The saying „See Naples and die” is no coincidence. The city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius awaits visitors with great sights, history, and atmosphere.
After Rome and Milan, it is the third-largest city in Italy. Naples has a rich history and cultural life. It is famous for its folk traditions and cuisine (the birthplace of pizza).
Naples is considered one of the most beautiful places in Italy in every respect, with its slightly chaotic life adding to its charm.
There is so much to see and do around Naples!
Table of Contents
Naples attractions
Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral
The cathedral is built on the foundation of an early Christian church, the Basilica of Santa Restituta from the 4th century. The construction of the present church began in the 13th century on the orders of King Charles I of Anjou. In the 17th century, it was remodeled in Baroque style, later receiving a Neo-Gothic facade.
The interior features Domenichino’s altar, the ornate main altar by Francesco Solimena, bronze railings by Cosimo Fanzago, and other masterpieces, frescoes, and a 14th-century French reliquary.
In one of the cathedral’s chapels, the blood relic of Saint Januarius, Naples’ patron saint, is kept in an ampoule. Twice a year, on the first Saturday in May and September 19, this relic is brought out of the church, and the solid blood turns liquid due to movement, which the populace considers a divine miracle.
Entry is free!
Capodimonte Royal Palace and Museum
The former Bourbon palace was the summer residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
King Charles VIII built it in 1738 to house the vast Farnese collection. Today, it is the city’s most significant museum and gallery.
The museum is home to masterpieces of Neapolitan and Italian cultural heritage. The first two floors house the National Gallery of Naples, with paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries, including works by Simone Martini, Titian, Caravaggio, and Botticelli.
The royal apartments feature original 18th-century furniture, tapestries, and porcelains used during the Bourbon and Savoy dynasties.
Accessible by bus (3M, 168, 178) or by trolleybus 204 to the Capodimonte stop.
All information can be found here!
Napoli Sotterranea
Beneath the city lies a vast cave system known as Underground Naples.
Its history dates back more than 2,400 years to the ancient Greeks, who first began extracting tuff stone from the area for building material for Naples.
Over the centuries, this labyrinthine system has served various purposes, including as a reservoir, a shelter during World War II, and even a venue for theatrical performances.
It can be visited on guided tours! All information can be found here!
Decumano Inferiore
This is the most famous street that cuts through the old town. It was once the main street.
It is a remnant of ancient Greek urban planning, which the Romans continued to develop. It still determines the city’s structure today.
Its more popular name is Spaccanapoli (Naples Divider), where old Roman apartment buildings, the insulae, can also be found. The long street features several churches and palaces.
Galleria Umberto I
Similar to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, this is a passage opposite the San Carlo opera house.
Built between 1887 and 1891, it was a cornerstone of Naples’ reconstruction, which lasted until World War I. The center of the cross-shaped passage is covered by a massive glass dome supported by 16 ribs. The mosaics decorating the floor and the statues and reliefs adorning the walls are particularly noteworthy.
Piazza del Plebiscito
Naples’ main square and largest open space, featuring two remarkable landmarks: the Royal Palace and the Church of San Francesco di Paola.
Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)
This palace served as a residence for the Bourbon kings.
It was built on the site of an existing palace for the reception of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, though the visit never occurred. In the 18th century, the royal court moved to Caserta, which was deemed more defensible than the coastal city of Naples, leaving the palace uninhabited.
One of its most beautiful features is the grand Baroque double staircase leading to the inner courtyard, decorated with beautiful reliefs. At the base of the stairs, the former Renaissance bronze doors of Castel Nuovo are displayed.
The National Library (Biblioteca Nazionale), located on the second floor, houses valuable collections from formerly separate private libraries.
The palace is connected to the Teatro San Carlo, one of Europe’s largest theaters and one of Italy’s premier opera houses.
All information can be found here!
Church of San Francesco di Paola
Located on the western side of Piazza del Plebiscito, this is one of Naples’ most significant churches.
In the early 19th century, King Joachim Murat of Naples (Napoleon’s brother-in-law) began constructing a large square with colonnades in honor of the French Emperor. After Napoleon’s downfall, the Bourbons regained the Neapolitan throne. Ferdinand IV continued the construction, completing the colonnade in 1816 and converting the central hall into the present church. The church is dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola, who lived in a monastery that once stood on the site in the 16th century.
