Naples has no shortage of historic basilicas and church buildings and this is one of the most…read moreimpressive in the city. Highly recommend to drop by for a look as admission is free (donations accepted), and they are open later until 7pm so it's convenient to swing by before heading to dinner. On a cloudy day in April apparently many like-minded visitors had the same idea as it was fairly busy, though not extremely crowded. Located on the western edge of the Centro Historico district, the "New" in its name distinguishes it from another existing church of the name Gesu Vecchio. Initially the palace residence built in 1470 for Roberto Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno, political divisions led to his son and heir Ferrante Sanseverino being exiled and property confiscated, and this property sold to the Jesuit order. In 1584 construction began, led by appointed architect Giuseppe Valeriano, to convert this aristocratic palazzo to Jesuit church. The palace's unique facade was the only remnant left, with its bugnato (rusticated) grey volcanic-stone punta di diamante (diamond point) protrusions. What's even more intriguing is that this facade, designed by original palazzo architect Novello da San Lucano, who was also a composer, incorporated musical notes in Aramaic letters incised into the stone, which has been interpreted by musical historians as sheet music. The music has been named "Enigma" and you can find it played on YouTube. Other scholars interpret these symbols to be related to alchemy and esoteric practices popular in the day. This building passed between different hands thru the centuries though in 1900 definitively returned to the Jesuits. Nowadays it's known for the vast number of artworks that line its ceilings and chapels. They were certainly awe-inspiring to see! I spent about 30-45 minutes walking around, this is a functioning parish so administrative offices, prayer sections, a shop for purchasing ex-votos and souvenirs, and other functional facilities are also present. Hours: 8am-12:45pm, 4-7pm daily.

What a big surprise! There's a hidden gem behind that palace facade. You enter through the Baroque…read morelooking entryway at the Piazza of the same name. We were totally amazed at what we saw inside this church. I would have never known based on its exterior. It's immensely grand and ornate as you walk inside. The ceiling and chapels are covered in Italian Baroque art from famous artists such as Francesco Solimena and Luca Giordano. There are alters made of precious stones and marble statues. All of which are saintly and historical. I didn't realize it at the time, but people do go there to be healed. There is a chapel dedicated to a Naples doctor & saint named Giuseppe Moscati. His tomb lies under the chapel altar. He is known for taking care of the sick and the poor. There was a line of people waiting to enter a part of the church that houses his personal quarters and belongings. We didn't get to see it, so I can't comment on it. It's just something to consider seeing while you're there. This whole area is full of historical churches. I mean, you could visit churches all day long if that's your thing. This is a great option if you only have time to visit one, and it's free to the public. They accept donations as most churches do.

For the casual tourist, while not necessarily the largest cathedral, the Duomo di Santa Maria…read moreAssunta, aka Duomo di Napoli, aka Cattedrale di San Gennaro--still presents a visual feast for the eyes. For the spiritual visitor, this cathedral is the city's central catholic parish, seat of the Naples archdiocese, dedicated to the city's principal patron saint. San Gennaro (Saint Januarius)*, was a bishop martyred in 305 AD under Roman emperor Diocletian, later buried here. While little is known about his life, his body was transferred a few times, lastly in 1497 to Naples. This was at the behest of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, where his remains were kept in the Succorpo, a richly decorated crypt constructed for this specific purpose. The most notable religious relics housed here include: 1) ampoules of the saint's blood that supposedly liquify three times a year in a miracle to show the favor of the saint upon the city, and popes that visit. For this reason it's become a pilgrimage site for those hoping to witness the miracle of liquefaction. It's debated what type of liquid is contained within the hermetically sealed vials, though scientific evidence is scant considering the contents cannot be removed in fear of damage to its contents. 2) the treasure of San Gennaro (for which a separate ticket must be purchased €13) consists of the many works bestowed upon or donated to the cathedral over seven centuries from royalty and lay persons, as signs of devotion. Paintings, busts, ex-votos, objects made with precious metals and jewels are included in this collection. While there are a few sections of the cathedral that are currently not open regularly to the public, including a) the Santa Restituta, where the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is located (part of the church built earlier in the 14th century--you could peak in from the side though couldn't enter), b) the Chapel of the San Gennaro Treasury, c) the Minuto Chapel, --the parts the were open were very impressive. In the cathedral, highlights include the colorful soaring dome, golden coffered ceilings, and the decorative statue "Assumption" at the main altarpiece by Pietro Bacci (1739). Mid-afternoon lighting thru the windows cast a bright warm glow making the statue look like it was shining. The Succorpo was also one of the most ornate crypts I've ever seen. Open daily 9:30am-17:00pm, general admission is free and there are tours available with advance booking required (€10 adult, €8 student, €6 6-15yr olds, €0 for 5 and under and those with disabilities.) Tickets for rooftop access are €6. Good-sized gift shop. For more info - their website is very informative about the duomo's history and visiting details: https://duomonapoli.it/en/ *This is the same saint for which an annual festival Feast of San Gennaro is held.

