Naples has no shortage of historic basilicas and church buildings and this is one of the most…read moreimpressive in the city. Highly recommend to drop by for a look as admission is free (donations accepted), and they are open later until 7pm so it's convenient to swing by before heading to dinner. On a cloudy day in April apparently many like-minded visitors had the same idea as it was fairly busy, though not extremely crowded. Located on the western edge of the Centro Historico district, the "New" in its name distinguishes it from another existing church of the name Gesu Vecchio. Initially the palace residence built in 1470 for Roberto Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno, political divisions led to his son and heir Ferrante Sanseverino being exiled and property confiscated, and this property sold to the Jesuit order. In 1584 construction began, led by appointed architect Giuseppe Valeriano, to convert this aristocratic palazzo to Jesuit church. The palace's unique facade was the only remnant left, with its bugnato (rusticated) grey volcanic-stone punta di diamante (diamond point) protrusions. What's even more intriguing is that this facade, designed by original palazzo architect Novello da San Lucano, who was also a composer, incorporated musical notes in Aramaic letters incised into the stone, which has been interpreted by musical historians as sheet music. The music has been named "Enigma" and you can find it played on YouTube. Other scholars interpret these symbols to be related to alchemy and esoteric practices popular in the day. This building passed between different hands thru the centuries though in 1900 definitively returned to the Jesuits. Nowadays it's known for the vast number of artworks that line its ceilings and chapels. They were certainly awe-inspiring to see! I spent about 30-45 minutes walking around, this is a functioning parish so administrative offices, prayer sections, a shop for purchasing ex-votos and souvenirs, and other functional facilities are also present. Hours: 8am-12:45pm, 4-7pm daily.

What a big surprise! There's a hidden gem behind that palace facade. You enter through the Baroque…read morelooking entryway at the Piazza of the same name. We were totally amazed at what we saw inside this church. I would have never known based on its exterior. It's immensely grand and ornate as you walk inside. The ceiling and chapels are covered in Italian Baroque art from famous artists such as Francesco Solimena and Luca Giordano. There are alters made of precious stones and marble statues. All of which are saintly and historical. I didn't realize it at the time, but people do go there to be healed. There is a chapel dedicated to a Naples doctor & saint named Giuseppe Moscati. His tomb lies under the chapel altar. He is known for taking care of the sick and the poor. There was a line of people waiting to enter a part of the church that houses his personal quarters and belongings. We didn't get to see it, so I can't comment on it. It's just something to consider seeing while you're there. This whole area is full of historical churches. I mean, you could visit churches all day long if that's your thing. This is a great option if you only have time to visit one, and it's free to the public. They accept donations as most churches do.