Borgo Santa Lucia

Borgo Santa Lucia, or simply Santa Lucia ("Saint Lucy orough), is a historical ''rione'' of Naples, Italy, facing the coast. The area rises around the street of the same name, in turn named after the basilica of , the presence of which is attested since the 9th century, in spite of legend that would have it founded by a granddaughter of Constantine I.

Territory

The territory of the ward coincides with that of the parish and extends along via (street) Santa Lucia and Orsini and their cross streets, the Islet of Megaride with the , the Castel dell'Ovo, and via Chiatamone, all features of the Partenope promenade. It extends to the offices of the newspaper ''Il Mattino'', the so-called "Pallonetto di Santa Lucia" and the slopes of Mount Echia nearly to Monte di Dio. The area is bounded on the north and east by the Royal Palace, the Molosiglio and via Cesario Console, anciently famous as "Rua dei Provenzali".

History

Santa Lucia has been identified with the history of Naples ever since the Greeks from Cumae landed here to found the small market harbour of Falero, which later gave rise — between the beach, the islet of Megaride and the Pizzofalcone hill — to the ''polis'' Partenope (from the siren who tried to enchant Ulysses); later that town would be known as Palepoli (“old city”).

In the preimperial Roman age, general Lucullus moved to the area and built his magnificent villa, known as ''Oppidum Lucullianum'', to which the last Roman emperor Romulus Augustus exiled to live out his days. In the imperial age the area became famous for its proximity to the ''platamoniae'' caves, where magic rituals were held and in which Petronius set parts of his ''Satyricon''.

In the 7th century Saint Patricia from Constantinople, directed towards the Holy Land, was shipwrecked here and, according to legend, founded the sanctuary and decided to settle in Naples. In the Middle Ages, the zone decayed and the villa was converted into a monastery by Basilian monks who, during the period of the ducal age, also managed the sanctuary. In the Norman age the monastery was transformed completely to become one of the best equipped fortresses guarding the gulf. In the Angevin age the close harbor was given in concession to the people of the Provençe, the land of origin of the Angevin kings; the area became very important for them, militarily and commercially, and was known by the toponym of "Port of the Provenzali".

In 1588, the sanctuary was given in management to an order of nuns and, as result, was entirely rebuilt for wish of abbess Eusebia Minadoa. The Spanish viceroys, between 1500 and 1700, held the area in particular high regard and embellished it greatly; this included structures by the architect Domenico Fontana