Walking Tours of Naples in English with an American-Italian Local

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Piazza Dante

   This is where our tour begins. Piazza Dante is a lively square in Naples, Italy, dominated by an 18th-century statue of the poet Dante Alighieri. Framed by grand Baroque buildings, it’s a popular meeting spot near the historic center, bustling with shops, cafés and access to Via Toledo.

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2. Port'Alba

   Port’Alba is a historic 17th-century gate in Naples, built in 1625 by the Spanish viceroy Duke of Alba. It marks the entrance to lively Via Port’Alba, known for bookshops, music stores, and cafés leading to Piazza Bellini. Nearby is Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, considered the world’s oldest pizzeria.

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3. Chiesa di San Pietro a Majella

   Chiesa di San Pietro a Majella is a Gothic masterpiece in Naples’ historic center, built in the 13th–14th centuries by Charles II of Anjou. The church features pointed arches, vaulted ceilings, and a tall spire. Inside, it has a stunning coffered ceiling with paintings by Mattia Preti, a baroque altar by Cosimo Fanzago, and medieval frescoes. The adjoining convent houses the prestigious San Pietro a Majella Music Conservatory, preserving Naples’ rich musical heritage.

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4. Piazza Bellini

   Piazza Bellini is a lively square in Naples’ historic center, named after composer Vincenzo Bellini. It’s known for its vibrant atmosphere, historic palaces, and visible ruins of ancient Greek walls. Surrounded by cafés, bars, and cultural landmarks, it’s a popular spot for students, artists, and locals, offering a perfect mix of history and nightlife.

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5. Chiesa della Croce di Lucca

   Chiesa della Croce di Lucca is a Baroque church on Via dei Tribunali in Naples, built in the early 16th century by Tuscan Carmelites. It has a simple stone façade and a richly decorated interior with a wooden coffered ceiling and artworks by Caracciolo and others. Though the monastery was demolished, the church was saved and is now used for cultural events.

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6. Via Dei Tribunali

   Via dei Tribunali is the main ancient street in Naples’ historic center, running from Port’Alba to Castel Capuano. It’s lined with historic churches like the Duomo, San Lorenzo Maggiore, and San Paolo Maggiore, plus famous sites like Napoli Sotterranea. The street is also known for iconic pizzerias such as Sorbillo and Di Matteo, making it a must-visit for history, culture, and authentic Neapolitan pizza.

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7. Cappella del Pontano

   The Cappella del Pontano in Naples is a Renaissance chapel built in 1492 by humanist Giovanni Pontano as a funerary monument for his wife. It features a simple stone façade, a maiolica-tiled floor with portraits and symbols, and a fresco of the Madonna and Child inside. The chapel contains epitaphs expressing Pontano’s grief and includes a family crypt. It is a notable example of Renaissance humanism in Naples.

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8. Complesso Museale Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco

   The Complesso Museale Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco in Naples is a Baroque church and museum dedicated to the souls in purgatory. Founded in 1605, it features important artworks by Massimo Stanzione and Luca Giordano. The complex includes an underground chapel where anonymous remains were venerated and a museum with liturgical objects and paintings. It offers insight into Naples' religious traditions and art history.

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9. Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore

   The Basilica of San Paolo Maggiore in Naples is a Baroque church built over the ruins of a 1st-century Temple of the Dioscuri. It was established in the 8th–9th centuries and renovated in the 16th and 17th centuries. The façade features ancient Corinthian columns, and inside are artworks by Massimo Stanzione and Francesco Solimena. The church contains the tomb of Saint Cajetan, founder of the Theatine order.

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10. Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore

    The Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore in Naples, founded in the 13th century by King Charles I of Anjou, is built over the ancient Roman forum. It features French Gothic and Franciscan architecture, a high altar by Giovanni da Nola, and the tomb of Catherine of Austria. Beneath the basilica are Roman market ruins open to visitors. Nearby is a museum displaying historic artifacts from the church.

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11. Complesso Monumentale e Chiesa dei Girolamini

    The Complesso Monumentale e Chiesa dei Girolamini in Naples is a 16th-century Baroque church and complex founded by the Oratorians. It features a richly decorated interior with a wooden coffered ceiling and sculptures by Giuseppe Sanmartino. The façade was completed in 1780. The complex also houses the Biblioteca dei Girolamini, Naples' oldest public library, with a large collection of rare books and manuscripts.

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12. Chiesa di Santa Maria della Colonna

    The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Colonna in Naples is a Baroque church built in 1580. It was part of a complex that included an orphanage and music conservatory, where composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi studied. The façade, completed in the early 1700s, features dynamic Baroque design. Inside, it has a Greek cross plan, a dome, stucco decorations, and altarpieces by Paolo De Matteis. After restoration, it reopened in 2018 and now hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

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13. Duomo di Napoli

    The Duomo di Napoli, also known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, is Naples' main cathedral and the seat of its Archdiocese. Built between 1294 and 1313, it features a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neogothic styles. The façade, from the 19th century, depicts scenes of Saint Januarius, the city's patron saint. Inside, the cathedral has a Latin cross layout with marble columns and a painted coffered ceiling. The Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro houses the saint’s relics and is famous for the annual miracle of the liquefaction of his blood. The complex also includes the ancient Basilica of Santa Restituta and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte. The cathedral is free to visit, while the museum has an admission fee.

    10 minutes here

14. Via San Gregorio Armeno

    Via San Gregorio Armeno is a historic street in Naples famous for its artisan workshops that create handcrafted nativity scenes (*presepi*). Originating from Roman times, it became a center for religious crafts. Today, it attracts visitors year-round, especially at Christmas, for its unique traditional figurines. Nearby landmarks include the Church of San Lorenzo Maggiore and the Renaissance Palazzo Mormando.

