Naples – San Lorenzo-East Naples

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San Lorenzo is a neighborhood of Naples that forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the historic center of the city. This area includes the northeastern portion of the oldest part of the city, and houses several important churches, including the Naples Cathedral, and various museums and other landmarks. Further east are some industrial areas such as Gianturco and Poggioreale, which hosts the skyscrapers of Centro Direzionale. This area is included in the Fourth and Sixth Municipality of Naples.

✪ Naples Cathedral

The Naples Cathedral (Duomo di Napoli) is the main church of Naples, located in the San Lorenzo neighborhood of the historic center of the city. The church was built in Gothic style over some previous structures starting in the 13th century. Later restored and reworked, its Gothic Revival appearance dates from the late 19th century. The cathedral is richly adorned with several decorations, artworks, and frescoes. The most notable of the many decorated chapels inside the church is the lavishly adorned Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro (Reale Cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro). Next to this chapel is the Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro, a rich museum housing several religious artifacts. The cult of San Gennaro in the cathedral includes the liquefaction of the blood of the saint, which is kept in a glass ampoule. This event happens three times a year and it is considered a miracle by the Catholic Church. Adjacent to the cathedral are two Paleochristian structures erected in the 4th century, the Basilica of Santa Restituta and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte. The basilica is adorned with Baroque decorations and features medieval mosaics and ancient funerary monuments. The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is the oldest surviving baptistery in Europe, and also features some medieval mosaics.

✪ Naples Underground

Next to the Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore is one of the entrances to the vast underground of Naples (Napoli Sotterranea). Some of the tunnels date back to Greek and Roman times, and were used as shelter during World War II. The tour of this section of the underground concludes at the Roman Theater of Naples (Teatro Romano di Napoli), which is now mostly buried under more modern buildings.

Via dei Tribunali

Via dei Tribunali is a long and narrow road that cuts through the historic center of Naples. Once the main decumanus of the ancient Greco-Roman city, it is mostly preserved to this day and features several attractions. Along this road is the 17th-century Spire of San Gennaro (Obelisco di San Gennaro), an elaborate Baroque obelisk located near the Naples Cathedral. Also along Via dei Tribunali is another landmark from the same period, the Monument to San Gaetano (Monumento a San Gaetano).

Church of the Girolamini

The Church of the Girolamini is a historic church in the center of Naples, located along Via dei Tribunali. Erected between the 16th and 18th century, the church houses several Baroque decorations and artworks, including numerous paintings and frescoes. The adjacent monastery houses a rich art gallery with many works by Italian artists, mostly of the Neapolitan School. The complex also hosts the Girolamini Library (Biblioteca dei Girolamini), the second oldest library in Italy, founded in 1586. The library houses a huge collection of ancient books and documents.

Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore

The Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore is a historic church in Naples located along Via dei Tribunali, at the intersection with Via San Gregorio Armeno. This area originally hosted a Roman temple, while the first church here was built around the 8th century. The current structure dates from the 17th century but still preserves some columns of the ancient temple. Inside, it is richly adorned with Baroque artworks, decorations, and frescoes. Adjacent to the church are two monumental cloisters, while a small sanctuary is under the building.

Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore is one of the largest churches in Naples, located at the northern end of Via San Gregorio Armeno. The church was built in Gothic style starting in the 13th century and was later reworked with the addition of Baroque decorations. The vast and beautiful interior includes some adorned chapels and several artworks. The adjacent monastery houses the Museo dell’Opera di San Lorenzo Maggiore, which hosts religious artifacts and includes the archaeological area of an ancient Greco-Roman market.

Via San Gregorio Armeno

Via San Gregorio Armeno is a street in the San Lorenzo neighborhood of the center of Naples, that connects Spaccanapoli with Via dei Tribunali. This road is also known as Via dei Presepi (“Nativity Scenes Street”), because it hosts the workshops and stores of many artisans who make a wide variety of statues for nativity scenes. These include both classical figurines and peculiar caricatures of celebrities and politicians.

