Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore
Just steps away from the youthful and multicultural energy of L’Orientale University, rises a monument that offers a truly vertiginous journey through time: the Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore is not simply a church, but an imposing book in stone, whose pages recount more than two thousand years of Neapolitan history.
Founded in the 4th century, it is one of the city’s four original basilicas, yet its roots reach even further back into a more remote and mysterious past: the imposing columns supporting its naves once belonged to an ancient pagan temple, dedicated to Hercules or perhaps to the young Antinous.
Exploring this monumental space means getting lost among myths and legends. It is here, deep within this place, that an ancient popular belief locates the tomb of the siren Parthenope, the mythical founder of Naples.
After remaining closed and silent for over forty years, the basilica has now been remarkably restored, revealing to visitors a breathtaking blend of early Christian architecture, Gothic arches and the splendour of Neapolitan Baroque.
Crossing the threshold of San Giovanni Maggiore means embracing the very essence of Naples: a city built on endless layers of civilizations, where myth, faith and beauty continue to coexist in a single, majestic breath.
INFO
ADDRESS: Rampe S. Giovanni Maggiore, 2
WEB: https://www.facebook.com/sangiovannimaggiorenapoli/?locale=it_IT
