Palazzo Spinelli di Tarsia

Palazzo Spinelli di Tarsia is an 18th century palace in Naples featuring a grand facade with two curved entrance ramps for carriages. The building displays baroque elements including elaborate archways and multi-level design with decorated details throughout the exterior.

Domenico Antonio Vaccaro designed the palace for Ferdinando Vincenzo Spinelli, Prince of Tarsia, in the 1700s. The building changed hands several times after 1840 until it eventually became home to the Shimamoto Association.

The interior now hosts Japanese contemporary art through the Shimamoto Association, creating an unexpected cultural dialogue with the building's original purpose. This shift shows how a historic space can embrace new creative traditions.

The building now serves as an art center and may require advance notice for visits, as it is not always open to the public. Plan to spend time exploring the interior and check locally for current visiting conditions.

The palace originally featured elaborate gardens meant to recreate the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, though most of these green spaces have faded from the site over centuries. This ambitious garden design reveals the aspirations of its original owners.