Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) is the name of that part of Naples promenade in front of Castel dell'Ovo. Until the 16th century it was only a fishermen suburb, but in 1599 the Spanish Viceroy of Naples decided to transform it into a prestigious road: so he called to renovate that place the architect Domenico Fontana (who also built the Royal Palace). In the second half of the 19th century, they decided to advance the coastline until the current position and to build a new fishing suburb at the foot of Castel dell'Ovo, which today hosts a small tourist port with services, bars and restaurants. On the new waterfront of Saint Lucia are located the most exclusive and renowned hotels in the city of Naples.

Castel dell'Ovo (Egg's Castle) rises upon the islet of Megaride, in front of the small promontory of Monte Echia (also called Pizzofalcone), which divides the two small bays on the waterfront of Naples: the one of the harbour and the other of Riviera di Chiaia (Mergellina). The islet was the first settlement by Greek colonists coming from Pithecusa (on Ischia island) who also founded the old town of Partenope on Monte Echia, the earliest nucleus of Naples. During the 1st century b.C. the islet of Megaride became property of Lucius Licinius Lucullus, who made built there his most magnificent villa. They remain very few signs of this legendary villa, because of the several constructions made in the following times upon it.

After the death of Lucullus, the villa came under the Empire property and it was used as luxury prison for some exponents of the Emperor's family, during the numerous conspirations and succession fights for the throne of Rome. In 476 the Barbarian king Odoacre imprisoned there the last emperor Romulus Augustus, ratifying the definitive fall of the West Roman Empire. After that, Naples had been a Byzantine duchy for some centuries, under formal domain by the East Roman Empire, but with a substantial independence. Then the islet of Megaride housed a friary of Basileus monks, dedicated to Il Salvatore (the Saviour). From that period they remain some tracks inside the Saviour's Chapel and in the so-called Sala delle Colonne (Columns' Hall), a refectory decorated with some columns taken by the underlying Roman villa.  [ More...]