Visit the Historical Center of Naples, a place of ancient forts and churches, cobblestone streets and a long and fascinating past. Let more than 2,000 years of history unfurl before your eyes as you explore the neighborhood, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enter the historical center at the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, which served as the principal western entrance to the city for hundreds of years. On one side stands the Church of Gesù Nuovo, a baroque masterpiece with an extraordinary façade of pyramid-shaped stones. Inside is a world of artistic beauty with marble sculptures, wood carvings, stucco work and a barrel-vaulted ceiling covered in frescoes.
From here walk northeast, past the 14th-century Church of San Pietro a Majella to Naples Cathedral. This immense Roman Catholic temple is dedicated to San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. Tour the interior for its 17th-century frescoes, 4th-century mosaics and beautiful chapels, including the Chapel of San Gennaro. This baroque sanctuary houses the skull of the saint and two vials of his blood.
Among the other centuries-old churches in the ancient heart of Naples are the baroque Sansevero Chapel and the Church of San Domenico Maggiore, which was built in the 13th and 14th centuries.
Save time to discover some of the historical center’s non-religious old buildings, including the medieval Castle Nuevo, the Castello dell’Ovo and the Royal Palace of Naples, a former residence of House of Bourbon royals.
Explore narrow streets to find trattorias, cafés and bohemian bars that are popular with the city’s students. Go to the Mercato di Porta Nolana, a busy street market near the medieval city gate Porta Nolana. This is one of the best places in Naples to come for fresh seafood.
The Historical Center of Naples is easy to get to by public transportation from the rest of the city. An excellent way to see many of the sights is to walk along Spaccanapoli, the long, narrow street that runs through the old quarter and bisects the city.
