PIAZZA PLEBISCITO, Church

Piazza del Plebiscito is a privileged venue for political, social, and cultural events thanks to its dimensions and scenic architecture; one such example is the moving ceremony that was organized for the funeral of the much-loved Neapolitan singer Pino Daniele. Instead during Christmas, the monumental space is the backdrop for installations by contemporary artists, which are always surprising and the topic of much discussion.

And now let me tell you about the square's history, which as I mentioned, has a Neoclassical style. When Napoleon placed his brother-in-law Joachim Murat on the throne of Naples at the beginning of the nineteenth century, this public space was finally reorganized in a more rational manner. Thanks to the demolition of several monasteries that stood here, the "Joachim Forum" was created, a monumental site that among other things would serve to celebrate the splendor of the Napoleonic dynasty. Then the two twin palaces that you see facing one another were built: one was the seat of the State Ministry, and the other the Foreign Ministry.

After the fall of Napoleon, the Bourbons returned to power and the square changed character. King Ferdinand IV restored a religious aspect by erecting the Church of San Francesco di Paola preceded by a semicircular arcade around the churchyard; the church was inspired by the Pantheon of Agrippa in Rome. And so the square was majestically inaugurated in 1846 with the name "Piazza Ferdinandea" or "di San Francesco di Paola" in honor of the saint who, according to the king, had aided in his return to the throne....