Naples Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Naples
“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 inland, a larger and more formally planned city was laid out on a regular grid and named Neápolis, meaning “new city” in Greek. Over time, this name evolved linguistically into its current form: Naples.
Under Greek rule, Neapolis developed into a thriving centre of trade, culture, and learning. Even after its incorporation into the Roman Republic in the 4th century BC, the city retained a strong Greek character, as Greek philosophy, customs, and education continued to shape daily life. During the Roman period, Naples prospered as a seaside resort and intellectual hub, known for its villas, theatres, and artistic circles. Nearby cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum flourished until their sudden destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Naples entered a long medieval phase marked by shifting powers. It passed through Byzantine control, periods of independent rule, and eventually became the capital of the Kingdom of Naples in 1285.
Thanks to the Italian painter Caravaggio settling in Naples for several years in the early 17th century, the city came to be regarded as a capital of the Baroque. He left three major works in Naples, and his presence catalysed an artistic revolution that reshaped local painting.
In the early modern era, Naples was ruled successively by Spanish, Austrian, and Bourbon dynasties. The latter founded the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1816, with Naples as its capital, helping it become a major European metropolis admired for its music, philosophy, and intellectual life. Following Italian unification in 1861, Naples lost its role as a capital but maintained a strong cultural identity.
Walking through Napoli’s historic centre means moving through tightly packed streets laid out over ancient Greek foundations. Along Spaccanapoli and Tribunal Street, Roman remains sit beneath churches, medieval palaces stand beside Baroque façades, and everyday life unfolds between laundry lines and street markets. Narrow lanes open suddenly toward landmarks such as Naples Cathedral or the Sansevero Chapel, while workshops, shrines, and food stalls coexist in a dense, noisy, intensely lived-in urban fabric.
As this walk unfolds, you will realize that Naples is a fully sensory adventure, from its food to the artistic details that define its narrow streets. You will surely notice the profound sense of fulfillment that Goethe observed centuries ago.
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 inland, a larger and more formally planned city was laid out on a regular grid and named Neápolis, meaning “new city” in Greek. Over time, this name evolved linguistically into its current form: Naples.
Under Greek rule, Neapolis developed into a thriving centre of trade, culture, and learning. Even after its incorporation into the Roman Republic in the 4th century BC, the city retained a strong Greek character, as Greek philosophy, customs, and education continued to shape daily life. During the Roman period, Naples prospered as a seaside resort and intellectual hub, known for its villas, theatres, and artistic circles. Nearby cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum flourished until their sudden destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Naples entered a long medieval phase marked by shifting powers. It passed through Byzantine control, periods of independent rule, and eventually became the capital of the Kingdom of Naples in 1285.
Thanks to the Italian painter Caravaggio settling in Naples for several years in the early 17th century, the city came to be regarded as a capital of the Baroque. He left three major works in Naples, and his presence catalysed an artistic revolution that reshaped local painting.
In the early modern era, Naples was ruled successively by Spanish, Austrian, and Bourbon dynasties. The latter founded the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1816, with Naples as its capital, helping it become a major European metropolis admired for its music, philosophy, and intellectual life. Following Italian unification in 1861, Naples lost its role as a capital but maintained a strong cultural identity.
Walking through Napoli’s historic centre means moving through tightly packed streets laid out over ancient Greek foundations. Along Spaccanapoli and Tribunal Street, Roman remains sit beneath churches, medieval palaces stand beside Baroque façades, and everyday life unfolds between laundry lines and street markets. Narrow lanes open suddenly toward landmarks such as Naples Cathedral or the Sansevero Chapel, while workshops, shrines, and food stalls coexist in a dense, noisy, intensely lived-in urban fabric.
As this walk unfolds, you will realize that Naples is a fully sensory adventure, from its food to the artistic details that define its narrow streets. You will surely notice the profound sense of fulfillment that Goethe observed centuries ago.
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Naples Introduction Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Naples Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: Italy » Naples (See other walking tours in Naples)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 14
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Author: vickyc
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Italy » Naples (See other walking tours in Naples)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 14
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Author: vickyc
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Piazza del Plebiscito (Plebiscite Square)
- Royal Palace
- Teatro di San Carlo (San Carlo Theatre)
- Galleria Umberto I (Umberto I Shopping Gallery)
- Castel Nuovo (New Castle)
- Toledo Station of the Naples Metro
- Via Toledo (Toledo Street)
- Santa Chiara Complex
- Museo Cappella Sansevero (Sansevero Chapel Museum)
- Spaccanapoli Street
- Via San Gregorio Armeno (San Gregorio Armeno Street)
- Naples Underground
- Via dei Tribunali (Tribunal Street)
- Duomo di Napoli (Naples Cathedral)
1) Piazza del Plebiscito (Plebiscite Square) (must see)
Plebiscite Square is the largest and most ceremonial public square in Naples, opening directly onto the waterfront at the edge of the historic centre. Its name refers to the plebiscite of 1860, when the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies voted to join the newly unified Kingdom of Italy—a political moment that marked the end of centuries of Bourbon rule. Long before that vote, however, the square functioned as a stage for royal power, military parades, and civic spectacle.
