.
In 1494, the army of Charles VIII of France, sacked the Kingdom and it was taken over by Spain. The castle then became an important military fortress and temporary residence to the visiting Spanish Kings and was not used again as a residence to the Kings until 1734 when Charles the III King of Spain became the King of Naples.
One of the halls in the Palace, named Baron's Hall was used in modern times, up until 2006, as the seat of the city council of the municipal of Naples.