“Considering the site is of exceptional value. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, whose contemporary urban fabric preserves the elements of its long and eventful history. Its position on the Bay of Naples gives the site an unparalleled universal value, which has exerted a profound influence on much of Europe and beyond its borders ” [UNESCO]

The UNESCO motivation for which the historic center of Naples was included in the World Heritage Site gives a good idea of the beauty of the place.
It contains over 3 millennia of history, in over 17 square km. An extension that makes it, in fact, the largest in Italy, and among the largest in all of Europe!
Museums. Squares. Streets. Churches.
Naples is a real open-air museum, with many jewels to admire. Some of them are even hidden under the surface of the earth.

Here are some of the places we loved most in the historic center of Naples and that would be worth visiting.

HISTORIC CENTER OF NAPLES: LOWER DECUMAN

SPACCANAPOLI

It is a historic city street that runs in a straight line, cutting the city in two.
Try to admire it from the top of San Martino and you will understand the reason for its name

Spaccanapoli is the emblem, and the essence of “Neapolitanism”, of its thousand colors, scents, smells …
The millenary history of the city is contained in this street.

PIAZZA DEL GESÙ AND PIAZZA SAN DOMENICO

Photo ©, Vitold Muratov

Piazza del Gesù can be considered, with good reason, the starting point for a visit to the historic center of Naples.
The square, beautiful and wide, is dominated in the center by the Spire of the Immaculate Conception, an obelisk with Baroque decorations, 34 meters high.
Overlooking the square, the 15th century Church of Gesù Nuovo, with its particular and atypical stone facade. The sumptuous interiors preserve many works of art.
Open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 17:00 to 19:15. Sunday, from 08:30 to 12:30 and 16: 30-19: 00.

Via Benedetto Croce, continuation of the square, is a succession of palaces, historic buildings, pastry shops, bars, restaurants and… pizzerias.
A short walk leads to Piazza San Domenico Maggiore.
The Obelisk of San Domenico, erected in the 1600s as thanks for the end of the plague, dominates the square, the crossroads of the historic center.
San Domenico is particularly busy with young people, given its proximity to the most important Neapolitan university faculties.
Two beautiful buildings represent the highlight of your visit, before the wonderful Chapel of San Severo, a few steps from here.

Frescoes, sacred relics and royal tombs of the Habsburgs characterize the Gothic Basilica of San Domenico, built in the 1300s.
On the opposite side, in Piazzetta Nilo, stands the monumental Church of Sant’Angelo a Nilo, from the fourteenth century. It houses the sepulcher of Cardinal Brancaccio.
Not always open!

SANTA CHIARA AND MAJOLICATED CLOISTER

I am deeply attached, for personal reasons, to this place. There is no doubt that this is another wonderful jewel in the historic center of Naples, not far from the Veiled Christ.
The complex is located at the beginning of Via Benedetto Croce, just beyond Piazza del Gesù.
The church is beautiful but, above all, the majolica Cloister is spectacular,
The colors of the tiles on the octagonal pillars and benches are one with the blue of the sky and the green of the plants. Scenes from everyday life and biblical scenes are also admired. Each corner offers a wonderful glimpse. Not to be missed on holiday in Naples.

Open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 17:30 and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30.
The Basilica is open every day from 08:00 to 12:45 and from 16:30 to 20:00. Sunday opens at 09:00.
Tickets cost €6.00 at standard rate, €4.50 for over 65s and €3.50 for children aged 6 to 17.

PIAZZA BELLINI AND VIA COSTANTINOPOLI

From Santa Chiara, a long climb leads to Piazza Bellini and Via Costantinopoli, until you reach the Archaeological Museum. We talk about the latter in the section of the Museums of Naples, from this link.
Piazza Bellini is one of the meeting places of the Neapolitan nightlife. Here, in the open air, the remains of the Greek walls are visible (unfortunately at the mercy of the usual idiots who deface its beauty with bottles, cigarette butts and waste).
The Neapolitan cultural soul is well represented by the presence of the Complex Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella. Great artists were trained here and important concerts are still held today. Declared a Royal Conservatory in 1807, it houses a church and an interesting museum with precious musical instruments, including the Stradivari bow.