The square took its present form in the early 19th century under Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law and King of Naples, who envisioned a grand neoclassical space inspired by imperial ideals. Dominating its eastern side is the Royal Palace of Naples, begun in the early 1600s and long the residence of Spanish viceroys and later Bourbon kings.
After World War II, the square fell into neglect and was used as a large parking area until 1997, when it was restored ahead of the G7 summit held in Naples. This restoration returned the piazza to its original role as a monumental civic space.
Today, Plebiscite Square offers both scale and pause. It is one of the few places in Naples where the sky feels expansive, making it a popular meeting point and a natural threshold between the old city, the royal quarter, and the sea. Largely free of traffic, the square invites visitors to slow down, observe details, watch daily life unfold, or simply take in the symmetry and openness that set it apart from the surrounding streets.
The square took its present form in the early 19th century under Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law and King of Naples, who envisioned a grand neoclassical space inspired by imperial ideals. Dominating its eastern side is the Royal Palace of Naples, begun in the early 1600s and long the residence of Spanish viceroys and later Bourbon kings.
After World War II, the square fell into neglect and was used as a large parking area until 1997, when it was restored ahead of the G7 summit held in Naples. This restoration returned the piazza to its original role as a monumental civic space.
Today, Plebiscite Square offers both scale and pause. It is one of the few places in Naples where the sky feels expansive, making it a popular meeting point and a natural threshold between the old city, the royal quarter, and the sea. Largely free of traffic, the square invites visitors to slow down, observe details, watch daily life unfold, or simply take in the symmetry and openness that set it apart from the surrounding streets.
2) Royal Palace (must see)
The Royal Palace of Naples stands along the eastern side of Plebiscite Square as a reminder of the centuries when Naples served as a European capital. Construction began in 1600 under Spanish rule, and the building was designed as the residence of the Spanish viceroys. From the outset, the palace was intended to project authority and stability, facing both the city and the sea. Over time, it was expanded and adapted by successive rulers, including the Bourbons, who made it one of their principal royal residences when Naples became the capital of the Kingdom of Naples and later the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Niches along the palace’s orderly façade hold statues of historical rulers connected to Naples. Inside, the atmosphere shifts toward grand staircases, ceremonial halls, and richly decorated apartments. The Royal Apartments preserve original décor, including gilded ceilings, frescoes, tapestries, and period furniture, offering a glimpse into court life from the 17th to the 19th century.
As soon as you enter the palace, you have a choice. If you turn left, you reach the Court Theatre, an intimate performance space that reflects Naples’ long association with music and opera. If instead you continue straight ahead, you arrive at the square-shaped Courtyard of Honour. Continuing northeast, the Palatine Chapel, built for private worship, comes into view. While the palace’s western wing contains the Royal Apartments and the aforementioned spaces, if you turn right after entering the palace, you come to the National Library of Naples housed in the easten wing. It is one of Italy’s most important libraries, containing rare manuscripts and historic collections.
The Royal Palace offers a quieter counterpoint to Naples’ dense streets. Its broad rooms and ordered layout provide a sense of scale and formality rarely found elsewhere in the city.
Niches along the palace’s orderly façade hold statues of historical rulers connected to Naples. Inside, the atmosphere shifts toward grand staircases, ceremonial halls, and richly decorated apartments. The Royal Apartments preserve original décor, including gilded ceilings, frescoes, tapestries, and period furniture, offering a glimpse into court life from the 17th to the 19th century.
As soon as you enter the palace, you have a choice. If you turn left, you reach the Court Theatre, an intimate performance space that reflects Naples’ long association with music and opera. If instead you continue straight ahead, you arrive at the square-shaped Courtyard of Honour. Continuing northeast, the Palatine Chapel, built for private worship, comes into view. While the palace’s western wing contains the Royal Apartments and the aforementioned spaces, if you turn right after entering the palace, you come to the National Library of Naples housed in the easten wing. It is one of Italy’s most important libraries, containing rare manuscripts and historic collections.
The Royal Palace offers a quieter counterpoint to Naples’ dense streets. Its broad rooms and ordered layout provide a sense of scale and formality rarely found elsewhere in the city.
