The Lower Decumanus
The Lower Decumanus is perhaps the most vibrant heart of ancient Naples. Here, everything speaks: the stones, courtyards, domes, markets, and voices.
It runs through Spaccanapoli, a sharp cut through the city that links extraordinary monuments with everyday wonders, noble palaces with artisan workshops, sacred art with popular life.
Walking it means embarking on a journey into authentic Naples, where Baroque beauty, ancient faith, visual contrasts, and urban spirituality coexist.
This is an itinerary not just to see, but to listen to, breathe in, and truly live.
A Symbolic Itinerary
The route begins at Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, one of the city’s most striking squares, dominated by the famous church with its diamond-point façade, and ends at the Church of the Annunziata, next to the historic “wheel” where orphans were once received.
Every stop along the way is an invitation to discover, contemplate, and connect.
Among the Masterpieces: Must-See Sites
- Complesso di Santa Chiara: una delle massime espressioni del gotico napoletano, con il suo magnifico chiostro maiolicato, il museo e le tombe reali.
- Santa Chiara Complex: One of the finest examples of Neapolitan Gothic, featuring a magnificent majolica-tiled cloister, a museum, and royal tombs.
- Sansevero Chapel: Though not marked on the official numbering, it’s well worth a detour. Home to the world-renowned Veiled Christ, one of the most extraordinary sculptures in existence.
- Church of San Domenico Maggiore: A Gothic masterpiece filled with spirituality and history, holding the memory of saints, philosophers, and kings.
- Statue of the Nile: An enigmatic and ironic symbol of the Egyptian presence in ancient Neapolis.
- San Gregorio Armeno: The famous street of nativity scenes, a year-round celebration of craftsmanship, tradition, and wonder.
- Filangieri Museum: Housed in a Renaissance palace, this museum offers an eclectic collection of art, history, and weaponry.
- Annunziata Complex: A place where beauty and care come together, preserving the moving memory of the historic “wheel” for abandoned infants.
An Invitation to Wonder
Walking along the Lower Decumanus is like leafing through an open-air book — every building, every detail, every intersection tells a chapter of the city’s story.
Here, you can truly feel the essence of Neapolitan identity: a blend of sacred and profane, art and humanity, fragility and strength.
If it’s your first time in Naples, this itinerary is the most authentic heartbeat from which to begin.
