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Art in Naples

Small groups · 2.5 hours

Naples old town tour with an archaeologist: origins, cults, legends

Two and a half hours on foot in the old town with a licensed guide who is also an archaeologist. You start at the Greek walls in Piazza Bellini and finish at the Duomo, by way of Via dei Tribunali, San Domenico, Spaccanapoli, the church of Purgatorio ad Arco, San Gregorio Armeno and the excavations under San Lorenzo Maggiore. The angle is exactly what the title promises: how Neapolis was born, the cults that piled up on top of each other and the legends Neapolitans still tell.

4.8(908 reviews on GetYourGuide) Piazza Bellini
Naples old town tour with an archaeologist: origins, cults, legends
Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but ple, CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits

Duration

2.5 hours

Group

small group

Languages

Italian, English, French, Spanish

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Days

every day

Start

Piazza Bellini

What you’ll do

You meet in Piazza Bellini, where the remains of the Greek walls poke through, and from there you turn onto Via dei Tribunali. First stop is the church and square of San Domenico Maggiore, then Spaccanapoli with the Nile statue and a coffee break. The guide has headsets so you can hear even in the noisy lanes.

Next is the church of the Anime del Purgatorio ad Arco, with the traditions tied to the cult of the souls in Purgatory, then up Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of nativity-scene workshops, to the Banksy mural. At the San Lorenzo Maggiore complex you go inside: beneath the basilica lie the Roman remains, with the mosaics of the ancient city.

The last stop is the Cathedral, with the Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro. The tour ends on Via Duomo after about two and a half hours. You'll need comfortable shoes and something to cover your shoulders in the churches. There's also a private option, which can be tailored.

Who it’s for

The right tour if you want to understand the old town, not just photograph it, and if you're back in Naples looking for a deeper take. Good for couples, friends or curious teenagers. Two and a half hours on foot through the lanes, with church visits: not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone who can't manage long walks.

Local tip

Do it in the morning, when the lanes are less crowded. Covered shoulders and comfortable shoes. It ends on Via Duomo: from there you can carry on to the Archaeological Museum or down to Forcella, or head back to San Gregorio Armeno at your own pace to buy a nativity figurine.

What’s included

Archaeologist guide, small groups.

Price, availability and details come straight from GetYourGuide and are kept up to date. If you book through us, we get a small commission; it costs you nothing extra.

Frequently asked questions

Where does it start and finish?

It starts in Piazza Bellini and finishes on Via Duomo, in front of the Cathedral, after about two and a half hours on foot. The route is indicative and may change, but it always covers the old town between Via dei Tribunali and Spaccanapoli.

What's included?

A licensed guide who specialises in art and archaeology, a small group and headsets so you can follow the explanation better. Food and hotel pick-up aren't included. On request you can book the private version, which can be tailored.

What languages is it in and what should I bring?

Italian, English, French or Spanish, depending on the language booked. You'll need comfortable shoes and something to cover your shoulders when going into churches. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund.

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from€29Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
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