3) Teatro di San Carlo (San Carlo Theatre)
San Carlo Theatre reflects the period when Naples ranked among Europe’s great cultural capitals. Opened in 1737, it is the oldest continuously active opera house in the world. From the beginning, San Carlo was conceived not merely as a theatre, but as a statement of royal ambition, designed to rival the great opera houses of Paris and Vienna.
The original building was celebrated for its scale, acoustics, and elegance, quickly becoming a reference point for opera architecture across Europe. Although a fire severely damaged the theatre in 1816, it was rebuilt in less than a year, preserving its essential form while further refining its neoclassical style. The result is the richly decorated interior seen today: a vast horseshoe-shaped auditorium, six tiers of boxes, and a royal box positioned directly opposite the stage, all unified by red velvet, gilded ornament, and a painted ceiling.
San Carlo played a central role in the development of Italian opera. Many leading composers, including Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, wrote works specifically for this stage, and premieres here often set trends that spread throughout Europe. In addition, the theatre’s orchestra and chorus were long regarded as among the finest in Italy.
Even without attending a performance, standing inside the hall conveys a sense of continuity: the same space has hosted royal audiences, celebrated singers, and modern opera-goers for nearly three centuries.
The original building was celebrated for its scale, acoustics, and elegance, quickly becoming a reference point for opera architecture across Europe. Although a fire severely damaged the theatre in 1816, it was rebuilt in less than a year, preserving its essential form while further refining its neoclassical style. The result is the richly decorated interior seen today: a vast horseshoe-shaped auditorium, six tiers of boxes, and a royal box positioned directly opposite the stage, all unified by red velvet, gilded ornament, and a painted ceiling.
San Carlo played a central role in the development of Italian opera. Many leading composers, including Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, wrote works specifically for this stage, and premieres here often set trends that spread throughout Europe. In addition, the theatre’s orchestra and chorus were long regarded as among the finest in Italy.
Even without attending a performance, standing inside the hall conveys a sense of continuity: the same space has hosted royal audiences, celebrated singers, and modern opera-goers for nearly three centuries.
4) Galleria Umberto I (Umberto I Shopping Gallery)
Galleria Umberto I is one of Naples’ most recognizable 19th-century landmarks, built at a time when the city was undergoing major urban transformation. Construction began in the late 1880s, shortly after Italian unification, as part of a large-scale renewal project aimed at modernising the area behind the Royal Palace and the San Carlo Theatre. The gallery was named after King Umberto I of Italy and conceived as a symbol of progress, order, and civic pride.
Completed in 1891, the gallery reflects the optimism of the era through its monumental scale and elegant use of iron and glass. Its most striking feature is the vast glass dome rising above a cruciform interior, allowing natural light to flood the space below. The floor is decorated with colourful mosaic pavements representing the signs of the zodiac, arranged beneath the intersecting arms of the arcade.
Historically, the gallery was intended as a refined social space rather than a purely commercial one. Modelled on grand European arcades such as Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, it was designed to host cafés, shops, and cultural venues, offering shelter from the weather and a place for leisurely strolling. Galleria Umberto I also serves as the setting for the novel The Gallery by American writer John Horne Burns, which depicts life in occupied Naples in 1944 during World War II.
Completed in 1891, the gallery reflects the optimism of the era through its monumental scale and elegant use of iron and glass. Its most striking feature is the vast glass dome rising above a cruciform interior, allowing natural light to flood the space below. The floor is decorated with colourful mosaic pavements representing the signs of the zodiac, arranged beneath the intersecting arms of the arcade.
Historically, the gallery was intended as a refined social space rather than a purely commercial one. Modelled on grand European arcades such as Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, it was designed to host cafés, shops, and cultural venues, offering shelter from the weather and a place for leisurely strolling. Galleria Umberto I also serves as the setting for the novel The Gallery by American writer John Horne Burns, which depicts life in occupied Naples in 1944 during World War II.
5) Castel Nuovo (New Castle) (must see)
New Castle rises near the harbour as one of Naples’ most recognisable medieval landmarks. Its history begins in 1279, when Charles I of Anjou, King of Sicily, ordered the construction of a new royal fortress to serve as both a defensive stronghold and a symbol of power. At the time, Naples had recently become the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, and the castle’s location near the sea underlined its political and strategic importance.
Over the centuries, New Castle was repeatedly modified as control of the city passed from the Angevins to the Aragonese and later rulers. The most significant transformation occurred in the 15th century under Alfonso V of Aragon, who added the imposing cylindrical towers seen today and commissioned the white marble triumphal arch that marks the main entrance. This arch, celebrating Alfonso’s victorious entry into Naples in 1443, blends classical Roman imagery with Renaissance ideals and stands in deliberate contrast to the fortress’s dark volcanic stone.
