The Neapolitan Cathedral is laid out in a Latin cross plan with three naves and several side chapels. The central nave, about 100 meters long and 35 meters high, has a beautiful coffered ceiling with 17th-century paintings. The nave walls are decorated with works by Luca Giordano depicting Apostles, Doctors of the Church, and the patron saints of Naples.
The counter-façade houses the tombs of Angevin rulers including Charles I of Anjou and Carlo Martello, while the transept houses burial markers, bas-reliefs, and sculptures from various eras. The main altar is decorated with bas-reliefs and houses relics of a number of saints.
Basilica di Santa Restituta
Along the left aisle and after the third chapel stands the oldest early Christian basilica in Naples, the Basilica of Santa Restituta. This ancient church dates back to the 4th century and was incorporated into the Cathedral of Naples when it was built almost 1,000 later; it is decorated by 14th-century works by Luca Giordano. The basilica leads to the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte, which may have been built by Emperor Constantine.
The Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro
The Chapel of the Treasury sits along the right aisle of the cathedral and houses the relics of San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), including bones and two ampoules containing what is believed to be the saint's blood. The chapel was built in a Greek cross plan by the architect Francesco Grimaldi following the vow made by the Neapolitans to the patron saint during the terrible plague of 1526 and is decorated with ornate frescoes.
Cappella Capece Minutolo
This marvelous Gothic-Angevin chapel is one of the most important in the church. Stop to admire the fourteenth-century triptych and the fabulous mosaic floor.
The Museum of the Treasury of San Gennaro
The Museo del Tesoro di San Gennaro is located next to the Duomo and houses sacred vestments and other objects which, according to tradition, belonged to the patron saint of Naples, plus sacred furnishings and works of art.
The museum’s audio guide was created with the voices and music of famous Neapolitan actors, musicians, and writers, including Toni Servillo, Maurizio de Giovanni, Pietra Montercorvino, and Eugenio Bennato. It is available in several languages, including the Neapolitan dialect.