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15. Statua del Dio Nilo

    The Statue of the Nile God, also called the "Body of Naples," is a marble sculpture from the 2nd–3rd century AD located in Piazzetta Nilo, in the historic center of Naples. It depicts a reclining river god holding a cornucopia in his right hand and a sphinx under his left arm, symbols of fertility and prosperity. Originally, a crocodile’s head was at his feet, but it is now missing. The statue was erected by the Alexandrian community settled in Naples between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, reflecting the city's historical ties with Egypt. Over time, it suffered damage and theft; the sphinx's head was stolen in the 1950s and recovered in Austria in 2013. After restoration funded by the community, the statue was returned to Naples in 2014. Today, it stands as a symbol of Naples' multicultural history, located near Piazza San Domenico Maggiore and Largo Corpo di Napoli.

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16. Obelisco di San Domenico

    The Obelisco di San Domenico is a Baroque monument in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Naples. Built between 1656 and 1737, it was erected to thank Saint Dominic for the city’s deliverance from the 1656 plague. The 26-meter tall obelisk has three tiers: a base with busts of the siren Partenope symbolizing Naples, a middle section with medallions representing the city, the Dominican Order, and Spanish rulers, and an upper section featuring medallions of Dominican saints. A bronze statue of Saint Dominic tops the obelisk. Construction involved several architects over many decades, including Cosimo Fanzago and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro. The monument is a key Baroque landmark in Naples’ historic center.

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17. Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

    Piazza San Domenico Maggiore is a historic square in central Naples along Spaccanapoli. It features the Baroque Obelisco di San Domenico, built to thank Saint Dominic for saving the city from the 1656 plague. The square is home to the Gothic Church of San Domenico Maggiore, linked to figures like Thomas Aquinas. Surrounding the piazza are historic palaces and beneath it lie remains of the ancient Porta Cumana, part of Naples’ original Greek walls. The square reflects the city’s rich history and vibrant culture.

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18. Chiesa Di San Domenico Maggiore

    The Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore is a Gothic church in Naples, built between 1283 and 1324. Located in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, it was commissioned by King Charles II of Anjou and dedicated to Saint Dominic. The church features a Baroque façade and a Latin cross plan with three naves, side chapels, and a polygonal apse. Inside, the church contains 27 chapels with important artworks, including frescoes by Pietro Cavallini and a Baroque sacristy decorated by Francesco Solimena. It also houses sepulchral coffins of noble families, including the Aragonese dynasty. Historically, it was linked to the University of Naples and famous figures such as Thomas Aquinas and Giordano Bruno. The church reflects Naples’ medieval and Baroque heritage and remains a key cultural landmark.

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19. Chiesa di Santa Marta

    Chiesa di Santa Marta is a historic church in Naples, founded in the early 15th century by Margherita di Durazzo. It features late Gothic architecture with a barrel-vaulted nave and a 17th-century dome. The church was damaged during the 1647 Masaniello revolt and later restored. Inside, it houses notable artworks by Andrea Vaccaro, Luca Giordano, and others. The church also contains six marble altars with paintings of saints and preserves bullet marks from the revolt. It remains an important cultural and religious site in Naples.

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20. Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara

    The Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara in Naples includes a Gothic church, monastery, and convent built between 1310 and 1328. It was commissioned by King Robert of Anjou and Queen Sancia of Majorca. The church features Gothic architecture with royal tombs and was restored to its original style after WWII. The complex is famous for its cloister decorated with colorful maiolica tiles and Italian gardens. It also houses a museum with artifacts from the 1943 bombings and Roman baths found on site. The church is free to enter; the museum and cloister have a small admission fee. It is located in Naples’ historic center and accessible by metro.

    10 minutes here

21. Piazza del Gesu Nuovo

    Piazza del Gesù Nuovo is a historic and lively square in central Naples. It features the unique Gesù Nuovo Church with its distinctive stone façade and rich Baroque interior. Nearby is the Gothic Basilica di Santa Chiara, known for its colorful cloister. At the center stands the Baroque Obelisk of the Immaculate Conception, decorated with statues. The square is surrounded by cafés offering traditional Neapolitan food. It’s a vibrant spot that blends history, architecture, and local culture.

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22. Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo

    The Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo in Naples is a Baroque church known for its unique diamond-point stone façade. Originally a 15th-century palace, it was converted into a church by the Jesuits in the late 1500s. The interior features a Greek-cross layout with three aisles, decorated with colorful marble, stucco, and frescoes, including Francesco Solimena’s famous fresco, *The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple.*

    10 minutes here

23. Obelisco dell'Immacolata

    Built in 1750, this 22-meter tall Baroque obelisk stands in Piazza del Gesù Nuovo. Designed by Giuseppe Genoino and decorated with statues of Jesuit saints, it honors the Virgin Mary. Every December 8th, firefighters place roses on top for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. A local legend says the statue’s veil looks like a skull from behind under certain light. It’s easy to visit in Naples’ historic center.

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24. Spaccanapoli

    Spaccanapoli is a famous narrow street in Naples that cuts through the historic center. It’s about 2 km long and full of churches, shops, cafes, and local life. It’s a great place to experience authentic Neapolitan culture and history.

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25. Via Toledo

    Via Toledo is a historic 1.2 km street in Naples, built in 1536. It’s famous for shopping, cafes, and landmarks like Galleria Umberto I and Palazzo Zevallos. The Toledo Metro Station here is also renowned for its art. It connects key city areas and is close to major attractions.

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Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 6 travelers per booking

Operated by

Step Into Naples Walking Tours

Know before you go

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Photos