Beyond its military role, New Castle also functioned as a royal residence and cultural centre. The castle hosted court ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and intellectual gatherings. One of its most notable interior spaces is the Hall of the Barons, a vast hall once used for royal assemblies, whose ribbed vault combines Gothic tradition with early Renaissance experimentation. The imposing room can be reached via a long staircase on the northern wall of the inner courtyard. From the courtyard, the beige wall of the Hall of the Barons contrasts with the dark grey of the Palatine Chapel—the only surviving element of the 14th-century Angevin castle. The chapel can be recognised by its Renaissance portal and the rose window above it.
In addition, the castle houses interior museum spaces displaying sculptures, fresco fragments, and archaeological finds connected to Naples’ medieval and Renaissance history.
Despite later losing its status as a royal home, the castle remained central to Naples’ political life well into the modern era, serving as military and civic administrative offices until 1815.
Over the centuries, New Castle was repeatedly modified as control of the city passed from the Angevins to the Aragonese and later rulers. The most significant transformation occurred in the 15th century under Alfonso V of Aragon, who added the imposing cylindrical towers seen today and commissioned the white marble triumphal arch that marks the main entrance. This arch, celebrating Alfonso’s victorious entry into Naples in 1443, blends classical Roman imagery with Renaissance ideals and stands in deliberate contrast to the fortress’s dark volcanic stone.
Beyond its military role, New Castle also functioned as a royal residence and cultural centre. The castle hosted court ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and intellectual gatherings. One of its most notable interior spaces is the Hall of the Barons, a vast hall once used for royal assemblies, whose ribbed vault combines Gothic tradition with early Renaissance experimentation. The imposing room can be reached via a long staircase on the northern wall of the inner courtyard. From the courtyard, the beige wall of the Hall of the Barons contrasts with the dark grey of the Palatine Chapel—the only surviving element of the 14th-century Angevin castle. The chapel can be recognised by its Renaissance portal and the rose window above it.
In addition, the castle houses interior museum spaces displaying sculptures, fresco fragments, and archaeological finds connected to Naples’ medieval and Renaissance history.
Despite later losing its status as a royal home, the castle remained central to Naples’ political life well into the modern era, serving as military and civic administrative offices until 1815.
6) Toledo Station of the Naples Metro
Toledo Station won the 2013 LEAF Award for Public Building of the Year. The station is located on Naples’ Metro Line 1. Opened in 2012, it forms part of the city’s long-term “Art Stations” project, which aims to transform everyday transport infrastructure into public cultural spaces.
The station’s design is organised around the themes of light, water, and movement—elements closely tied to Naples’ geography and history. As passengers descend from street level, the space gradually shifts from warm tones to deep blues, evoking a journey from the city’s surface toward the sea. The most memorable feature is the large, mosaic-covered escalator hall, where shimmering blue tiles, illuminated panels, and reflective surfaces create an immersive, almost cinematic experience. Overhead light wells and mirrored elements amplify this effect, making the station feel unexpectedly expansive for an underground space.
Art plays a central role throughout the station. Installations by artists such as William Kentridge and Robert Wilson are integrated into walls, corridors, and platforms, encouraging observation rather than hurried passage. Unlike traditional museums, the artworks are encountered in motion. The result is a station that functions both as infrastructure and as a contemporary gallery, open to anyone passing through.
The station’s design is organised around the themes of light, water, and movement—elements closely tied to Naples’ geography and history. As passengers descend from street level, the space gradually shifts from warm tones to deep blues, evoking a journey from the city’s surface toward the sea. The most memorable feature is the large, mosaic-covered escalator hall, where shimmering blue tiles, illuminated panels, and reflective surfaces create an immersive, almost cinematic experience. Overhead light wells and mirrored elements amplify this effect, making the station feel unexpectedly expansive for an underground space.
Art plays a central role throughout the station. Installations by artists such as William Kentridge and Robert Wilson are integrated into walls, corridors, and platforms, encouraging observation rather than hurried passage. Unlike traditional museums, the artworks are encountered in motion. The result is a station that functions both as infrastructure and as a contemporary gallery, open to anyone passing through.
7) Via Toledo (Toledo Street)
Toledo Street is one of Naples’ principal arteries and has long functioned as a dividing line between different layers of the city. It was laid out in 1536 during Spanish rule by the viceroy Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, from whom the street takes its name. The project was part of a broader effort to impose order on a rapidly growing city, creating a wide, regulated thoroughfare that contrasted with Naples’ dense medieval street network.
