Castel dell'Ovo

Campania · Italien · Fortress

Beneath Naples' oldest castle, the sorcerer Virgil is said to have hidden a magic egg – if it breaks, the city falls.

The sea fortress on the islet of Megaride is Naples' oldest castle, built where the siren Parthenope, according to myth, washed ashore after failing to ensnare Odysseus with her song. In the Middle Ages the Roman poet Virgil was recast by popular belief as a mighty sorcerer, and legend says he hid an enchanted egg in a glass bottle within the castle's foundations. As long as the egg remains whole, the castle stands – but if it shatters, the fortress will sink into the sea and misfortune will strike all of Naples. After the earthquake of 1370, Queen Giovanna I had to publicly assure the people that the egg was safely kept, and the castle's name – Castle of the Egg – carries the legend on.

FAQ

Hvor ligger Castel dell'Ovo?

Castel dell'Ovo ligger i Campania, Italien.

Image: PaestumPaestum / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons