Naples walking tour with entrance to Veiled Christ

The tour begins in Piazza Dante, a cultural crossroads and temporal gateway through which, passing through one of the city gates, you will arrive in Greco-Roman Naples with the remains of the city walls and the brick tower of the Pietrasanta bell tower, a silent gem of medieval architecture at whose feet the legend of the “Porco Diavolo” still echoes.

Strolling along one of the city's decumani, among aristocratic palaces and centuries-old churches, you will come across the mocking, ironic smile of the bust of Punchinello, an emblem of Neapolitan-ness and the spirit of a city that has never lost its connection with paganism.

Admire a beauty of the Veiled Christ, a magnificent masterpiece that enchants with its extraordinary beauty and the technical perfection with which it was sculpted. Created by Giuseppe Sanmartino in 1753, this sculpture is one of the most fascinating works of Neapolitan Baroque and is housed in the Sansevero Chapel Museum in Naples.

Through the characteristic vico del Fico al Purgatorio, you will arrive on the second of the 3 decumans of the ancient center, Via San Biagio dei Librai with its variety of artisans' shops/shops, stalls and churches nestled among the buildings. At the point where the decumanus opens to intersect Via Duomo, you will be greeted by the majestic San Gennaro mural by contemporary artist Jorit, which marks the beginning of the Forcella district with its famous “cippo.”

After appreciating the majesty and richness of the Cathedral of Naples (named after Santa Maria Assunta) inside of which is kept the precious relic of the blood of San Gennaro, you will plunge back into the narrow and winding alleys, which tell stories of noble families and commoners, tales of passions, vendettas, superstition and the occasional ghost.

The itinerary ends in front of the splendid church of Santa Caterina a Formiello, where a prosecco will be waiting for you to sip while admiring the majestic archway of Porta Capuana and the imposing fortification of Castel Capuano.