What to see at Piazza del Plebiscito
Six stops that tell the story of the Kingdom of Naples, from the neoclassical colonnade to Europe's oldest opera house.
Basilica of San Francesco di Paola
Commissioned by Ferdinand I of Bourbon to celebrate the restoration of the kingdom after 1815, it openly draws on Rome's Pantheon and St Peter's colonnade. The semicircular colonnade wraps around the entire square with 6 rows of Doric columns. Free entry.
Royal Palace
Eight statues in facade niches represent eight dynasties that ruled Naples, from Roger the Norman to Victor Emmanuel II. The royal apartments, the grand staircase and the court theatre are open with a paid ticket.
Teatro San Carlo
Inaugurated in 1737, nearly 40 years before Milan's La Scala: Europe's oldest continuously active opera house. The gilded interior and horseshoe-shaped hall can be seen on a guided tour or by attending a performance.
Galleria Umberto I
Built in 1890 as a symbol of post-unification Naples, with a glass-and-iron dome 57 metres high. Less touristy than its Milanese "big sister", but with the same mosaic floor worth photographing from above.
Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino)
A 13th-century medieval fortress overlooking the port, with a white marble Triumphal Arch celebrating Alfonso of Aragon's entry into the city in 1443. The Civic Museum occupies its interior halls.
Via Toledo
Naples' shopping street, laid out in the 16th century: it connects Piazza del Plebiscito to Piazza Dante, crossing the Quartieri Spagnoli. One of the longest and liveliest pedestrian streets in Europe.
Want to skip the lines?
The Royal Palace and Teatro San Carlo can be booked ahead: the difference is most noticeable on spring weekends.
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