Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina

Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina is a Renaissance palace built on a hill of Mount Echia in Naples, with rooms oriented in all cardinal directions. The layout was carefully designed to capture natural light and take advantage of seasonal breezes throughout the building.

Construction began in 1512 when Andrea Carafa della Spina purchased land from the monastery of Saints Peter and Sebastian. This project marked the start of noble settlement on the Pizzofalcone hillside.

The palace once housed a Topographical Office that specialized in lithography techniques, drawing artists to work on mapping projects. This artistic activity shaped how the city was visually documented during that era.

The building now houses the Military Section of the State Archives of Naples, so visits require prior arrangement. Check ahead as archive access has specific hours and may have restrictions.

This was the first noble residence built on Pizzofalcone hill, inspiring an entire wave of aristocratic homes in the area. Its success transformed a rural hillside into a preferred neighborhood for the elite.