Naples - Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

The Capella Sansevero (museum), a little way east of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples, was built in 1590 as the burial chapel of the Sangro family and elaborately embellished in Baroque style in the 18th century; it contains some fine sculpture, including a "Christ in a winding-sheet" by Sammartino (1753).

Via Biagio continues northeast and leads into Via del Duomo. Along this street to the right is the Palazzo Cuomo, a fine Early Renaissance building (1464-90) which now houses the Museo Filangieri, with arms, majolica, porcelain, enamel-work and pictures. On the opposite side of the street, a little farther northeast, is the church of San Giorgio Maggiore, founded in the fifth century and rebuilt in the 17th century.

Between the Piazza Bellini and the cathedral, the Via dei Tribunali, which runs north parallel to Via San Biagio, becomes the "Decumano Maggiore" (the Decumanus Maximus was the main east-west arterial road from the Roman camp) and forms the first section of the planned Museo Aperto (open-air museum).

To the east of the Gesù Nuovo, in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, is the church of San Domenico Maggiore (c. 1300), which in spite of later alteration is still one of the most interesting churches in Naples, with much Early Renaissance work. In the Cappellone Crocifisso are a 13th century "crucification" and a 15th century "Burial of Christ". The sacristy contains 45 sarcophagi belonging to members of the house of Anjou.

From Piazza San Domenico Maggiore the Via San Biagio dei Librai runs east: 300m/330yd along this street, on the left, is Via San Gregorio Armeno, in which stands the little church of San Gregorio Armeno (1580), one of the richest Baroque churches in Naples, with a cloister.