For the casual tourist, while not necessarily the largest cathedral, the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, aka Duomo di Napoli, aka Cattedrale di San Gennaro--still presents a visual feast for the eyes. For the spiritual visitor, this cathedral is the city's central catholic parish, seat of the Naples archdiocese, dedicated to the city's principal patron saint. San Gennaro (Saint Januarius)*, was a bishop martyred in 305 AD under Roman emperor Diocletian, later buried here. While little is known about his life, his body was transferred a few times, lastly in 1497 to Naples. This was at the behest of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, where his remains were kept in the Succorpo, a richly decorated crypt constructed for this specific purpose. The most notable religious relics housed here include: 1) ampoules of the saint's blood that supposedly liquify three times a year in a miracle to show the favor of the saint upon the city, and popes that visit. For this reason it's become a pilgrimage site for those hoping to witness the miracle of liquefaction. It's debated what type of liquid is contained within the hermetically sealed vials, though scientific evidence is scant considering the contents cannot be removed in fear of damage to its contents. 2) the treasure of San Gennaro (for which a separate ticket must be purchased €13) consists of the many works bestowed upon or donated to the cathedral over seven centuries from royalty and lay persons, as signs of devotion. Paintings, busts, ex-votos, objects made with precious metals and jewels are included in this collection. While there are a few sections of the cathedral that are currently not open regularly to the public, including a) the Santa Restituta, where the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is located (part of the church built earlier in the 14th century--you could peak in from the side though couldn't enter), b) the Chapel of the San Gennaro Treasury, c) the Minuto Chapel, --the parts the were open were very impressive. In the cathedral, highlights include the colorful soaring dome, golden coffered ceilings, and the decorative statue "Assumption" at the main altarpiece by Pietro Bacci (1739). Mid-afternoon lighting thru the windows cast a bright warm glow making the statue look like it was shining. The Succorpo was also one of the most ornate crypts I've ever seen. Open daily 9:30am-17:00pm, general admission is free and there are tours available with advance booking required (€10 adult, €8 student, €6 6-15yr olds, €0 for 5 and under and those with disabilities.) Tickets for rooftop access are €6. Good-sized gift shop. For more info - their website is very informative about the duomo's history and visiting details: https://duomonapoli.it/en/ *This is the same saint for which an annual festival Feast of San Gennaro is held. read more

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Spiritually Full and Completely in Awe Duomo di Napoli took my breath away the moment I stepped inside. I can't even fully put it into words... the calmness that washed over me was unreal. My heart felt full... my spirit felt fed... and I could've stayed there for hours just soaking it in. The architecture is beyond anything a photo can capture: the detail, the artistry, the reverence in every corner. You feel the history... the faith... the devotion... all around you. If you're visiting Naples, do not miss this cathedral. It's not just a tourist stop... It's an experience for your soul. Absolutely beautiful. read more

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The Duomo di Napoli is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and it serves as the main church of Naples. It is widely known as the Cathedral of Saint Januarius in honour of the city's patron saint. The ceilings and yellow lighting inside are very impressive. read more

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One of the most beautiful Cathedral's I've ever been to. Naples is an interesting place and while it can be sketchy from time to time, I can say this place was very nice. You will be immersed while here, and very contemplative of life. It left an impression. It's very beautiful to say the least, and how they built this place seems like a mystery to me. How the centerpiece is even able to stand in one place seems like an engineering marvel. Overall, a must visit if you're in Naples. read more

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We visited the cathedral because it was across the street from our Airbnb and we had some downtime. While it was free to get in, some areas, like the baptistry and museum, were paid. It's a pretty cathedral, but not the most impressive. Or maybe it is--I don't know anything about cathedrals, and it's been a while since I visited the ones that made a big impact on me initially. I very much like that it was free; I think every other church I visited in Italy charged! read more

A very grand cathedral with extremely ornate detail everywhere. Like most places in the Mediterranean, they do close for siesta and so I'd advise on visiting this place earlier in the day since it's closed in the afternoon. read more

This is a beautiful cathedral, but not unusual given the competition. From Chiaia it is a bit of a walk, but very doable in the morning (and safer) hours. read more

I recently had the great pleasure of attending a wedding in this magnificent cathedral. The Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius contains paintings by Domenichino and Giovanni Lanfranco. Well worth a look if you're in the neighborhood, and with some of the most legendary pizzerias in the world (although I wasn't blown away, but that's for another review) just around the corner, you'll probably end up here. read more