Ospedale L'Albergo Reale dei Poveri, Naples

Bourbon Hospice for the Poor
Bourbon Hospice for the Poor
	Albergo Reale dei Poveri
	The recently (2006) restored façade of the Albergo dei Poveri in Naples.
Alternative names	il Reclusorio
General information
Type	Palace
Architectural style	Neoclassicism
Location	Naples, Italy
Address	Piazza Carlo III, 80132 Naples NA, Italy
Current tenants	Comune di Napoli
Construction started	1751
Client	Charles III of the House of Bourbon
Owner	Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Landlord	Comune di Napoli
Technical details
Floor count	5
Design and construction
Architect	Ferdinando Fuga
Invalid designation
Official name	Real Albergo dei Poveri
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
State Party	Italy

The Bourbon Hospice for the Poor (Italian Albergo Reale dei Poveri), also called il Reclusorio, is a former public hospital/almshouse in Naples, southern Italy. It was designed by the architect Ferdinando Fuga, and construction was started in 1751. It is five storeys tall and about 354 m (1,161 ft) long.[1] It was popularly known as "Palazzo Fuga". King Charles III of the House of Bourbon meant the facility to house the destitute and ill, as well as to provide a self-sufficient community where the poor would live, learn trades, and work. The massive structure at one time housed over 5000 persons, men and women, in separate wings [2] The building was originally designed with five courtyards and a church in the centre, entered through the central arch, but only the three innermost courtyards were built, and plans to complete the building according to the original design were finally abandoned in 1819. The building is the centre of Naples, which is included in UNESCO World Heritage List.

It is no longer a hospital, and despite the impressive facade, it has suffered much from neglect and earthquakes. The centre behind the entrance is used for exhibitions, conferences, and concerts. Recently (2006) the façade has undergone restoration as part of an as yet ill-defined plan to incorporate the facility into the working infrastructure of public buildings in Naples.

Sources

Acton, Harold (1957). The Bourbons of Naples (1731-1825). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 9780571249015.
A new guide of Naples, its environs, Procida, Ischia and Capri: Compiled ...By Giovanni Battista de Ferrari and Mariano Vasi. 1826. Tipografia de Porcelli, Naples. Page 257.

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[Acton-1] Acton, Harold (1957). The Bourbons of Naples (1731-1825). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 9780571249015.

[2] A new guide of Naples, its environs, Procida, Ischia and Capri: Compiled ...By Giovanni Battista de Ferrari and Mariano Vasi. 1826. Tipografia de Porcelli, Naples. Page 257.