After the death of Ferdinando Messia de Prado, Zuccari was sent, in 1809, by King Joachim Murat to Milan at the Brera Observatory to specialize in Astronomy with Barnaba Oriani.

On 17 August 1811 Murat sent him back to Naples, appointing him director of the Observatory located at the ancient monastery of San Gaudioso.

In 1812 the government agreed to the request by Zuccari to erect a new building for the Observatory on Miradois hill near the Royal Palace of Capodimonte.

Together with the architect Stefano Gasse he designed a majestic building in neoclassical style whose first stone was laid on 4 November 1812.

[2] After the death of Zuccari, the original project was partially modified by Giuseppe Piazzi to make the spaces more functional.