Naples Italy Tourist Information
In the heart of the ancient center of Naples Italy, along Tribunali Street, is the church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco. Crossing the threshold begins a real journey into Neapolitan culture between art, faith, life and death. From the small and beautiful 17th century church, which houses the precious marbles and the winged skull of Dionisio Lazzari, together with masterpieces by Massimo Stanzione, Luca Giordano and Andrea Vaccaro, one descends into the ancient and grandiose hypogeum which still houses the fascinating cult aimed at anonymous human remains who become special intermediaries for invocations, prayers, requests for intercessions. A small museum set up in the spaces of the elegant sacristy completes the itinerary. The Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco is one of the strangest places in the city. Although in Naples Italy there is no lack of macabre places such as the Fontanelle Cemetery or the Catacombs of San Gaudioso or even other highly mysterious churches such as the Chapel of Sansevero, none can compare to this. In Naples Italy the ancient cult of the souls in Purgatory had been widely supported by the Catholic Church which identified it as a way […]
Via dei Tribunali, 39, Naples, Italy
The Complex of San Lorenzo Maggiore, which every year attracts thousands of visitors and schoolchildren from all over the world and hosts important events, represents a sort of “trait d’union”, that is a rare example of continuity of life and testimony of the centuries-old history of Naples Italy. The excavations of San Lorenzo Maggiore, known as the Buried Neapolis, are located below the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, one of the oldest in Naples Italy, an extraordinary church from 1200, the Norman period, founded by Charles of Anjou and built above what remained of the ancient Greco-Roman settlement. The irregular reservoir of San Gaetano Square is what remains of a larger open space, corresponding to the civil and religious center of the ancient city: this area has in fact always been recognized as the Roman Forum, coinciding in turn with the agora of the Greek city. The testimonies of the past already emerge in the monumental Gothic basilica. The modern floor hides the plan of the pre-existing early Christian basilica, divided into five naves and preceded by a four-sided portico; near the main altar, the work of Giovanni da Nola, the mosaic floors of the 6th century Paleochristian apse are […]
Piazza San Gaetano, Naples, italy
Gesù Nuovo Square is one of the most important, famous and symbolic squares of the historic center of Naples Italy. Located on the Lower decumanus, it is the symbolic square of the historic center of Naples Italy. Entirely pedestrianized, it is dominated by the imposing marble obelisk of the Immaculate Conception and is enclosed by the Church of Gesù Nuovo, the monastery of Santa Chiara and historic noble palaces such as, for example, Pandola Palace, Pignatelli di Monteleone Palace, Professa Palace and the Palace of the Congregations. Inside the square is the church of the same name of Gesù Nuovo (or Trinity Major), consecrated in 1601, which some of the most influential artists of the Neapolitan school worked on. The exterior, consisting of a characteristic ashlar facade and a Renaissance marble portal, the interior in Baroque style with a Greek cross plan and divided into three naves, is majestic and lively due to the polychrome marble coating of the walls and the richness of the altars. In all, there are eleven side chapels with as many altars, also rich in decorations. What completely captures the eyes inside the Church of the Gesù Nuovo in Naples Italy is the high altar, […]
Piazza del Gesù, Naples, Italy
The Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara in Naples Italy, also known as the Monastery of Santa Chiara, is among the most relevant and appreciated monuments of the artistic heritage of Naples. Located in the historic center of Naples Italy, between the homonymous street and Gesù Nuovo Square, the complex extends over a vast area that includes the Basilica of Gothic origin, the monastic rooms, the archaeological area with the remains of a thermal establishment of Roman times, the large area occupied by the Franciscan Opera museum, the famous Majolica Cloister and the large bell tower. The Monumental Complex of Santa Chiara was built between 1310 and 1328 by the will of King Roberto d’Angiò and his wife, Sancia di Maiorca. The structure also includes a splendid majolica cloister made up of 66 arches resting on as many piperno pillars covered with majolica with plant scenes. Some seats connect the majolica pillars and scenes of everyday life of that time are depicted on them. Frescoes from the 1700s cover the walls of the four sides of the cloister and represent allegories, scenes from the Old Testament and saints. Roberto d’Angiò chose the best painter of the time to have the basilica […]
Via Santa Chiara, 49/C, Naples, italy
The Basilica of Gesù Vecchio is one of the basilicas of Naples Italy; it is located in Giovanni Paladino Street, in the heart of the historic city center. The temple is called Basilica of Gesù Vecchio due to the fact that later, due to the expansion of the Society of Jesus, a new much larger church was built a short distance away, known as the Church of Nuovo Gesù (or of the Greater Trinity). It was the first Jesuit church in Naples Italy: its construction began in 1555 and it became the first place of worship for the Order of the Society of Jesus in the city. The church has a facade, built in the late seventeenth century by Giovan Domenico Vinaccia, in baroque style with a slightly convex shape: in the center there is the entrance door, surmounted by a large rectangular window. The interior of the Basilica of Gesù Vecchio has a latin cross architectural structure, with a single nave and side chapels, and preserves numerous works of art. The main altar contains a sculpture of the Immaculate that belonged to Don Placido. Very well known is the Feast of the Privileged Saturday falls on the first Saturday […]
Via Giovanni Paladino, 38, Naples, Italy
The Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption, you discover suddenly, like so many of the beauties of Naples Italy. Walking along the street of the same name, it is striking for the majesty of the Gothic facade. The Cathedral was probably begun by Charles II of Anjou and completed in 1313 by his son Robert the Wise, although there is a hypothesis that anticipates his under Charles I. The current appearance is the result of the numerous interventions that have occurred over the centuries which have partly altered the original Gothic forms. The façade of the Cathedral of Naples Italy, about 50 meters high, has three portals: two lateral and one central. The portals are both aligned with the side aisles and the apse chapels dedicated to the saints. The door on the right was only opened for the festivities celebrating San Gennaro and in some extraordinary cases. The central nave, 15 meters wide, has visibly been adapted over the centuries. The numerous restorations it has undergone have obviously changed its appearance, even the modernizations have given it an appearance that may not be too coherent, but very fascinating. The interior has a Latin cross with three naves with a depth […]
Via Duomo, 147, Naples, Italy
