San Ferdinando Church, Naples
The Church of San Ferdinando is a historic religious building situated on Piazza Triesti e Trento, in close proximity to the Royal Palace of Naples, right in the heart of Naples.
Originally, this site housed a church dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, constructed in 1636 under the supervision of the Jesuit order. However, in the mid-1650s, a significant reconstruction project was undertaken, led by Cosimo Fanzago. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from the region in 1767, the church was handed over to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. They rededicated it to Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, who happened to be the patron saint of King Ferdinand IV, the reigning monarch of Naples at the time.
Inside the church, you'll find a vault adorned with a fresco depicting the life of Saint Francis Xavier and other Jesuit figures, crafted by the artist Paolo De Matteis. The church also boasts a collection of statues by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro and Giuseppe Sanmartino. Notably, the main altarpiece is a canvas portraying San Ferdinando, created by the artist Federico Maldarelli.
Originally, this site housed a church dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier, constructed in 1636 under the supervision of the Jesuit order. However, in the mid-1650s, a significant reconstruction project was undertaken, led by Cosimo Fanzago. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from the region in 1767, the church was handed over to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. They rededicated it to Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, who happened to be the patron saint of King Ferdinand IV, the reigning monarch of Naples at the time.
Inside the church, you'll find a vault adorned with a fresco depicting the life of Saint Francis Xavier and other Jesuit figures, crafted by the artist Paolo De Matteis. The church also boasts a collection of statues by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro and Giuseppe Sanmartino. Notably, the main altarpiece is a canvas portraying San Ferdinando, created by the artist Federico Maldarelli.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Naples. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
San Ferdinando Church on Map
Sight Name: San Ferdinando Church
Sight Location: Naples, Italy (See walking tours in Naples)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Naples, Italy (See walking tours in Naples)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in Naples, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Naples
Creating your own self-guided walk in Naples is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Naples Introduction Walking Tour
“See Naples and die.” German poet and scientist Goethe was convinced that Naples represented the epitome of human experience.
The city has been continuously inhabited for nearly three thousand years. Its origins date to the 8th century BC, when Greek settlers from Euboea established a small coastal colony known as Parthenope, near the site of today’s Ovo Castle. As the settlement expanded... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
The city has been continuously inhabited for nearly three thousand years. Its origins date to the 8th century BC, when Greek settlers from Euboea established a small coastal colony known as Parthenope, near the site of today’s Ovo Castle. As the settlement expanded... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historical Churches
Christianity in general and the Catholic faith in particular have always played an important role in the social and cultural life of Naples. Not everyone knows that the city boasts the highest number of churches in the world – almost 500 historic “houses of God” (1,000 in total) – accumulated over the course of 17(!) centuries. Hence the nickname – “the city of 500 domes”.
And... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
And... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Naples Old Town Walk
After travelling to Naples in 1835 using a false passport, French painter and writer Alexandre Dumas described the Old Town’s streets as true storytellers in his travel writings.
From the Middle Ages onward, the Old Town developed as a dense network of neighbourhoods organised around churches, convents, guilds, and markets. Religious institutions played a decisive role in shaping the urban... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
From the Middle Ages onward, the Old Town developed as a dense network of neighbourhoods organised around churches, convents, guilds, and markets. Religious institutions played a decisive role in shaping the urban... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles