Naples has more than five hundred churches, and many of them stand within one square kilometre of the historic centre. For those travelling with a parish group, on pilgrimage or simply curious to understand the soul of the city, the best way to get to know it is on foot, from one church to the next, among cloisters, chapels and nativity scenes.
Why visit Naples
The historic centre of Naples has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and still preserves the street grid of the Greek city. Here popular faith blends with art: small shrines on street corners, neighbourhood festivals, Baroque masterpieces. Here is an itinerary to discover it.
The Cathedral and the Treasure of San Gennaro
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta houses the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro, one of the richest in Europe. Three times a year, on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May, on 19 September and on 16 December, the city waits for the miracle of the liquefaction of the patron saint’s blood.
Santa Chiara and the majolica cloister
The Gothic basilica of Santa Chiara, built by the Angevins, hides a cloister covered in majolica tiles painted with scenes of eighteenth-century life: one of the most peaceful corners of the city.
Gesù Nuovo and San Domenico Maggiore
On the same square as Santa Chiara stands the Gesù Nuovo, with its façade of diamond-pointed piperno stone. Inside, Saint Giuseppe Moscati, the holy doctor of Naples, is venerated. Not far away, San Domenico Maggiore preserves the cell where Saint Thomas Aquinas lived.
Sansevero Chapel and San Gregorio Armeno
In the Sansevero Chapel you can admire Giuseppe Sanmartino’s Veiled Christ (1753), whose marble veil looks like fabric. Just round the corner, Via San Gregorio Armeno is the street of nativity figurines, open all year round.
The Catacombs of San Gennaro
In the Sanità district, the Catacombs of San Gennaro are the largest in southern Italy, with early Christian frescoes. The neighbourhood has been reborn thanks to a cooperative of young people who run them and tell their story.
The surroundings
- Pompeii: the excavations and the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, about 40 minutes by train.
- The seafront and Castel dell’Ovo: a twenty-minute walk from the historic centre to the sea.
- Capri, Ischia and Procida: by hydrofoil from Molo Beverello, from 40 minutes to an hour.
- The Phlegraean Fields: the Solfatara and the Flavian Amphitheatre of Pozzuoli, where according to tradition San Gennaro was condemned.
| Stop | Time to allow |
|---|---|
| Cathedral and Treasure of San Gennaro | 1 hour and a half |
| Santa Chiara, Gesù Nuovo, San Domenico | Half a day |
| Sansevero Chapel and San Gregorio Armeno | 2 hours |
| Catacombs of San Gennaro | 1 hour and a half |
| Pompeii and the Shrine | A full day |
When to go
Naples is worth visiting all year round. September, with the feast of San Gennaro, and December, with the nativity scenes of San Gregorio Armeno, are the months when popular devotion is most visible. Spring and autumn are ideal for walking without the heat.
Where to stay
Casa FMA Napoli is in the heart of the city, at the seat of the Southern Province “Madonna del Buon Consiglio” of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. It has 12 rooms with air conditioning, heating, Wi-Fi and a lift. Staying here means having the churches of the historic centre within walking distance and the chance to experience the city at the pace of a Salesian community.