From the outset, Toledo Street was designed as a prestigious urban axis. Noble palaces, churches, and administrative buildings rose along its length, while the densely populated Spanish Quarter developed immediately uphill, housing soldiers and working families. Over time, Toledo Street became a showcase for architectural trends, from Renaissance and Baroque façades to later 19th-century additions linked to Naples’ modernisation after Italian unification.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the street evolved into a commercial hub, a role it continues to play today. Shops, cafés, cinemas, and theatres line both sides, making it one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors. Despite modernisation, traces of earlier centuries remain visible in courtyards, side streets, and historic storefronts, especially where Toledo Street intersects with older routes such as Spaccanapoli.
From the outset, Toledo Street was designed as a prestigious urban axis. Noble palaces, churches, and administrative buildings rose along its length, while the densely populated Spanish Quarter developed immediately uphill, housing soldiers and working families. Over time, Toledo Street became a showcase for architectural trends, from Renaissance and Baroque façades to later 19th-century additions linked to Naples’ modernisation after Italian unification.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the street evolved into a commercial hub, a role it continues to play today. Shops, cafés, cinemas, and theatres line both sides, making it one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors. Despite modernisation, traces of earlier centuries remain visible in courtyards, side streets, and historic storefronts, especially where Toledo Street intersects with older routes such as Spaccanapoli.
8) Santa Chiara Complex (must see)
The Santa Chiara Complex was founded in the early 14th century under the Angevin rulers Robert of Anjou and Queen Sancia. At its heart stands the Basilica of Santa Chiara, originally built in a sober Gothic style that stood in contrast to the ornate churches more commonly associated with Naples.
Over the centuries, the complex evolved alongside the city. Baroque additions gradually transformed the basilica’s interior, filling it with rich decoration and colour. This version of Santa Chiara was largely destroyed during World War II, when Allied bombing in 1943 caused a devastating fire. Rather than reconstructing the Baroque interior, post-war restorations chose to return the church to its original Gothic simplicity.
After you leave the church and stroll along the basilica’s eastern façade, you encounter a gated yellow arch that leads to the complex’s most celebrated space: the cloister, redesigned in the 18th century and decorated with vibrant majolica tiles. The tiled pillars and benches depict scenes of rural life, landscapes, and everyday activities. This cloister has become one of the most photographed places in Naples, valued not only for its beauty but also for the unexpected calm it offers within the historic centre. Contributing to this sense of calm are gardens planted with citrus and lavender, as well as a fountain set within what was once the medieval friars’ refectory.
Another sight worth seeing inside the cloister is the Opera Museum of Santa Chiara. It can be found on the opposite side of the cloister’s entrance. The museum displays the remains of a 1st-century Roman bath complex, allowing visitors to trace the site’s history back to ancient Naples.
Over the centuries, the complex evolved alongside the city. Baroque additions gradually transformed the basilica’s interior, filling it with rich decoration and colour. This version of Santa Chiara was largely destroyed during World War II, when Allied bombing in 1943 caused a devastating fire. Rather than reconstructing the Baroque interior, post-war restorations chose to return the church to its original Gothic simplicity.
After you leave the church and stroll along the basilica’s eastern façade, you encounter a gated yellow arch that leads to the complex’s most celebrated space: the cloister, redesigned in the 18th century and decorated with vibrant majolica tiles. The tiled pillars and benches depict scenes of rural life, landscapes, and everyday activities. This cloister has become one of the most photographed places in Naples, valued not only for its beauty but also for the unexpected calm it offers within the historic centre. Contributing to this sense of calm are gardens planted with citrus and lavender, as well as a fountain set within what was once the medieval friars’ refectory.
Another sight worth seeing inside the cloister is the Opera Museum of Santa Chiara. It can be found on the opposite side of the cloister’s entrance. The museum displays the remains of a 1st-century Roman bath complex, allowing visitors to trace the site’s history back to ancient Naples.
9) Museo Cappella Sansevero (Sansevero Chapel Museum) (must see)
The Sansevero Chapel Museum was originally built in the late 16th century by Giovan Francesco di Sangro as a private family burial place, but it owes its present form to Raimondo di Sangro, Prince of Sansevero, who transformed it in the mid-18th century.
The chapel is home to nearly thirty important artworks. At the centre of the chapel lies its most famous work: the Veiled Christ, sculpted in 1753 by artist Giuseppe Sanmartino. Carved from a single block of marble, the figure is covered by a delicately rendered shroud that appears almost transparent, revealing the anatomy beneath with remarkable realism.
