Surrounded by palaces and a 13th-century church, this historic square is a great place to have coffee and a pastry and watch how the locals relax.

Enjoy simply watching people in the Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, one of Naples’ most attractive and bustling squares. Students, tourists, street vendors and musicians keep the scene interesting at almost every hour of the day. Take in the atmosphere while admiring the surrounding buildings, which are some of the city’s finest.

The square is dominated by the apse of the cathedral for which it is named, the Maggiore San Domenico. Built between 1283 and 1324, this church has had several facelifts, including a Baroque remodeling in 1670. In the 19th century it was restored to its original Gothic style. Inside you can see the remains of the very first church that stood here, a modest Romanesque chapel dating back to the 10th century. There are also several impressive works of Renaissance art, such as frescoes by Cavalli and copies of originals by Caravaggio.

You won’t miss the tall monument in the center of the square. Known locally as the Guglia di San Domenico, this obelisk was constructed as a token of gratitude to St. Domenico for delivering the city from the great plague of 1656. Baroque reliefs decorate the sides of the base, and a statue of St. Domenico stands at the top, looking out toward the city, protecting the church from further danger.

Also of note are the palaces that line the other three sides of the square. In the 17th century, the Neapolitan aristocracy began to build their homes here. The most interesting of these is the Palazzo Petrucci, which still has its original entrance and courtyard and is now home to a famous restaurant.

The soul of the square, however, comes from those who make their way here to meet, sell their wares, or simply relax in its beautiful surroundings. You can easily spend an afternoon here browsing the vintage shops, stopping for a pizza or admiring the treats in the famous cake shops. Be sure to take your time over coffee as you observe the comings and goings of Neapolitan life.

The Piazza San Domenico Maggiore is located close to the center of Naples and is open daily year-round.

Plan a trip to see Piazza San Domenico Maggiore

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Hotel Bellevue Suite

￥348,098

per person

Oct 6 - Oct 8

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (OSA) to Naples (NAP)

9/10 Wonderful! (985 reviews)

As a single, female traveler this was an awful place to stay. The manager was insulting. Keep the shutters and windows closed at all times from staff and neighbors. Ironing was only allowed in the kitchen, but not during breakfast?? The view from the upper deck was beautiful but there are no umbrellas or shade only plastic chairs and ash trays. The rooms were very nice and clean. The elevator is shut off at night. I needed to leave at 5 am and was scolded for taking my suitcase down the steps. I left early and returned late the entire 6 days of my stay. My trip was a gift from my son and daughter in law which I appreciated very much. The rest of the trip was very nice and I found the people and other visitors very kind and accommodating.

Reviewed on Aug 27, 2026

Hotel Tramonto d'Oro

￥374,290

per person

Oct 6 - Oct 8

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (OSA) to Naples (NAP)

9.6/10 Exceptional! (711 reviews)

Maya Beach Resort

￥357,436

per person

Oct 6 - Oct 8

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (OSA) to Naples (NAP)

8/10 Very Good! (75 reviews)

Good breakfast variety considering the hotel is quite small. Free shuttle timetable from the hotel which you could book on to at short notice to get in and back from Sorrento. Good room size and amenities - dressing gown and slippers were a lovely touch. Staff spoke brilliant English and were very helpful via WhatsApp. Hotel guests had access to sunbeds for free everyday with towels and a bottle of water. If you are there early enough, you could get one of the pool front beds. Only suggestion would be to have a complimentary bottle of water in the room everyday rather than having to rely on the minibar.

Reviewed on Aug 27, 2026