San Francesco di Paola Church, Naples

San Francesco di Paola Church is one of the city’s most visually commanding religious buildings, closely tied to Naples’ 19th-century political history. Construction began in 1816 under King Ferdinand I of Bourbon, who commissioned the church as both a votive offering and a symbol of restored monarchy after the Napoleonic period. Completed in 1824, the church deliberately echoes the Pantheon in Rome, with a vast circular plan, a portico supported by Corinthian columns, and a large central dome that dominates the square. Its restrained Neoclassical style marked a clear departure from the exuberant Baroque churches that define much of Naples’ earlier sacred architecture.

Immediately after passing through the grand external portico, you enter a rectangular atrium before reaching the main circular body. The atrium contains entrances to two side chapels. The Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory is on the left, and houses a painting of Saint Onofrio—a stark, powerful example of late Baroque art. On the right side of the atrium, you find the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which features a striking 18th-century polychrome marble altar. Above it hangs a painting of Saint Francis of Paola, notable for its intense use of light and shadow.

Inside the main body of the church, the atmosphere is markedly calm and spacious, shaped by the building’s symmetry and uncluttered design. The high dome filters soft light into the interior, creating a strong sense of openness. The church’s most celebrated painting is located directly opposite the entrance, in the semi-circular space behind the altar. Titled Saint Francis of Paola Resuscitates a Dead Man, it was painted by Neoclassical Italian artist Vincenzo Camuccini and depicts the saint’s miraculous powers.

Today, the church remains an active place of worship and a popular venue for weddings.