The chapel’s walls are lined with marble sculptures, each representing a moral virtue linked to members of the Sansevero family. Among these sculptures, two major highlights stand on either side of the Veiled Christ, toward the north-west. One of them is called Modesty, and it depicts a veiled female figure, celebrated for the delicate treatment of marble. The second is called Release from Deception, and it portrays a fisherman escaping from a fishing net with the help of an angel. The sculpture’s appeal lies in its extraordinary craftsmanship, as the intricate fishing net is carved entirely from marble.
Above, the painted ceiling, titled Glory of Paradise, gives the chapel a dynamic feel by illustrating a celestial vision of Paradise, filled with swirling clouds, angels, and radiant light, opening upward above the nave.
On the right side of the chapel, relative to the entrance, in the third archway, you will notice a narrow 19th-century spiral staircase that leads to the basement. There, you encounter the so-called Anatomical Machines: two preserved human skeletons displaying the circulatory system in extraordinary detail. While the bones are indeed human, the blood vessels are a highly intricate reconstruction made of metal wires, silk, and wax.
The chapel is home to nearly thirty important artworks. At the centre of the chapel lies its most famous work: the Veiled Christ, sculpted in 1753 by artist Giuseppe Sanmartino. Carved from a single block of marble, the figure is covered by a delicately rendered shroud that appears almost transparent, revealing the anatomy beneath with remarkable realism.
The chapel’s walls are lined with marble sculptures, each representing a moral virtue linked to members of the Sansevero family. Among these sculptures, two major highlights stand on either side of the Veiled Christ, toward the north-west. One of them is called Modesty, and it depicts a veiled female figure, celebrated for the delicate treatment of marble. The second is called Release from Deception, and it portrays a fisherman escaping from a fishing net with the help of an angel. The sculpture’s appeal lies in its extraordinary craftsmanship, as the intricate fishing net is carved entirely from marble.
Above, the painted ceiling, titled Glory of Paradise, gives the chapel a dynamic feel by illustrating a celestial vision of Paradise, filled with swirling clouds, angels, and radiant light, opening upward above the nave.
On the right side of the chapel, relative to the entrance, in the third archway, you will notice a narrow 19th-century spiral staircase that leads to the basement. There, you encounter the so-called Anatomical Machines: two preserved human skeletons displaying the circulatory system in extraordinary detail. While the bones are indeed human, the blood vessels are a highly intricate reconstruction made of metal wires, silk, and wax.
10) Spaccanapoli Street (must see)
Spaccanapoli is one of the oldest and most defining streets in Naples, cutting a straight line through the historic centre and giving the impression of splitting the city in two. Its name comes from this very effect—spacca Napoli literally means “it splits Naples.” The street follows the route of one of the original decumani, the main east–west roads of the ancient Greek city of Neápolis, laid out in the 5th century BC and still forming the backbone of the historic centre today.
Because Spaccanapoli sits directly on this ancient grid, walking along it is a journey through multiple layers of history compressed into a single corridor. Roman foundations lie beneath medieval buildings, while Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, and modest residential structures line the route. Over the centuries, the street has been known by different names along its length, but it has always functioned as a central artery for trade, religion, and daily life. Unlike larger avenues created by later urban planning, Spaccanapoli grew organically, shaped by continuous use rather than formal redesign.
Spaccanapoli offers one of the most immediate and unfiltered encounters with Naples. Churches such as Santa Chiara open directly onto the street, while small workshops, bookshops, bakeries, and family-run businesses operate at ground level. Laundry lines overhead and scooters threading through narrow gaps further reinforce the street’s lived-in character. One of the more unusual stops is the Doll Hospital, which specialises in restoring statues and antique dolls. Children are often drawn to the display of miniature hospital beds, while an adjoining museum showcases a collection of antique dolls and toys.
Because Spaccanapoli sits directly on this ancient grid, walking along it is a journey through multiple layers of history compressed into a single corridor. Roman foundations lie beneath medieval buildings, while Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, and modest residential structures line the route. Over the centuries, the street has been known by different names along its length, but it has always functioned as a central artery for trade, religion, and daily life. Unlike larger avenues created by later urban planning, Spaccanapoli grew organically, shaped by continuous use rather than formal redesign.
Spaccanapoli offers one of the most immediate and unfiltered encounters with Naples. Churches such as Santa Chiara open directly onto the street, while small workshops, bookshops, bakeries, and family-run businesses operate at ground level. Laundry lines overhead and scooters threading through narrow gaps further reinforce the street’s lived-in character. One of the more unusual stops is the Doll Hospital, which specialises in restoring statues and antique dolls. Children are often drawn to the display of miniature hospital beds, while an adjoining museum showcases a collection of antique dolls and toys.