Church of San Gregorio Armeno

The Church of San Gregorio Armeno is a historic church located along Via San Gregorio Armeno in the center of Naples. The church was built starting in the 16th century, and it is adorned with countless elaborate Baroque decorations. Inside the church are also various artworks hosted in several decorated chapels. Adjacent to the church is a monastic complex with a large cloister, which is also richly adorned and features decorated chapels. The bell tower of the church is curiously located on top of a tall arch above Via San Gregorio Armeno.

Ospedale delle Bambole

The Ospedale delle Bambole (“Doll Hospital”) is a museum of historic toys and dolls in the center of Naples. Its collection includes numerous pieces, and the site also includes a laboratory dedicated to the repair of various types of dolls and toys.

Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco

The Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco is a 17th-century church and museum located along Via dei Tribunali in Naples. While the church houses interesting artworks and beautiful Baroque decorations, it is best known for its undeground area. For centuries the remains of thousands of locals were buried here, and this became one of the main sites of the cult of the anime pezzentelle (“poor souls”). Followers of this cult would attend the skulls and skeletons, bringing gifts and praying to them for blessings. Once very popular, now very few people still follow this cult, but the gifts and decorations brought here can still be seen.

Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai

Similarly to the Church of Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco, the Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai was also a popular site for the cult of the anime pezzentelle, and features an underground area with various human remains. Among these is a peculiar “skull with ears”, a skull with two pieces of mummified cartilage, one on either side, which resemble ears. The church itself is very small and tucked inside a narrow alley.

Diocesan Museum of Naples

The Diocesan Museum of Naples (Museo Diocesano di Napoli) is a museum hosted inside the 17th-century Church of Santa Maria Donnaregina Nuova and the adjacent Church of Santa Maria Donnaregina Vecchia, built in Gothic style during the Middle Ages and adorned with ancient frescoes. The museum houses several religious artworks, including many paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts.

Donnaregina Contemporary Art Museum

Also known as: Madre

The Donnaregina Contemporary Art Museum (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina), or Madre, is a large museum of contemporary art in Naples. Its collection includes works by some of the most notable Italian and international artists of the 20th and 21st century. The museum often hosts temporary exhibitions.

Church of San Giovanni a Carbonara

The Church of San Giovanni a Carbonara is a historic church in Naples, originally built in Gothic style during the 14th century. The church was greatly expanded since the Renaissance into a religious complex that includes the Church of Pietatella a Carbonara, the Church of Consolazione a Carbonara, and various richly adorned chapels. Among the many artworks inside the complex, the most notable one is the elaborate Funerary Monument of Ladislaus of Durazzo (Monumento Funebre a Ladislao di Durazzo), dating from the early 15th century.

Castel Capuano

Castel Capuano is a fortified palace originally built in the 12th century at the eastern end of the historic center of Naples. Over the following centuries it was reworked several times, and in the 16th century it was turned from a royal residence to a courthouse. The palace features several richly decorated halls and artworks. Currently the palace is being restored, and it is set to become a museum.

Church of Santa Caterina a Formiello

The Church of Santa Caterina a Formiello is a Renaissance church in Naples, erected during the 16th century and located next to Porta Capuana. The church is richly adorned with large and elaborate frescoes, and features several chapels filled with historic artworks.

Porta Capuana

Porta Capuana is an imposing city gate located at the eastern end of the historic center of Naples. The structure was erected in 1484, and features two large cylindrical bastions. The arch is adorned with various sculptures and reliefs.

Centro Direzionale

Centro Direzionale is a skyscraper complex and business district located in the Poggioreale neighborhood of Naples. It was designed by Japanese architect Kenzō Tange, and completed in 1995. The complex includes a modern church and a wide avenue, and houses the Telecom Italia Tower (Torre Telecom Italia), which was the tallest building in Italy until 2010.

Monumental Cemetery of Poggioreale

The Monumental Cemetery of Poggioreale (Cimitero Monumentale di Poggioreale) is a huge cemetery in Naples, and one of the largest in Europe. Built in the 19th century, the cemetery includes a Neoclassical church and it is filled with numerous elaborate chapels and monuments. Several notable people are buried here.

National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa

The National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa (Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa) is a museum located in the San Giovanni a Teduccio neighborhood of Naples, near Portici. The museum is located inside the first locomotive factory in Italy, founded in 1840 and closed in 1975. The factory was turned into a museum in 1989, and includes a large collection of historic locomotives and carriages.