From both the hill and the square, the church is dominated by a massive dome resembling the Pantheon (53 meters high). The interior also seeks to emulate the Roman Pantheon, with statues decorating the interior. The noteworthy Baroque main altar is adorned with lapis lazuli and jasper.
Church of San Domenico Maggiore
The church has undergone various stylistic transformations, restored to its original Gothic form in the 19th century.
The adjoining monastery housed many historical, religious, and philosophical figures.
The sacristy contains forty-five funerary monuments (coffins covered with precious fabrics) accumulated over the centuries, including the tomb of King Ferdinand I of Naples.
Sansevero Chapel (Cappella Sansevero)
This Baroque chapel was constructed around 1590 when the Sansevero princes built their private chapel near their palace. It also served as their burial site.
Beneath the chapel, there is a room where, according to legend, the prince conducted experiments on his servants. Two of the supposed victims’ preserved bodies are displayed, showing the human musculature on real skeletons.
The chapel boasts three remarkable statues exemplifying late Baroque ornamentation:
- The Veiled Truth by Antonio Corradini, the tomb of Raimondo di Sangro’s mother, Cecilia Gaetani d’Aragona.
- The Veiled Christ, created by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753.
- The third statue, Disillusion, by Genoese sculptor Francesco Queirolo, adorns the tomb of Raimondo’s father.
Castel Nuovo
Also known as Maschio Angioino, this is Naples’ most famous building and a symbol of the city. The triumphal arch decorating its gate is the city’s finest Renaissance element.
On the seaward side, beneath the so-called Beverello Bastion, lies the Sala dei Baroni. This large rectangular hall features a star-shaped Gothic ribbed ceiling that spans several stories.
The castle’s only remaining Angevin part is the chapel, from which 147 steps lead up to the Sala dei Baroni.
Entrance is free for those under 18!
Accessible by taking Metro Line 1 to the Municipio stop.
All information can be found here!
Castel dell’Ovo
Compared to the Castel Nuovo, this might not seem as impressive, but the view from the castle’s bastions is very beautiful. It stands on a small peninsula jutting into the sea.
The castle is connected to the mainland by a 100-meter-long causeway, with two bastions at the entrance. The castle itself is rectangular, about 200 meters long and 45 meters wide. Inside the buildings, exhibitions and various events are held. The extension behind the castle was originally used as a harbor. On the southeast side of the castle, there is an impressive round tower.
Entry is free!
Castel Sant’Elmo
Located at the highest point of the city, the fortress and the Saint Martin Monastery stand. The fortress was built in the 14th century and now houses the Bruno Molajoli Museum.
Next to the fortress, on the eastern side, there is a stunning view of the city and Mount Vesuvius. I suggest going up late in the afternoon and staying until it gets dark. You will be treated to a beautiful sight!
Entry is free for those under 18!
Accessible by funicular line 2 from Corso Vittorio Emanuele to Morghen stop; by bus V1 to the fortress.
All information can be found here!
Bourbon Tunnel (Tunnel Borbonico)
This tunnel was built in the 19th century to provide an escape route for King Ferdinand II and his family if needed.
There are several articles related to this because many car wrecks can be found down there.
All information can be found here!
Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Nazionale)
Naples’ most valuable museum, preserving artifacts from the aftermath of Mount Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 AD. Its most famous piece is the Alexander Mosaic, found in Pompeii.
Adults should visit the Gabinetto Secreto, the secret room, which displays ancient erotic art.
All information can be found here!
Santa Chiara
A Neapolitan basilica and church complex that includes the actual church, a monastery, crypts, and a museum.
Another important sight is the cloister, built in the 14th century. In later centuries, its benches and wells were covered with yellow-glazed majolica tiles.
The garden is also very beautiful, filled with various cultivated fruits, vegetables, and trees.
Santa Lucia
If you want to see the real face of Naples, you must visit this neighborhood!
The narrow streets with drying clothes overhead, the loud conversations, and the chaotic traffic all contribute to its authenticity.
L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
A must-visit for tourists, this is where the best pizza in Italy was made. The place even appeared in a film.
It has two specialties: the margherita and the marinara (tomato and spices).
Toledo Metro Station
Toledo Metro Station, leading to the shopping street, is considered one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world.
The beautiful mosaics adorning the station are the work of Spanish designer Oscar Tusquets Blanca.
