9. Castel dell’Ovo, Naples
The so-called Egg Castle is one of the oldest fortifications in Southern Italy. It is a seaside location in Naples that was originally built on the island of Megaride. Nowadays, it’s a peninsula, so you needn’t go through a lot of trouble to reach it. The name of the castle puzzles most tourists, but its origin is related to a legend involving Virgin, a Roman poet.
In order to support the building through the years, Virgil is said to have placed an egg at the bottom of the fortification. According to the story, if the egg were to be broken, the castle would crumble to pieces, and a series of unfortunate events would take place in Naples. Albeit a myth, this legend is part of the charm that makes this fortification one of the popular places to visit when in Naples.
