Villa Rosebery

Naples


In an area famed for its blue-ribbon real estate, Villa Rosebery is a star resident. Built in the 18th century, it has a history both romantic and epic. It was used by Luigi of Bourbon in the early 19th century for his trysts with the dancer Amina Boschetti, and it was from here that King Vittorio Emanuele III left Italy in 1946 after the abolition of the monarchy. It's now one of the official residences of the Italian president.

The complex consists of three buildings – the Palazzina Borbonica, the Piccolo Foresteria and the Cabina a Mare – surrounded by lush, extensive waterside gardens. The estate is sometimes open to the public, who flock here to see where Italy's head of state crashes when in town. See the website for upcoming guided tours.

Transportation

  • bus: 140 to Via Posillipo

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Naples attractions

1. Parco Sommerso di Gaiola

1 MILES

Steep steps lead down to this marine reserve, rich in biodiversity and submerged Roman ruins. Due to its size, only 100 bathers are allowed through its…

2. Parco Virgiliano

1.3 MILES

Perched high above the shimmering sea on the westernmost tip of posh Posillipo hill, this much-loved, somewhat neglected park is the place to kick back on…

3. Grotta di Seiano

1.45 MILES

At the bottom of a long, steep and exhausting descent, the Grotta di Seiano isn't actually a cave but a 1st-century tunnel linking the Roman Villa…

4. Palazzo Donn'Anna

1.49 MILES

Incomplete, semiderelict yet hauntingly beautiful, this seaside Posillipo villa takes its name from Anna Carafa, for whom it was built as a wedding…

5. Città della Scienza

1.68 MILES

The interactive City of Science is part of a long-term redevelopment of the Bagnoli steelworks area, 5km southeast of central Pozzuoli. It's a particular…

6. Porto di Mergellina

2 MILES

Once home to the area's fishing fleet, Mergellina's marina is now a crowd-pulling combo of anchored yachts and kitsch Neapolitan chalets, neon-lit seaside…

7. Molo Luise

2.06 MILES

Nicknamed the 'Moletto', this hulking pier protects the Porto di Mergellina from the open sea. It's a popular place for locals (both human and feline),…

8. Piazzetta del Leone

2.12 MILES

This semi-circular piazzetta (small square) is named for its somewhat battered-looking protagonist, a marble lion whose origins remain unknown (in spite…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "italy/campania/naples/attractions/villa-rosebery/a/poi-sig/422707/359879",
      "destination": "Naples",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Italy",
      "city": "Naples",
      "position": "superzone"
    }