11) Via San Gregorio Armeno (San Gregorio Armeno Street) (must see)
San Gregorio Armeno Street, often called “Christmas Alley,” is known worldwide for its long tradition of nativity-scene craftsmanship. The street runs through the historic centre, connecting Spaccanapoli with Tribunal Street, and follows the line of one of the ancient streets of Greek Neápolis.
The street takes its name from the nearby Church and Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, founded in the 10th century by a community of Basilian nuns who brought relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, to Naples. Over time, the religious complex became one of the city’s most important convents.
By the early modern period, San Gregorio Armeno Street had become the centre of Naples’ presepe tradition—the elaborate nativity scenes that go far beyond the biblical story to include everyday Neapolitan life. Artisans set up workshops along the street, producing hand-crafted figurines made from terracotta, wood, and fabric. These figures range from classic shepherds and biblical characters to bakers, musicians, market vendors, and, in more recent times, contemporary public figures.
The street offers a highly concentrated sensory experience. The atmosphere becomes especially animated in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but the street remains active year-round, making it one of the few places in Naples where a seasonal tradition never truly pauses.
The street takes its name from the nearby Church and Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, founded in the 10th century by a community of Basilian nuns who brought relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, to Naples. Over time, the religious complex became one of the city’s most important convents.
By the early modern period, San Gregorio Armeno Street had become the centre of Naples’ presepe tradition—the elaborate nativity scenes that go far beyond the biblical story to include everyday Neapolitan life. Artisans set up workshops along the street, producing hand-crafted figurines made from terracotta, wood, and fabric. These figures range from classic shepherds and biblical characters to bakers, musicians, market vendors, and, in more recent times, contemporary public figures.
The street offers a highly concentrated sensory experience. The atmosphere becomes especially animated in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but the street remains active year-round, making it one of the few places in Naples where a seasonal tradition never truly pauses.
12) Naples Underground (must see)
Naples Underground reveals a hidden city beneath the streets of Naples, where over two thousand years of history are preserved below ground level. This vast network of tunnels, chambers, and cavities began in ancient times, when Greek settlers excavated soft volcanic tuff to extract building stone for Neápolis. The same underground spaces were later expanded by the Romans, who transformed them into an extensive system of aqueducts and cisterns that supplied water to the growing city above.
For centuries, this subterranean infrastructure played a crucial role in daily life. Wells connected private homes and public fountains to the underground reservoirs, while maintenance corridors allowed access to the water system. When the aqueduct fell out of use in the 19th century, many of these spaces were gradually forgotten, sealed off, or repurposed for storage. Their strategic depth, however, gave them new relevance during the 20th century.
During World War II, large sections of the underground were converted into air-raid shelters. Thousands of Neapolitans took refuge here during bombing raids, leaving behind inscriptions, drawings, and everyday objects that document civilian life during the war.
Two unique sights worth seeing are the Greco-Roman Theatre and the Hypogeum Gardens. The former is notable for the presence of a private dressing room believed to have belonged to the Roman Emperor Nero. The latter’s name means “underground gardens”, and they represent an experimental project aimed at growing plants away from light and urban pollution.
Naples Underground offers a striking contrast to the city above. If you wish to encounter ancient Greek foundations, Roman water channels and improvised wartime rooms, you have to join a guided tour at the ticket office.
For centuries, this subterranean infrastructure played a crucial role in daily life. Wells connected private homes and public fountains to the underground reservoirs, while maintenance corridors allowed access to the water system. When the aqueduct fell out of use in the 19th century, many of these spaces were gradually forgotten, sealed off, or repurposed for storage. Their strategic depth, however, gave them new relevance during the 20th century.
During World War II, large sections of the underground were converted into air-raid shelters. Thousands of Neapolitans took refuge here during bombing raids, leaving behind inscriptions, drawings, and everyday objects that document civilian life during the war.
Two unique sights worth seeing are the Greco-Roman Theatre and the Hypogeum Gardens. The former is notable for the presence of a private dressing room believed to have belonged to the Roman Emperor Nero. The latter’s name means “underground gardens”, and they represent an experimental project aimed at growing plants away from light and urban pollution.
Naples Underground offers a striking contrast to the city above. If you wish to encounter ancient Greek foundations, Roman water channels and improvised wartime rooms, you have to join a guided tour at the ticket office.
13) Via dei Tribunali (Tribunal Street)
Tribunal Street is one of the main historic arteries of Naples, running parallel to Spaccanapoli through the heart of the old town. Its origins go back to the Greek foundation of Neápolis in the 5th century BC, when the city was laid out according to a strict grid. Tribunal Street follows the line of the ancient decumanus maximus, the principal east–west road of the Greek and later Roman city, making it one of the oldest continuously used streets in Europe.