Spiritually Full and Completely in Awe…read more Duomo di Napoli took my breath away the moment I stepped inside. I can't even fully put it into words... the calmness that washed over me was unreal. My heart felt full... my spirit felt fed... and I could've stayed there for hours just soaking it in. The architecture is beyond anything a photo can capture: the detail, the artistry, the reverence in every corner. You feel the history... the faith... the devotion... all around you. If you're visiting Naples, do not miss this cathedral. It's not just a tourist stop... It's an experience for your soul. Absolutely beautiful.

Known for its tiled cloister garden, it's actually two monasteries, one for Franciscans monks and…read moreone for Clarisses (nuns). This monastery originated in 1310 and was constructed between 1313-1340, commissioned by Queen Sancia of Majorca and her husband Robert of Anjou (who inherited the throne, and later became King of Naples), and was where both were eventually interred. Since Sancia's brother Phillip of Majorca had joined the Franciscan order, he petitioned to have Santa Chiara built, though he wasn't alive for much longer after it was completed. The Gothic complex underwent major renovation in 1742-62 transforming the interior with Baroque style frescos in the church nave and along the portico arcade walkways surrounding the cloister garden. Additions of the colorful majolica tiled pillars and benches were added then; floral designs adorn the octagonal pillars, and the paintings on the benches depict landscape and scenes from the 18th century. The main church facade sits opposite the Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo (see my separate review), though the visitor entrance is around the side. This is where you can purchase tickets €7 general admission or €5 for students and seniors. They do not participate in city/museum passes. For the size of the complex, there's a fair amount to check out, aside from the cloister garden (of which part was under restoration April 2026), there's a museum detailing the history of the building, with sacred artworks and requilaries, ruins of a Roman bathhouse that's excavated next to/under the church, a one-room gallery of local contemporary religious artworks, an 18th century nativity scene (this tradition is very strong in southern Italy!), a small library and quite a large gift shop. For some reason I didn't go into the church nave itself, I'm not sure if it was open at the time? What was terrific was the accessibility of the descriptions for items on display, many had English translations. There was also a free audio guide available via QR code though you have to use your cell phone. This can be a bit challenging on battery life so I didn't scan it, found the printed placards to be plenty. I spent about 45 minutes inside. For more info: https://www.monasterodisantachiara.it/en/

I had an unfortunate experience there. My daughter was posing for me to take her picture in the…read moregardens and without thinking sat on a bench. A worker only needed to say "Please, don't sit on the benches. Thank you." Instead this lady began a tirade, telling us to have some respect, insulting us and going on and on. So rude and just awful, she was.

Hemming in the western edge of Piazza del Plebiscito, this basilica is reminiscent of the Pantheon…read morein Rome with its focal dome, and colonnaded portico arms branching north and south. Commissioned by Joachim Murat (Napoleon's BIL) in 1816 as a tribute to Naps himself, it was Bourbon King Ferdinand I who took credit for completing the construction under his rule when the the French government was ousted and rule reverted to the Neapolitan and Sicilian houses, hence the equestrian statues erected in the square directly in front of this basilica. A little tricky to find the opening hours as the building info on G-maps is confusingly vague, it lists several businesses including a handful if BnBs within the same location, and from the number of reviews it doesn't seem like a much trafficked site (or maybe intentionally so for local safeguards). Either way, from the pictures online the dome is sizeable, there are a couple side chapels though not much extra to gaze upon. In the evening the exterior is lit with color lights and adds a chill ambiance to the piazza. Many local kids riding bikes, some families and friends taking a walk. With free entry, if I was in the area again during the daytime would definitely peek in to check it out!

