In the heart of the historic centre of Naples there is a street that is worth the trip on its own: Via Duomo. In about 1,200 metres it brings together museums, churches and monumental complexes ranging from archaeology to sacred art, from the Baroque to the contemporary, so much so that it is considered one of the streets with the highest density of museums in the world.
Its route follows the cardo maximus of ancient Greco-Roman Neapolis, and as you walk along it you can read the layers of the city's history. The Campania Region has dedicated a portal to it, Via Duomo – Strada dei Musei, with a time machine showing how the street was born and changed from the Romans to the Bourbons, as well as immersive scenes and in-depth features.
Museums and places not to miss
Naples Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta was begun in the Angevin period at the end of the 13th century and consecrated in 1314, on foundations that incorporate pagan and early Christian buildings. The original Gothic survives in the chapels of the presbytery, such as the Minutolo Chapel with its 14th-century frescoes. Inside, the Basilica of Santa Restituta, with the baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, and the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro await you.
👉 Place page: Naples Cathedral · Basilica of Santa Restituta
Museum of the Treasure of San Gennaro
A journey spanning seven centuries of art, devotion and spectacle. What strikes us most is the collection of silverware, from 1305 to the present day, which has survived intact and was made almost entirely by Neapolitan craftsmen, along with masterpieces such as the jewelled Mitre.
👉 Place page: Treasure of San Gennaro Museum
Girolamini Monumental Complex and Library
Founded in the 16th century and extended over the centuries, it brings together the Library, the Archive, the Picture Gallery and the church dedicated to San Filippo Neri: a unique treasure chest for its wealth of works, books and documents.
👉 Place page: Girolamini Complex
Pio Monte della Misericordia
Overlooking Piazza Riario Sforza, along the decumanus maximus, its 17th-century church houses Caravaggio's Seven Works of Mercy, one of the most important paintings of the 17th century. On the first floor, the Picture Gallery displays works by Ribera, Luca Giordano, Francesco De Mura and others, as well as a contemporary section.
👉 Place page: Pio Monte della Misericordia
Donnaregina Monumental Complex – Diocesan Museum
A journey between Gothic and Baroque: the 14th-century Donnaregina Vecchia, with the tomb of Queen Mary of Hungary carved by Tino di Camaino and the largest 14th-century fresco cycle in Naples, of the school of Pietro Cavallini, and the 17th-century Donnaregina Nuova, home to the Diocesan Museum.
👉 Place page: Diocesan Museum of Naples
MADRE – Donnaregina Museum of Contemporary Art
Founded in 2005, when the Campania Region bought the palazzo next to Donnaregina Vecchia, it was redesigned by Álvaro Siza. The first floor houses a collection of works created specifically for these spaces, while the other levels host temporary exhibitions.
Gaetano Filangieri Civic Museum
Opened on 8 November 1888 at the wish of Prince Gaetano Filangieri, it occupies Palazzo Como, a rare example of the Tuscan Renaissance in Naples, moved back about 20 metres to save it from the demolitions of the Risanamento urban renewal. Inside you will find paintings from the 16th to the 19th century, arms and armour, porcelain and a library of about 30,000 volumes.
👉 Place page: Gaetano Filangieri Civic Museum
San Severo al Pendino
A church from 1575, remodelled between 1599 and 1620 to a design by Gian Giacomo Conforto and reopened to visitors in 1999 after a long restoration. Today its Renaissance nave hosts concerts, exhibitions and cultural events.
ilCartastorie
Founded in 2016 in Via dei Tribunali, this museum brings to life the immense historical archive of the old Neapolitan public banks: about 100 km of shelving holding payment records that, from the 16th century to today, reveal works of art, daily life and personal stories.
Exploring Via Duomo online too
We recommend taking a look at the immersive scenes and the narrative routes on the regional portal: a great way to prepare for your visit or to relive the walk from home.
Source: Regione Campania – Ecosistema digitale per la cultura