The street takes its modern name from the tribunals and administrative buildings that stood here during the Roman period. Over time, Tribunal Street remained a central route, adapting to each historical phase layered above it.
Some of Naples’ most important religious buildings open directly onto the street, including the Cathedral of Naples, with its blend of early Christian, medieval, and Baroque architecture. At the same time, everyday life unfolds at street level: food shops, bakeries, cafés, and small businesses occupy ground floors that have been in constant use for centuries.
Tribunal Street is also closely associated with Naples’ food culture, particularly pizza. Several long-established pizzerias are located along the street, making it a popular stop for visitors as well as locals.
The street takes its modern name from the tribunals and administrative buildings that stood here during the Roman period. Over time, Tribunal Street remained a central route, adapting to each historical phase layered above it.
Some of Naples’ most important religious buildings open directly onto the street, including the Cathedral of Naples, with its blend of early Christian, medieval, and Baroque architecture. At the same time, everyday life unfolds at street level: food shops, bakeries, cafés, and small businesses occupy ground floors that have been in constant use for centuries.
Tribunal Street is also closely associated with Naples’ food culture, particularly pizza. Several long-established pizzerias are located along the street, making it a popular stop for visitors as well as locals.
14) Duomo di Napoli (Naples Cathedral) (must see)
Naples Cathedral’s construction began in the late 13th century under Angevin rule, on a site already occupied by earlier Christian basilicas and Roman structures. This complex past is still visible today: beneath and beside the cathedral lie the remains of early Christian churches, including the Basilica of Santa Restituta.
The cathedral’s main structure reflects Gothic architectural principles introduced from northern Europe, particularly in its soaring interior and pointed arches. Earthquakes, fires, and restorations reshaped parts of the building, introducing new artistic influences over time. The façade seen today dates largely from a 19th-century Neo-Gothic restoration, while the interior preserves medieval elements alongside Baroque chapels and artworks.
One of the cathedral’s most important spaces is the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro, built in the early 17th century and entirely separate from the cathedral’s original structure. Facing the apse, entering the right side of the cathedral brings you close to the chapel. The entrance is easily recognisable thanks to its imposing scale and black gate. This richly decorated Baroque chapel houses the relics of San Gennaro, Naples’ patron saint. Several times a year, crowds gather here to witness the so-called miracle of the liquefaction of the saint’s blood, a ritual deeply embedded in local tradition. According to legend, failure of the blood to liquefy is seen as an omen of disaster for the city.
Directly opposite the entrance to the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro is the entrance to the Basilica of Santa Restituta, the original church dating to the 4th century AD. Inside, the basilica preserves several remarkable elements, including a Greek wall associated with the ancient Temple of Apollo, a stretch of Roman aqueduct, and an inclined section of ancient Greek roadway.
While you are here, you can step from the main nave into earlier basilicas, observe medieval mosaics and tombs, and contrast the cathedral’s restrained Gothic lines with the dramatic Baroque intensity of the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro.
The cathedral’s main structure reflects Gothic architectural principles introduced from northern Europe, particularly in its soaring interior and pointed arches. Earthquakes, fires, and restorations reshaped parts of the building, introducing new artistic influences over time. The façade seen today dates largely from a 19th-century Neo-Gothic restoration, while the interior preserves medieval elements alongside Baroque chapels and artworks.
One of the cathedral’s most important spaces is the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro, built in the early 17th century and entirely separate from the cathedral’s original structure. Facing the apse, entering the right side of the cathedral brings you close to the chapel. The entrance is easily recognisable thanks to its imposing scale and black gate. This richly decorated Baroque chapel houses the relics of San Gennaro, Naples’ patron saint. Several times a year, crowds gather here to witness the so-called miracle of the liquefaction of the saint’s blood, a ritual deeply embedded in local tradition. According to legend, failure of the blood to liquefy is seen as an omen of disaster for the city.
Directly opposite the entrance to the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro is the entrance to the Basilica of Santa Restituta, the original church dating to the 4th century AD. Inside, the basilica preserves several remarkable elements, including a Greek wall associated with the ancient Temple of Apollo, a stretch of Roman aqueduct, and an inclined section of ancient Greek roadway.
While you are here, you can step from the main nave into earlier basilicas, observe medieval mosaics and tombs, and contrast the cathedral’s restrained Gothic lines with the dramatic Baroque intensity of the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro.
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.
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
The Most Popular Cities
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