San Lorenzo Maggiore

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore, one of the oldest in Naples, is located in the historic center near San Gaetano Square. The religious complex houses the Museum of the Works of San Lorenzo Maggiore and the homonymous archaeological sites. In 1235, Pope Gregory IX ratified the concession to build a church dedicated to San Lorenzo. Charles I of Anjou financed the reconstruction in 1270, merging Gothic and Franciscan styles. The apse, of French influence, is unique in Italy, while the transition to Italian Gothic is evident in the transept and nave. The basilica played an important historical role, with Francesco Petrarca's stay in 1343 and the place where Giovanni Boccaccio fell in love with Fiammetta. In the 16th century, renovations began, and in the 18th century, Baroque redesigns. Restorations since 1882, including interventions by Ferdinando Sanfelice and Cosimo Fanzago, have preserved the original essence of the basilica.