Palazzo Sanfelice
Sanità
KnownHistory & archaeology
The story
In the heart of the Sanità, Ferdinando Sanfelice signed his hawk-wing staircase: a baroque set piece of open flights, chosen again and again by the cinema for its theatrical sweep.
Access
courtyards FREE
The story
The Palazzo Sanfelice, in the Rione Sanità, was designed between 1724 and 1728 by the architect Ferdinando Sanfelice as a residence for himself and his family, in an area then healthier than the crowded centre. It is famous above all for its staircase.
What to see
The masterpiece is the open double-flight staircase, called 'hawk-wing': a scenic invention by Sanfelice that turns the courtyard into a theatre, with the flights that cross in perspective. It is one of the most photographed Baroque staircases in Naples.
Tips
The palace is inhabited: the staircase is admired from the courtyard, with discretion and respect for the residents. You are in the Rione Sanità, a stone's throw from the Palazzo dello Spagnolo, which has a similar staircase: it is worth comparing them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'hawk-wing' staircase of the Palazzo Sanfelice?
An open double-flight staircase, a scenic invention by Ferdinando Sanfelice, which makes the courtyard a stage; it is among the most famous in Naples.
Who designed the Palazzo Sanfelice?
The architect Ferdinando Sanfelice, between 1724 and 1728, as his own residence.
Where is the Palazzo Sanfelice?
In the Rione Sanità, in Naples.
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