Located in Piazza del Plebiscito, the main square of Napoli, San Francesco di Paola contains a…read morenumber of statues and chapels while its shape and grandeur harkens Rome's Pantheon. Good for a quick visit.

Naples isn't Florence, Venice, or Rome and nothing could have screamed that louder than Certosa e…read moreMuseo di San Martino, a diamond in the rough. Located at the very top of the Vomero district and sitting beside the imposing Castel Sant'Elmo, the Museo di San Martino does little to outwardly win your heart. Here, you need to work to reveal the wow factor. Immediately after paying the entry fee I walked into a tired-looking courtyard. As one of the first things you encounter, it's easy to wonder what you've gotten yourself into. Next you'll wonder how to find the treasures talked about on the audio guide you rented. Pro tip: don't bother renting the audio guide, something I rarely say. Next up is a beautiful church, classic Italian, ornate and lovely. Friends I was with walked from here through another building, then out to the gardens. I'm not sure what's happened since some of the photos posted here on yelp, but it was impossible to walk through the gardens thinking anything other than "how hard would it be to pull some weeds?" The garden is a lovely stroll with beautiful views but majorly unkempt. So look a little harder. It wasn't until I began wandering off the beaten path here that I discovered riches. Naples is known for their hand-carved nativity scenes, assembled by locals at the start of December. Here, you'll find the best of that genre, featuring entire city scenes, flying angels, babies, toddlers, water features, the poor and unbathed... the list goes on. One of the things Neopolitans are quick to tell about their nativity scenes is how realistic the figures are. That is: the people are not made to look like models. They feature the faces of the the needy, the unattractive, those generally not featured in the arts from this time, making the scenes all the more interesting. Anyhow, there's a heavenly assortment of nativity-scapes here including a huge one that goes dark and then brightens to daylight. This section is a must-see. There's tons of other ancient (circa the 1500's) sculptures here as well as some fabulous views of Mount Vesuvius. There was honestly more to see here than I even saw. In the end, despite Museo di San Martino not being a place that screams "see me", it is.

This place is nothing short of awesome. It used to be a monastery and sits right next to Castel St…read moreElmo. In a way it has been turned into a museum, but there is still much of it that is reflective of the former monastery. I actually discovered this place completely by accident, namely because I was looking for the entrance to the Castel and ended up walking in here instead. Needless to say the old monastery part of this, especially the religious art that covered the walls, was nothing short of mind blowing. Mind you, it can be easy to get lost in here, however once you find your way into the courtyard, the serenity of the place literally washes over you.

A huge expansive public space that puts you in awe to the size of the building fascia the closer…read moreyou get to it. A vast open sweeping pair of arms that you could imagine holding the entire commerce of the city back in ancient times, filled with vendors and craftsmen from all over selling their wares. This is one of the few plazas I found so large and in excellent shape.

We stopped by Piazza del Plebiscito for a quick look while exploring Naples. The square is huge and…read moresurrounded by some of the city's most recognizable landmarks, making it a great place to pause and take in the architecture. Originally completed in the early 1800s, the piazza is named after the 1860 plebiscite that voted for Naples to join a unified Italy. On one side sits the Royal Palace of Naples, while the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola anchors the other with its impressive domed church and curved colonnades. We didn't spend a lot of time here, but it was an easy stop between other sights and gave us a chance to appreciate a different side of Naples. If you're already in the historic center or heading toward the waterfront, it's well worth adding to your itinerary.

Completed in 1324, Basilica San Domenico Maggiore resides near "Spaccanapoli" in the historic…read morecenter of Naples, and containing both an older church plus a monastery nicely represents the Gothic style with well preserved works of art and tremendous detailing throughout its fairly small interior.