The Royal Palace of Naples sits on Piazza del Plebiscito — the largest piazza in the city, framed by the palace on one side and the colonnade of San Francesco di Paola on the other. 8 dynasties ruled from here: Norman, Hohenstaufen, Angevin, Aragonese, Spanish, Austrian, Bourbon, Savoy. The facade has 8 statues, one king per dynasty. Inside: the Scalone d'Onore (monumental marble staircase), the Throne Room (red velvet, golden chandeliers), the Royal Chapel, and the Teatro di Corte (court theatre, 1768). €10.
The staircase: White marble, double flight, lions at the base — designed to make every visitor feel the weight of royal authority. The Throne Room: Red damask walls, Bourbon coat of arms, the throne used by Murat (Napoleon's brother-in-law, briefly King of Naples). The Library: 1.5 million volumes, papyri from Herculaneum. The gardens: Giardino Pensile (hanging garden) with bay views.
Practical: Piazza del Plebiscito 1. €10. Open Thu-Tue 9am-8pm. Duration: 1-1.5h. Combine: Palazzo Reale → MANN (20 min walk) → Cappella Sansevero (15 min).