Something About Us - il Cavaliere di Toledo

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Historical background

The vacation apartments "The Knight of Toledo," insist inside a building constructed in the 16th century, when Viceroy Don Pedro Alvarez de Toledo began his rule over the city of Naples. During his twenty-one years of administration, Don Pedro, managed to reorganize the City, ranging from administrative issues to those of public order to the realization of the city's first urban plan. It was, in fact, in the years between 1532 and 1553 that he provided for a series of interventions including: the enlargement of the city walls in order to include within them the five castles; the opening of the eight gates of entry to the city; and the construction of Via Toledo (today's Via Roma), which ran from the Porta di Chiaia, in the west, to the Porta Reale, in the east. Upstream of this street the so-called "Spanish Quarters" were organized with the specific purpose of housing the Viceregal army that guaranteed order and city security.
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the Building

The building where "il Cavaliere di Toledo" is currently located appears depicted for the first time in the 'iconography of the French cartographer Antoine Lafrery, dated 1566. Its central location with respect to the new road and immediately at the foot of Castel Sant'Elmo gave it a particularly privileged and important position. Later , and even more clearly, we find the lot in the Pianta di Giovanni Carafa , Duke of Noya, of 1750 (the first where house numbers appear for reasons of public order). Particularly evident on this cartography is the body of the building, adjoining the Church of St. Paul, founded in 1628 by the piety of the Neapolitans (at present the Church is dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie), and it also seemed to have been the site of a Conservatory.
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the Apartments

The titles given to the three apartments refer to figures who played governmental roles during the Viceroyalty, albeit in different ways. Of Don Pedro de Toledo we have anticipated the role and importance in his twenty-one years of rule, and for that reason the largest central apartment has been titled; nevertheless, the remainder are named after Don Ferdinand and Don Rodrigo. The first of these arrived in Naples in 1556 anticipated by fame as a celebrated and ruthless condottiero. Ferdinand Alvarez of Toledo Duke of Alba was one of the most faithful collaborators of the King of Spain and during his two years of rule, however, he left few sensible traces in the viceroyalty, as his extraordinary military skills and qualities as a valiant fighter prevailed. During his viceroyalty there was no shortage of Turkish invasions and in particular that of July 27, 1557, at Cariati in Calabria.
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Don Rodrigo Ponce de Leon, Duke of Arcos, entered Naples on February 11, 1646. Uomo dal carattere debole ed incapace di mostrare energia si trovò a riorganizzare una città soffocata dalle gabelle e da problemi di ordine pubblico e di accese differenze tra nobiltà e popolo. It was during these years that the popular uprising against the nobles took place, from July 7 to 1647, led by Tommaso Aniello d'Amalfi, known as "Masaniello," who tended to denounce the misrule of the viceroys by appealing to the Spanish sovereign with the cry of "viva o Rre 'e Spagna, mora 'o malgoverno": Nevertheless, the epilogue of this affair was bloody and bloody and involved the killing of Masaniello himself, who was shot and mutilated of his head. Don Rodrigo, assolutamente incapace di controllare un così complesso e delicato equilibrio, venne richiamato dal sovrano spagnolo e si imbarcò, il 19 gennaio del 1648, con i familiari e le suppellettili per Gaeta lasciando la città in cui aveva raccolto larga messe di odio.
Ed eccoci infine alla denominazione “Il Cavaliere di Toledo“, ispirata alla statua equestre realizzata dall’artista sudafricano William Kentridge nell’antistante piazza. This installation was considered the "icing on the cake" on the subway station created by Spaniard Oscar Tusquets Blanca, and considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The statue, however, is not inspired by heroic knights but by the mythological Osso, Mastrosso and Carcagnosso, three Spanish viceregal knights outcasts belonging to the secret masonic society "La Garduna," who apparently were the founders of the Neapolitan Camorra (the first one) and Cosa Nostra and Ndrangheta (the respective other two).

Stories and legends that fill these spaces with mystery, fascination and unique traditions, indescribable and unmissable as only during a stay in these places can be experienced.


Bibliography:
G.CONIGLIO, I Vicerè Spagnoli di Napoli, Fausto Fiorentino Editore, Naples December 1967
C.DE SETA, Cartografia della Città di Napoli,E.S.I. 1969.
G.C.ALISIO, Urbanistica napoletana del Settecento, Bari 1979.

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The Apartments


Don RODRIGO: L’appartamento di circa 45 mq al piano ammezzato, adiacente alla centralissima via Toledo, può ospitare fino ad un massimo di 4 persone. The apartment is equipped with intercom, independent heating, air conditioning, free WI-FI in all rooms, Smart TV, kitchen, scales, hair dryer.

Don PEDRO: The apartment of about 70sqm located on the mezzanine floor, adjacent to the central Via Toledo, is the largest of the three apartments that make up the Cavaliere di Toledo and can accommodate up to a maximum of 6 people. The apartment is equipped with intercom, independent heating, air conditioning, free WI-FI in all rooms, Smart TV, kitchen, scales, hair dryer.

Don FERDINANDO: The 52-square-meter apartment is located in a building on the mezzanine floor, adjacent to the central Via Toledo, and can accommodate up to a maximum of 4 people. The apartment is equipped with intercom, independent heating, air conditioning, free WI-FI in all rooms, kitchen, scale, hair dryer, Smart TV.


To learn in detail about all the equipment in our houses you can consult the apartment equipment section in the menu.
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In the heart of Naples

They are located along the main street of shopping, period palaces, historic cafes and typical trattorias of the city; a short walk separates you from the Port of Naples, where the Metrò del Mare connects the city to the islands of Ischia, Capri and Procida and various locations on the Amalfi Coast with frequent runs. All means of transportation are just a few meters from the apartment, both the convenient funicular railway and the metro stop . Both connect the historic center of Naples to the Vomero hill, where you can visit the Castel Sant'Elmo and admire an evocative view of the city from 'high above, the Metro 20 meters away also connects via Toledo to the Central Station and various areas of Naples. A few minutes walk you will find waiting for you all the wonderful historical attractions,( the Teatro San Carlo, Palazzo Reale, Piazza del Plebiscito, Piazza Trieste and Trento,the Church of Gesù Nuovo, La Cappella Sansevero, The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Naples underground), gastronomic and cultural that only a city like Naples can offer you!
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Airport/Station

It is also easily accessible :

-from Capodichino airport, by Alibus in 30 minutes, stop Molo Beverello (Piazza Municipio), from Piazza Municipio take subway line 1, travel time 5 minutes (stop Toledo ), or alternatively via cab.
- from Piazza Garibaldi central station, by subway line 1, travel time 10 minutes (Toledo stop), or alternatively via cab.
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