Religious Sights in Naples

Naples has more churches than any other city in Italy, making it known as one of the most Catholic city's in the world. Regardless of your religious beliefs or practices, you'll miss out on an important piece of the history and culture of Naples if you don't visit some of the city's beautiful religious sights.

The religious heart of Naples is the Duomo of San Gennaro. Dedicated to the city's patron saint and protector, this beautiful church is a history tour of Naples itself. Below the church you can visit the excavations and see traces of the ancient Greek city of Neapolis. You'll also see what is believed to be the earliest Christian baptistery font. Be sure to step into the lavishly decorated chapel dedicated to San Gennaro. Here is where the relics of the saint are held and where the saint's blood miraculously liquefies on important feast days during the year.

High above the city stroll around the peaceful cloisters of the Charterhouse of San Martino, which also houses a fabulous art collection.

For something slightly off beat, visit the Catacombs of San Gaudioso, an early Christian burial area beneath the church of Santa Maria della Sanità.

Many of Naples' great churches are home to artistic masterpieces. The church of Pio Monte della Misericordia was built by a 17th-century charity to help the poor, and is one of the artistic gems of Naples. Most visitors stop to see Caravaggio's famous "Seven Acts of Mercy," but there is also an excellent collection of paintings to explore. The small Cappella Sansevero is also worth a visit, if just to see Giuseppe Sanmartino's exquisite sculptor of the "Veiled Christ."

More Top Lists

Popular Places